Nico takes it and sticks it in his folder. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. In class.”
“You can use that whenever you want.” She winks before turning and seeing me beside her.
“Hi.” I wave, because what else are you supposed to do to a girl who’s hitting on your man.
She looks me up and down before sneering and walking away.
“I don’t think she likes me.” I step closer to Nico.
“Probably not.” He takes my hand. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” I ask as we walk out of the classroom and not towards the cafeteria. “Are we having lunch off campus? Because that would be awesome. I didn’t really pack my lunch today.”
“I only have you for an hour, so we’re going to multitask.” Nico pushes out the doors and leads me to his car.
I look back for the others. “Just us?”
Grinning, he opens his car door for me. “Just us.”
A little thrill races through me as I settle into the seat. I don’t know how he did it, but I’m glad I don’t have to face Luke. Nico rounds the car and gets in. Five minutes later, he pulls through a McDonald’s drive-through and orders us meals.
I immediately grab the bag and eat a french fry. “See, this is why you’re one of my favorites.”
“I should be your only favorite, sunshine.” Turning up the music, he grins and drives into the hills surrounding the city. I hold out a fry to him, and he snatches it with his teeth. It feels decadent and disobedient to be out here with him.
Especially with how angry Luke was about the Cheermonsters. He doesn’t understand the more he antagonizes them, the more they’ll come after me. I don’t want him to give in to them, because they want to fuck my men. But we can at least try to find common ground. Maybe.
Nico pulls into a secluded spot and turns off the car, setting the emergency brake and turning the music down low.
My phone buzzes with multiple missed texts. I glance over them. Panic wells inside me with each text.
“Oh, shit, did you tell them you were taking me to lunch?”
The last text was from Luke.
Death:
We know you left campus. Don’t make us hunt you down
Anxiety winds its way through my body, making my heart race and my hands tremble. They haven’t punished me in a while, and I really don’t want to be punished again. Who knows what they’ll do to me now.
“Do I need to tell them everything I do?” Nico takes a bite of his burger like he has nothing better to do.
“Fuck, Nico. You won’t be the one who gets in trouble.”
Me:
Nico took me to get McDonald’s
I hit send, but the panic rises within me. What kind of punishment will they do, especially if they don’t want me to like it? There’s nothing left for them to take. Well, one thing. I squirm in my seat thinking about last night.
“Eat, sunshine.” Nico wipes his hands and picks up his buzzing phone.
Watching him, I unwrap my burger and take a bite while he answers his phone.
“Yes, she’s with me.” Nico leans back in his seat. “I didn’t know I needed to check her out like a library book.”
He winks, and I remember to take another bite. What if they come out to find us? Will they punish Nico too?
