Page 55 of Ash Fall

She gives me an exaggerated wink.

"What journey?"

"The one where it took years for you to understand you didn't have to hide behind that pretty little rich boy mask of yours."

I send her a sharp look, but she just looks right back with a soft challenge in her eyes.

Luna keeps her head down, but her shoulders shake suspiciously as she sorts packages.

"I never hid behind anything."

"Of course not." Elenor reaches into the tote and hands Luna another stack. "You emerged from the womb perfectly self-actualized with a trust fund in one hand and a sarcastic remark in the other."

"That sounds accurate."

Luna snorts into the open bin while Elenor smiles at me. "You had years to figure yourself out, Jules. That girl has been dropped into the deep end with sixteen other crises stacked on top of her. Give her time."

My gaze goes back to Briar. She hasn't moved from beside the shed, but her arms aren't locked across her chest anymore. Elenor’s right, and some of the frustration lifts so I nod once and turn back to the open tote. "What's all this?"

Luna holds up one of the sealed packages. "Masks. We all need to keep some on us just in case the ash cloud gets here before we're inside the mine. Gigi says once it starts falling heavily, we don't want to be breathing any of it."

I take one and turn the package over in my hands. "I can’t believe it. This is it. Civilization collapses and fashion standards finally go with it."

"Oh, darling." Elenor presses a hand to her chest. "If anyone can make industrial respiratory protection look stylish, it will be you."

"Thank you! Finally, someone recognizes the true challenges I face."

Luna shakes her head and keeps sorting as Gage walks over carrying a coil of rope. He drops it beside the rest of the supplies and looks into the tote.

"What are those?"

Luna holds one out. "Ash masks. One for everybody to carry."

He takes it and studies the package.

Elenor makes a sympathetic noise. "Sorry to tell you this, gorgeous, but that beard is going to have to go."

Gage's head snaps up. "What?"

"These need a proper seal around your face to keep the ash out. All that magnificent lumberjack growth is going to make them useless." Elenor reaches up and brushes her fingers through the edge of his beard with a mournful sigh. "A terrible loss, but sacrifices must be made."

Gage looks genuinely offended as he rubs one hand over his beard. Now that is interesting. What interests me more is the tiny pout forming on Luna's mouth.

I look from her to Gage and back again. Oh, baby, you are not subtle at all.

I nudge her lightly with my elbow. "Sorry, Cin. No magic carpet ride from him now, but I'm sure he'll make it up to you in other ways."

Silence drops around the four of us. Luna's head turns very slowly toward me, and Gage goes completely still beside her. Elenor stares at my face for one beat before she howls with laughter.

"What?" Luna's cheeks go bright red. "What does that even mean?"

Color climbs up Gage's neck and he snaps, "Julian."

I smile pleasantly at him. He knows exactly what I'm doing, and that suits me perfectly. Luna's eyes get impossibly wide as understanding catches up with her, and both hands fly up.

"Oh my God! Jules!"

I should stop but it’s time to get this train moving on the tracks so I keep going.