Page 61 of XOXO

“Apply liberally to each area to which adhesive is applied. Seal tightly for a minimum of five minutes. Cure time: 30 minutes.”

“That’s not too bad,” I reply.

“You have a vise or clamp of some kind?” she asks.

I search and search but can’t find a single clamp. I know we have them, they’re essential for building charm boxes, and yet none are present.

“You’ll have to hold them closed,” Brynn says. She winds the crimp at the end of the tube so that a generous amount of goo slops onto one half of the stone.

“Me? Why me?”

She stabs the other side against the applied half then twists them to fully coat it. Decadent brown eyes examine the rock closely then peer at me.

“Because I’m going to be busy.”

Brynn thrusts the stones at me. I don’t want it to cure wrong, so I fidget with it so the halves are properly aligned and then squeeze them until adhesive squishes out the side.

“Good girl,” Brynn purrs with a smirk. My eyes blow wide and drop to the floor. When she says it like that, I’ll do anything she asks.

She pecks around in the work station and produces a paper towel. I hold the joined halves out so she can wipe off the excess glue.

“Stay perfectly still now,” she informs me.

Except that Brynn doesn’t keep me company.

She disappears out the door. I call out to her, but she ignores my pleas.

I want to chase after her. I debate doing it.

But she told me not to move. I don’t want to break the stone again.

I also want to prove I can do this right and follow her instructions. I’m desperate for her to repeat what she’d just said to me.

Good girl. Yum. Delicious fun.

When Brynn returns, she has a black hobo purse slung over her arm. She hums her approval that I’m still standing strong, and my face warms.

“You’ve been good tonight,” she informs me. “I was worried when we set out, but you’ve done well.”

“I broke the stone, lied badly to the Coronada, and forgot half the supplies we needed to steal the amethyst. I had to give a gnome a favor to save myself.”

She clucks her tongue at me.

“Do you know what I see when I look at you?”

“A little weed?”

“No. A flower in bloom. Even weeds can grow to be beautiful. Dandelions and daisies. Many gardeners consider wild violets to be a pest.”

“I can be pretty annoying.”

“You did well tonight, Violet. Don’t sell yourself short.”

I roll my eyes.

“You did. Yes, the stone was broken, but you were able to find the replacements and, failing that, negotiated with the Coronada for a substitute. Your honestly won you favor with Edo, even if you had to grant him a boon to achieve it. One day, we’ll discuss making foolhardy promises, but for now, I think you need to give yourself more credit.”

Brynn plops her bag onto the worktable behind me. I can’t see what she’s doing unless I twist my whole body, and I don’t want to chance the halves separating.

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