Beauty in the Ashes

With that, she came to her feet and left without a backwards glance.

CHAPTER 3

Sutton

After Daphne’s departure I didn’t feel like staying and watching Frankie make-out with Jen, so I gathered my stuff to head back to the apartment.

I loved that there were so many shops in the vicinity of where I lived. I could walk around and find anything I wanted.

I stopped at a cupcake shop, the smell luring me inside, and picked out two to take home with me. Red velvet and double chocolate. I wasn’t sure which one I’d eat first.

As I entered the hallway leading to my apartment, I struggled to maintain my hold on my coffee, the cupcakes, and my purse. Something had to go tumbling to the ground.

Of course it was the coffee and the cupcakes.

“Shit!” I yelled, stomping my foot in frustration and beginning to mourn the loss of the cupcakes and coffee. Well, I’d still eat the cupcakes. They might be smashed from the fall, but the box had kept them from touching the floor. So in my book, still edible.

“What’s going on now?”

The door to Caelan’s apartment came flying open at the commotion.

I was now convinced the guy freaked out over any sound—even a mouse farting. Do mice fart? I’d have to Google it later.

“I dropped my stuff,” I pointed to the mess, giving him a ‘duh’ look.

“Do you enjoy pissing me off? You’ve only been here two days and it seems to be a hobby of yours!”

His nostrils flared with anger and his blonde hair stuck up wildly around his head—like he’d been running his fingers through it repeatedly.

“Oh yes,” I smiled slowly, “it fills my heart to be yelled at by men I don’t know. Thanks for fulfilling my fetish.”

He narrowed his eyes—eyes that I couldn’t help but notice held an underlying sadness.

“You’re a smart mouth, you know that, right?”

“I’ve heard that before,” I told him, bending to pick up the box that contained my cupcakes and the now empty cup of coffee.

“One of these days, I’m going to shut you up.” Smirking, he tilted his head and added, “I promise you’ll enjoy my methods.”

I wasn’t surprised when the door closed and he was gone.

It didn’t take long to learn that Caelan always got the last word.

???

I woke up the next morning with nervous butterflies assaulting my stomach.

Day Three of my new life meant Day One of my new job.

Griffin had grabbed my arm before I left the shop yesterday, telling me to be in by ten in the morning.

That was completely doable.

He hadn’t told me about a dress code though. Based on his casual attire, I assumed there wasn’t one. None of the other people working there had been dressed a certain way.

After my shower I dressed in a pair

of jeans and a white tank top with a worn blue plaid shirt thrown over top—it was my go to comfort outfit.