page7 (1/2)

“So… you work here now, huh?” I ask, which is about as la as there could ever be I know she works here because I asked Cage about her, needing to reassure myself that I hadn’t destroyed her when I let her husband die

“Yeah,” she says with a light laugh, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear and setting her phone down Her expression turns a bit sad, and she drops her gaze for a moment “I just had to be a part of all this after…”

Her words hang heavy in the air, and a knot forms at the base of my throat

“I bet that sounds silly, huh?” she replies, eyes co back to me with an attempt at an easy smile

“Not at all,” I reassure her, then figure this is as good a ti that needs to be said I give a cough to clear my throat “Uine how hard it’s been on you”

I brace, thinking tears , but I’ along the edge of her phone as she averts her eyes “It’s been tough on you, too I’m really happy you’re back It sort of makes all of this a little more…”

Again, her words trail off as if she’s not quite sure what any of thiswhat the hell fate was thinking when it cooked up these circumstances

After what seeain I don’t know this woman at all, yet, because of what happened in the desert, she and I have a thread tying us together It seems like a e that

Instead of saying so to redirect the conversation into safer territory, I have a moment of brutal candor “It’s hard to talk to you”

Anna blinks in surprise before she frowns

I shakea hand up to explain “It’s just… I’iven the chance to do any of it over again, I would have traded places with Jimmy in a heartbeat”