Chapter 3
Over coffee, they got to know each other. Verity concluded that other coffee had been spoiled for her by Dan’s caffeine-related skills, gave up, and ordered a store specialty that involved cinnamon and caramel; Lia opted for simple and strong and black, but then eyed the sugar with a mix of longing and guilt. Steam from her oversized mug kissed her hair, and left pink in her pale cheeks; she’d peeled off her stained suit jacket, though the crimson blouse beneath would likely never be the same.
“Go on,” Verity said, about the sugar. “I won’t tell anyone.” She thought about her own appearance for a moment: shortness, battered boots, black leather, tattoos. She did not think she was unattractive, exactly—she’d always thought she had a realistic sense of all her skill sets—but she
