Page 56 of Pieces of Ash

“Ashley!” exclaims Noelle. “She’s Tigín’s sister!”

“Tigín…the model?”

“Yes!”

I don’t face Julian, but I hear his feet step into the room, smell his freshly showered scent as he passes me. Now his eyes are staring back at mine from across the counter. Just like hissister, he scans my face, realization dawning on his features as he nods slowly.

“Oh, yeah. Huh. I missed that.”

“I didn’t mention it,” I say.

“Why not?” he asks, his expression troubled.

“It’s better if…I mean…she’s…forget it.” I purse my lips for a second before slipping off my stool and reaching for my cup. “It was nice to meet you, Noelle.”

“Wait,” she says, hopping off her own stool and rushing around the counter to stand before me. “Where are you going?”

I shoot a quick glance at Julian, who’s still staring at me thoughtfully, before I look back at his sister. “I stay upstairs. In the attic.”

“So?” she asks. “You eat dinner down here, right?”

“Yes…but…n-no. I can’t. I…I mean…”

“Jules!” she says. “Ashley has to join us for dinner tonight. Tell her.”

“I’m sure she has other?—”

“You’ll join us, won’t you? We always order from Pizza Hearth in Charlotte. It’s decent for Vermont. I promise!”

Julian crosses his arms over his chest and shrugs. It’s clear he wants me to decline, but the thought of going back upstairs to my attic room and Tig’s vitriol makes me feel so desperate, I find myself nodding at Noelle.

“I’d love to. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Great. That’s settled.” She steps back around the counter and grabs her bag. “I’ll put my stuff in your room, Jules. Open a few beers for us?”

She breezes from the kitchen, leaving me and her brother alone. He gives me an appraising look from across the counter.

“Really?”

“Really what?”

“You’re Tigín’s sister?”

I nod.

“Kind of a big detail to omit about your life, don’t you think?”

I know he doesn’t really want an answer, so I shrug, taking a sip of my tea and ignoring the opportunity to point out that he’s never really asked.

“So why are you here?” he asks. “In a fight with your big sister? You must know a million people, have a million places where you could go.”

“Gus is here,” I say simply.

“Who is he to you?”

“My godfather. He was her best friend.”

“Wait…was?” His brows furrow.