Page 181 - My FlipBook

T R A I L O F C R U M B S

Greta’s chair, coaxing him to eat a little. Greta thought she
heard a few threats as well.
When Greta collapsed in a kitchen chair, her body heavy
again, both Alice and Ash joined her. Ash produced a deck
of cards from somewhere, flipping one card back and forth
between his fingers, trying to master a trick.
“You guys graduate this spring?” Alice asked.
Ash and Greta looked at each other. “I got expelled,” Ash

said, the card bending under the weight of his fingers.
Alice snorted. “What’d you do?”
“Beat up this guy…in front of the whole school…during
a pep rally.”
Alice practically beamed. “No! That was on my bucket
list!”
Greta nodded, grim. “He did.”

“Was he a jerk or something?” Alice asked.
“The biggest.” Ash’s eyes wandered to Greta and back
down to the cards again. Alice didn’t miss the gesture and
subdued her glee, glancing at Greta for a nanosecond.
“Well”—Alice cleared her throat—“I’m sure he deserved
it.” Greta was grateful she didn’t ask for details or what they
were going to do next. “And I have a confession too.”
Ash and Greta waited.
“I’m getting a tattoo.”

“What and where?” Greta asked.
“Right here.” Alice pushed up her sleeve and rubbed a
spot on her upper arm. “A Celtic symbol for strength.”
“What does that look like?” Ash asked.

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