Page 113 of Bound in Ashes

“Don’t,” he said, his voice flat.

Emotionless.

Then he was gone.

Asia

I didn’t see him the rest of the day.

Night either.

By the next afternoon, I felt like I was going to shatter into a thousand pieces. Finally collapsed under the weight of it all.

The weight of the hushed whispers.

The people who wouldn’t meet my eye.

Not even Bridget.

I sat at the kitchen table, and by the third time, she looked at me furtively and shook her head, I’d had enough.

“Bridget, just say it.” I sighed and leaned back against my chair, exhaustion hitting me like a sledgehammer.

“Asia, I don’t need to say anything,” she said.

I huffed, the sound a pathetic imitation of laughter but all I could manage. “But you want to.”

She smiled, hers genuine. “Fine. It isn’t worth it. He isn’t worth it.”

I leaped to Jack’s defense. “He got us here. Kept us alive.”

“And I appreciate it. But what’s the point of living if he’s breaking you down day by day?”

“He’s not⁠—”

She tilted her head. “Oh, so those bags under your eyes are just accessories?”

“Bridget, we have mouths to feed. Hayes breathing down our necks. Uncle Levi—” I cut off, not able to say the rest.

“Yes, and you’re doing your best to handle it all. A partner would lessen your burden. He’s dragging you down.”

I tried again. “He’s not⁠—”

“He is. I just hope you see that before it’s too late.”

She patted my hand and left me and my sad lunch and the thankfully empty kitchen.

By dusk, I’d had enough of resisting and went to find Jack.

There was barely any light, but he still worked doggedly on the fence, sealing one of the infinite holes that always seemed to pop up.

He twisted the metal and then looked at me.

Waiting.

“What did you mean yesterday?” I asked.

“Can you be more specific?” His tone gave nothing away, so I wasn’t sure if he was deflecting.