Page 31 of Broken Trust

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He chews.

Swallows.

Then a grin tugs at one corner of his mouth.

“I’ve been sent to spy on you.”

The table erupts with laughter.

I point at him. “Axle Trust, you’ll do no such thing.” I try to sound serious.

His grin widens. “Oh, I plan to give him a full report.”

His eyes stay on mine.

“So you better work extra hard to impress me.”

I exhale dramatically.

“Yes, sir.” The words leave my mouth before my brain can stop them. The second I say it, I realize how it sounded.

Oh my God.

No.

No, no, no.

My face catches fire.

Did that sound flirty?

It sounded flirty.

My friends at school are constantly accusing me of flirting without realizing it.

I never mean to.

It’s just how I talk.

But now I’m sitting across from Axle Trust.

And—

Oh no.

His eyes flash.

Just briefly.

Like he finds me amusing.

Then his mouth lifts into a half grin.

And I want to crawl directly beneath the table.

Cabe saves me.

Literally.

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