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"But—"
"It's okay." She gestured toward him. "I've got this troll. He'll help me."
Ana looked at the said troll who smiled sheepishly back at her. She gave him a meaningful smile and retreated. She knew that Chris wasn't helping her at all. She'd caught him, however, staring at Giselle multiple times during the two years Ana had worked there.
"Why don't you let her do her job?" he asked.
"I don't like it when people do my work. I'm a grown woman of twenty-three, and I have able hands, you know." She added a book to her backpack as she spoke.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Looks like you're going to stay there for long, Grown-woman-of-twenty-three."
"Only a week." She frowned.
He sighed internally. "What about the conditions of that place?"
Her brows merged. "What conditions?"
He shrugged. "The crimes have risen. Murders. Thefts. Vandalism. Petrichor isn't safe anymore. It's always on the news."
"I don't know. It was always a little iffy, I guess. And it's not like I can't go. Mom's there."
"Yeah, but..."
She continued, "And I wanna meet Xavier. The texting is cool and all, but this long-distance thing kills the relationship."
Not killing it soon enough.
Chris tried to convince himself to lighten his mood but it took all his energy to smile. He knew Xavier had won her heart and that she was happy, but he couldn't bring himself to accept it wholly. He hated her boyfriend and wanted to get his hands on him so he could strangle him. It wouldn't make Giselle love Chris instead, but damn! How good wouldthatfeel?
"What's up with you?" She asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He realized that his jaw was clenched. "Nothing."
She walked around the bed and sat in front of him, smiling. "What's up?"
He urged himself to smile back, but his face remained stoned. "Nothing."
She gave him an I-know-you-better-than-anyone look and said, "Spit it out."
He looked away and shook his head with a defeated sigh. "Nothing, Giselle."
"Chris!"
His head whipped back to her, too bothered to stop himself. His chest filled with air and he let it out with an outburst, saying, "You don't even know that guy!" It startled Giselle, and guilt washed over him instantly.
She gulped, then inhaled deeply. "I know him."
He looked at her like she was being ridiculous. He couldn't prevent himself from comparing their friendship to her relationship with Xavier. Did she know anyone more than they knew each other?
"Oh yeah? What does he do?" he asked.
Her brows merged. "What?"
Petty. I'm being so petty."What's his occupation? Tell me, please."
"I, uh, s-social work."
He rolled his eyes. "What does that pay in Nicoladafus? Unless he steals the donations."
