I have but to trust her

“It all seems to be work made to work out,” you say. “I’ll be ready to whatever **** you deem to be appropriate during this, uh, contract?”

“It’ll be a contract once you and I make contact with the first raider group, but we’ll be client tell,” Amara tells you. “In the meantime, we shouldn’t do anything foolish.”

You nod, agreeing with her without having to act. “I’ll be lounging around the house.”

“With me,” Amara cuts in quickly. “I haven’t spent much time with you, so I would like to get to know you better.”

“21 questions or a drink at Tiny’s Tavern?” You smile at her, but she doesn’t budge.

“I’m serious,” the tone of her voice doesn’t go up or down, but her gaze does wash over you like you’re a piece of unwanted trash and that she’s deciding how she’s going to spend her time with you.

For a few awkward seconds, all you do is look at each other. Then you speak up. “21 questions AND a drink at Tiny’s Tavern?”

Amara covers her face with her palm. “What do the others see you in that is so attractive?”

“You’re not coming up with anything wonderful ideas. But, at least I’m trying!”

Her lips pucker as if you’ve just struck a complex subject. “Shut up,” she retorts.

“You’re being difficult,” you murmur, prompting her to stand up.

“You’re the one that has made me difficult,” she glares at you. Her mind went through a million different thoughts in seconds. “Sleeping with my team members, getting them killed, failing to work with them–”

“I haven’t failed to work with anyone!”

“Scarlet is gone, and you couldn’t work with Kenji longer than two days! So you tell me how that looks!”

You realize how bad your track record has been and suddenly feel your face getting red. Have you been that bad of a contractor? A curse parts from your lips while your eyes are downcast. “Whatever.”

“Whatever is right,” she spits. “Christ. Maybe it’s good Scarlet is gone. I would have strangled her for wanting to recruit you. Now, look at what you’ve done. You pushed her so far against the wall she actually tried to kill Alexandra.”

Her hands close into fists before she crosses her arms. “Fuck. I don’t know what to do with you. I’ve never felt so out of place.”

“I mean, you got space to be pissed. Do you really want to waste your time with me today or not?”

“I’d rather not. But we need to. For my sake.”

“How then?”

“I don’t know,” she admits. “I guess we can go out for some drinks later tonight. We can leave Flora and Alexandra after dinner. How’s that?”

“Better than yelling at each other, I guess.”

“Good,” Amara says. “Now get the fuck out of my room.”