Page 32 of Rules to Love By

“Why are you doing inventory for him?” Tris looked over his shoulder from where he was doing something beside the stove, his eyes narrowed.

“What are you making me?”

Tris’s frown deepened, likely because Marcus had ignored his interrogation. “I’m not really making. Kreed made beef wellington. I’m just cooking it.”

“You could have cooked it with the dinner service and kept it warm.”

“Hell no. Serve you soggy beef wellington? Kreed would skin me.”

“He wouldn’t have to know.”

“It’s like he can sniff out bad food from 1000 paces. He’d know.”

“Where is he, anyway?”

“Believe it or not, in the dining room with Lucky, eating with their guests.”

“Kreed? Sitting with people?”

“And Lucky.”

“Lucky is people.”

“But Lucky is his person, and with Lucky around, nobody else really has to talk unless they want to. It’s like they are two people cut out of the same piece, then fit back together.”

“Facts.” Marcus settled onto the stool.

“So, how was it?”

“Not so bad. I learned a lot about estimates, but actually I guess I already knew about it, because you know how Aunt Iris was.”

Tris nodded. “Lists and more lists.”

“Organization.”

“Control freak.”

“Knowing what was going on.”

“Tomato, to-mat-to.”

“Sort of wish I’d paid more attention to what was going on. Might not be homeless now.”

Tris slammed something and turned. “You are not homeless.”

“Tris—”

“You are not! Don’t make me go out there and get Kreed to come in here and tell you that.”

“Don’t lose your job over me.”

“Fat chance. You know he’ll tell you exactly what I just did.”

“No one here owes me anything. Why would they just put up with me freeloading indefinitely?”

“Why do you think there has to be someone owing someone something to do good for them?”

“I don’t.” He sighed. “I guess I don’t.”

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