I chuckle, putting out the last of the cinnamon buns.I wonder if Danika liked the one I brought her, I never asked.Making a mental note, I close the pastry display.
“I’ll cover you, Carla. Do you want you gotta do.”
She nods in gratitude and props her textbook up in the corner of the coffee bar—the place all of us know is a black out spot on the cameras if the bossman is watching. I can handle a shift with a half-focused partner. Hell, this is the easiest job I’ve ever had.
Four hours later, I’m drenched in sweat and smell like caffeine and cinnamon. I have no idea why so many people decided this morning was the time to come to Groundbreaking, but it seems like everyone on campus plus their uber drivers came to the register and, of course, it was hardly ever a simple black coffee.
If I never have to make another latte again, it’ll be too soon.
I apologize to Carla, turns out I needed her more than I thought I would, and clock out of the register to get to my class on time.
I’m not running late but I’m not exactly in a position to dally as I make my way across campus. Looking at my phone, I see no text from Danika. Not that I expected one but…it would’ve been nice.Maybe I freaked her out more than I thought.
Grimacing, I go to text her, just to check up but my phone falls out of my hand when I walk right into a body.
“Ah shit, man. Sorry,” I start, until I get a full look at my assailant. Nico and his shit-eating grin greet me. “Actually, nevermind.” I mutter, grabbing my phone and stepping around him.
“What? That’s it?” Nico taunts. “You know, I’m about to go meet up with your girl for our study group. Anything you want me to tell her for you? Or, you know, for her I’d be happy to—”
I stalk back to him and I want to grip the front of his shirt with my fist but I hold myself back with every ounce of strength that I have. “Finish that sentence and it will be your last.”
His eyes widen briefly but then the smirk takes over again. He pushes me away and I let him. I need to take my deep breaths. Think about something else. Don’t see red. See blue, the sky. Green, the grass. Yellow, the sun. I feel myself calming already.
“I’m not afraid of you, prick.”
“You should be.”
I turn to leave again but he stops me in my tracks. “I know Danika hates fighting. She’s not going to be with an aggressive guy like you. It’s only a matter of time before she sees through this nice guy act you have on. You’ll snap. And she’ll run right back into my arms.”
I want to tell him he’s wrong.Actually, I want to punch him in his fucking face.But, he’s not. For once, the dick is spewing the truth. She doesn’t want to be with a guy with anger issues. She’s fought against that her whole life. She’s way too headstrong to let any man treat her like that.
He may be right about that, but there’s one thing he’s dead wrong about. One last time, I turn and walk back to him, considerably calmer than I was a few seconds ago.
“If Danika were ever to run back to you, there’s no doubt in my mind that it would be with a knife in her hand.”
I leave him gaping like a fish and walk to my class. Now I’m definitely late, but it was worth it for the look on his face.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Danika
Thelibraryispackedby the time we get there and Paige has to scare off a group of freshmen for us to get a table. She suggests getting a study room, but I recall what my best friend did in one of those rooms last year and quickly veto the idea.
Nico was absent from anatomy lab, and I start getting my hopes up that he might’ve transferred and I can finally relax. Carter still texts him the location of our group—mostly just to not be the only boy—but I doubt he’ll come. He’s missed a lot and he’s certainly not going to be getting any help from me if he does show up.
We’re halfway through our notes on cardiac electrophysiology when the seat next to me suddenly fills. When I glance at the new occupant, my eyes widen. It’s Nico. Which is upsetting enough but…he has a swollen eye.
“What the hell happened to you?” Paige asks before I get to. Which is good, because I don’t want him to think that I care. Because I don’t. I’m just curious.
“Don’t worry about it,” he murmurs, taking out his books. “Sorry, I’m late. What did I miss?” He finally looks at me and I’m shocked by his expression. He looks like he’s lost all the fight he had in him. Like his spirit has been punched out of him. I have no idea who did this to him or why, but I do kind of feel bad. But not bad enough.
“You missed a lot,” I say, looking back to my own notes. I’m not buying into this. I’m ready to move on. But apparently, Paige isn’t.
“Nico, what the fuck? You can’t just show up after being MIA and not give us the details.”
Carter nods his head in agreement with his girlfriend, as he always does, and Paige folds her arms as if to show she’s not going to move on until he tells us what happened.
“Really, it’s fine.”