Page 41 of Clean Point

‘I sincerely hope that’s not a communal box,’ I grumbled, taking in the sight of her arm disappearing into the box, her cheeks full like a hamster as she still chewed on the last handful of granola.

‘It’s not,’ she said after swallowing, a smile curving onto her lips. ‘I charmed Elena into buying a box for me.’

I scoffed. ‘Like the coffee?’

‘That’s one secret I’ll never tell,’ she said with a wink. Every morning, she taunted me with that mug she somehow managed to acquire and successfully hide from Jon. And every morning she refused to tell me how, or where, she got it. I was getting pretty sick of green tea, antioxidants be damned.

‘How were things with Sarah today?’ I asked, leaning back against a kitchen counter opposite to where she sat.

She shrugged. ‘Same old thing.’ Her words did nothing to stop my concern.

‘You would’ve hated it. They’ve moved me on to TikTok,’ she added, digging out another handful and eating.

I scoffed, my fingers gripping the edge of the cool marble countertop. ‘I’m surprised they didn’t want me involved.’

‘I think Sarah’s a little apprehensive, given what happened.’ She almost side-eyed me, the glare soft but ever so accusatory.

‘But she didn’t push it again today?’ My heart dipped, waiting for her answer, the same rage ready to rear its head again. I hated it when they’d sent me off to gym instead of being able to keep an eye on the situation.

Scottie shook her head. ‘Nope, she was on her best behaviour. Jon was helping out, so I doubt she would do anything like that again.’

‘Good,’ I said, trying to hide the relief behind a mask of indifference. Even knowing Jon was there helped keep me calm. My grip on the counter loosened, my shoulder blades relaxing into my back. She was okay.

‘You guys sound like you’re having fun out there.’ Scottie nodded her head towards the garden where the three others were still playing cards.

‘Dylan is wiping the floor with us.’

‘Sounds like her.’

‘Want to join us?’ I offered. ‘Maybe you can read her bluff better than the rest of us.’

‘I can think of about one hundred other ways I’d rather spend my evening than giving Dylan any of my money.’

‘You never know, you might end up taking it from her instead.’

‘Tempting.’ Scottie pressed her lips together, scrunching her nose with a fake indecision. ‘Maybe I should watch her take yours instead.’

‘Be my guest. That’s how the night seems to be going, anyway.’ I laughed, watching her face light up with similar glee.

‘I’m not sure who I’d prefer to lose to.’

‘If you play, you could end up beating both of us.’ I hold out the offer, trying to tempt her into joining us. So many nights she has spent alone, kindly turning down my offers to join us.

‘I don’t even know how to play poker,’ she admitted, biting her lip and my gaze couldn’t help but watch, paralysed by the soft movement.

I cleared my throat, a lump forming, and then the words were out before I could even think them through. ‘I’ll teach you.’

Her head cocked to the left. ‘You’re that desperate for me to play?’

I shook my head in denial, stuttering out a response before I could string words together. ‘You always hang out on your own. I don’t want you to feel left out.’

‘Thanks, but I’m okay.’ Her attention turned back to the box of granola.

‘Is it Dylan?’ my words hung in the air between us, an unspoken question playing over in my mind. Is it me?

‘It’s … it’s hard. I know what they all think of me.’ Her voice was low, barely louder than a whisper. When she looked up at me, I could see the tremble in her pink lips, the watery effect washing the blue of her iris out. I wanted to step forward, close this small gap between us, and wrap her up in my arms. Keep her safe from everything she was too keenly aware of. Her voice nearly broke as she grew louder, but no longer confident. ‘And I don’t blame them. But it makes it hard to want to hang out with them. It took a while for me to … move on from everything. Being around them only reminds me of what happened.’

My control snapped as I pushed myself away from the counter, leaning forward on the breakfast bar opposite where she was sitting. She straightened, her body going stiff as if taken aback by the movement.

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