Page 17 of One Last Wish

Chapter Six

By the end of the nextweek, Darce was fully trained. He was a quick learner, I’d give him that. Oddly, he got on better with Ned and Daisy than anyone else at Bookends. He joked with Theo sometimes, but that was about it. As for me, Darce now avoided me like the plague. I had no idea what I’d done wrong. Maybe he didn’t like the way I trained him.

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving next week?” Theo asked, leaning over the staircase as he watched me polish the spiral forest carvings on the rail. It was therapeutic to wipe each wooden engraving with a cloth. I often wondered how old this building was. It had to be a few hundred years old. It was a building unlike anything else in New York.

“Reading,” I replied, not even looking at him.

“All day? Aren’t you planning oneating?” I was, but not with him. I’d spent Thanksgiving alone for the last eight years. What the hell did I have to be thankful about, anyway?

“My family are all meeting up, if you...”

“Theo, why would I want to spend Thanksgiving withyouand yourfamily?” I knew I’d wounded him when the smile on his face dropped. “Don’t you have bookshelves to clean in the basement?” Theo dipped his head and left wordlessly.

“You don’t have to be so spiteful to him, you know.” Darce’s voice came from behind me. “Would it be so bad to let the poor guy in?” Oh, he was talking to me now, after giving me one word answers for the lastfourdays!

“Did I ask for your opinion?” I turned to look at him and instantly regretted it when I took in his face. Everyfreakingtime! He blew me away! I had no idea why he looked so good in the black Bookends work uniform, but he did. It showed off the tattoos on the inside of his arms. I’d been trying to get a better look at them for the last few days, but the guy didn't stand still long enough. All I’d seen were black circles that started at his wrist and went up his forearm with markings on one of the circles.

“I’m still going to give it to you. Theo is a safe bet, Alora. You should give him a chance.” Asafebet? Why on earth did Darce think I’d need that?

“Why are you even talking to me? You’ve hardly said a word to me this week.” His eyes sparkled a little and a small smile played on his lips. “What?” I snapped, putting my hands on my hips. “Am Iamusingyou or something?” Fuck him and the way he was making me feel.

“Oh, I’d neverdreamof laughing at you, Alora, trust me.” With that, he walked over to the tills to help Ned with the small queue. Was hemockingme? Oh, I was going to take this asshole down piece by piece!

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“ISENSE SOME ANIMOSITYbetween you and the new guy,” Daisy mused in our staff room in the basement. All I wanted to do was read, but I’d felt her eyes on me the moment she walked in.

“That’s none of your business, and before you ask, no, I don’t want totalkabout it!” Ever since I’d gone out clubbing with her, Daisy seemed to think she’d grown on me. Shehadn’t! “Go and take your sunny disposition somewhere else,” I complained, not looking up from my book.

“For what it’s worth, I think Darce likes you more than he’s letting on.”Do not fall for... Damn it, too late. I’d already looked away from my book. “He’s always watching you when you’re not looking.”Interesting.

“Thanks for that pointless bit of information.” Closing my book, I ate the last of the sandwich I’d made before work while giving Daisy one of my cold stares. “I can’t stand the guy. Darce is arrogant, insipidandsanctimonious!”

“I don’t even know what the last two words mean.” Daisy shrugged as both our eyes were drawn towards movement by the door.Crap!

“I’m not interesting and pretend to be better than everyone else, apparently.” Darce didn’t even seem affected at my outburst.Shit!He wasn’t meant to hear any of that. “I’m a little confused as to how you can make that judgement when you’ve only known me for just over a week.” Oh, Ihadbruised that ego of his a little. I could see the challenge in his eyes.

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