“That’s payback for dropping me on my ass this morning,” he says, still grinning.
I huff, but the relief is instant. I grab my tray and move down the line, Axel trailing behind me. We load up our plates. He grabs three slices of pizza, a bag of chips, cookies, and a sports drink. Must be nice to have the metabolism of a teenage boy.
I stick with one slice of pizza and a side salad.
“Did you seriously just cut in front of all these people?” I ask, nodding toward the students behind us.
“Yup,” he replies, zero shame in sight.
Rude.
We pay, and I follow him across the cafeteria to a table tucked in the corner. Three of the six seats are already taken.
“You already know Jessie,” Axel says as we approach. “That’s Rachel, and that’s Nik.”
I recognize Rachel’s name immediately, remembering Jessie mentioned she was Axel’s girlfriend.
She looks exactly how I pictured: all edgy glam, with a shaggy brunette bob and a sharp eyeliner wing that gives Jessie’s a run for its money.
But it’s Nik who catches my attention. He’s beautiful in that GQ way—dark blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and striking features. Effortlessly hot. The kind of guy who probably knows it.
There’s an empty seat next to him that I slide into without hesitation. Axel sits across from me beside Rachel, while Jessie drops into the seat on Rachel’s other side. I’m fully prepared to strike up a conversation with Nik, but Rachel’s already locked in on me.
“So,” she says, loud enough to turn heads, “this is your cousin?”
Axel barely glances up. “Stepcousin.”
“Same thing,” she says with a dismissive wave.
She eyes me up and down, her expression unreadable. Then, like she’s discussing the weather, she asks, “so, your mom died, huh?”
I choke on my bite of pizza and start coughing violently.
Axel and Jessie both whip toward her.
“Rachel!” they snap in unison.
She shrugs, all faux innocence. “What? I’m just trying to get to know her.”
She continues. “You poor thing. That’s so terrible. It must suck not having a mommy anymore.”
"That’s enough." Axel barks, making everyone jump. Rachel finally clues in and shuts her trap.
I manage to stop coughing, but now I’m fuming. What a bitch.
“Yes, Rachel. It does suck,” I deadpan. “But you know what sucks even more? Being an inconsiderate twat.”
Beside me, Nik fails to hide his snort. “Oh, shit,” he mutters under his breath.
“If you’ll excuse me…” I push back from the table. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Lina, wait! Don’t go!” Jessie calls, but I’m already walking away, pretending not to hear.
“Dammit, Rachel!” Axel snaps as I make my way between the tables.
I don’t get why he’s even with someone like that. Rachel doesn’t know me, and she still set out to upset me on purpose. Ugh, I hate that it worked.
It takes every ounce of restraint to dump my tray and walk to the bathroom without crying. But the second I’m locked in a stall, the tears fall.
