Page 178 of Resurgent

“You're not getting acknowledgment.”

“Fine.”

Twenty minutes later, we finally secure the cushions to the feet so it doesn’t scratch the floor.

“Beautiful,” Matt says, beaming at the desk I could have done in far less time had I not invited him to help.

“It’s crooked.”

Matt looks again. “It is not!”

It absolutely is, but I’d rather fix it after he leaves than continue this torture.

My phone buzzes, instantly drawing both of our attention.

I pull it from my pocket so fast Matt actually laughs.

A message from Dean Stevens to all the staff reminding us about our meeting tomorrow to update her on our efforts to find the monster killing recruits.

Matt looks at my face. “Oh, you're really screwed.”

“What? Why?”

“Nothing,” he says, wearing a smug grin.

“Well…I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

“Yeah…we should probably eat something. You know, a reward for conquering that without killing each other,” he says, gesturing toward the desk we just spent far too long assembling.

Matt and I start throwing out options. Pizza. Burgers. Noodles. Tacos. Ramen.

One of us rejects each one, the made-up reasons as ridiculous as how hard we’re trying to pretend we don’t already have a place in mind.

Once we’ve exhausted every food type in town, we both pause and stare at each other.

Then, at nearly the same time, we say, “Staggering Ox?”

Matt clears his throat. “I mean, their food is good.”

“It's for the food, obviously.”

“Absolutely, that's all we're interested in.”

Neither of us moves.

I glance toward the door.

Matt does the same.

Annalise is there tonight. Girls' night. Which is exactly why neither of us should be considering going anywhere near the place.

“I don't see the problem,” Matt says half-heartedly. “We’re grown men who just need sustenance after doing hard manual labor.”

“Exactly. Not checking up on her, just really want some overpriced burgers and fries.”

“Right.”

He points at me. “Sooo…I’ll go get us dinner then?”