Page 24 of Monstrous Serpent

“I like marshmallows. Get over it.”

Atlas smiles at the girl behind the counter as he hands her his credit card. “Can you believe this guy broke my nose once for touching his secret stash of marshmallows?”

She looks from him to me, then to the credit card machine.

I punch him in the shoulder. “Fucking dumbass.”

He grabs our Italian ices, laughing, and has the spoon in his mouth before we make it to the side counter. “. . . and then this kid bumps into him and . . .” He scoops another bite. “. . . Shaw just stares at the guy, flipping his knife, smiling, and the kid's tray is shaking.” Another bite. “And Cap dragged him away by the hair.”

“The hell are you going on about?”

He waves the spoon around in the air. “What you missed at the food court because you had plans.”

“What else happened?”

He shoves another spoonful into his mouth. “Nothing much.”

“Then why’d you take an edible? No one walked you back to the dorm?”

He glares at me. “Rua did, asshole.”

I take a bite of my ice.

Asshole.

He’s mad at me for something.

Atlas shoves too large a scoop into his mouth, and melted yellow ice collects at the corners. There’s already some on his shirt.

Such a mess.

I reach over and swipe it with my thumb, then go back to my ice.

Atlas sputters, coughing around whatever’s in his mouth, stepping back slightly.

My brows furrow. “You good?”

He takes a napkin, wiping his face. “Yeah.”

I step closer. “Tell me what I did.”

“What? Nothing.” He shakes his head, shoving more Birthday Cake ice into his mouth. “It’s not you.”

“Atlas.”

“I said it’s not you.” He sighs, shoulders slumping. “Drop it, okay?”

“Not happening.”

He looks over my shoulder, eyes going wide, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Well, holy fucking shit. Look who it is.”

I turn, following his sightline.

Jenkins.

He’s outside a grille two storefronts away, standing with a group at one of the patio tables, laughing.

My eyes narrow on the guy whose hand is resting on his shoulder.