“But you said you didn’t want to do it again,” Seb said, confused.
“Yup! No way in hell. But I think it was… useful to experience something like that at least once. Now I know I have it in me to stand up for myself when I get disrespected. And let me tell you, it felt good.”
After beaming some more, Ainsley paused, straightened a little in her seat, and then grew a bit more self-conscious.
“I have you to thank for that, of course…” she continued, looking at the ground while swinging her foot restlessly. “I wouldn’t have been half as brave if you weren’t there with me. And also, um… thanks for standing up for me first. All I could do at the start was freeze, and I probably would’ve just forced a smile and answered him if I’d been alone.
“But you didn’t even hesitate to call him out.
