Ashton marches up behind me, making sure he hurries before anyone else takes the spot directly next to me. “Hey, stranger,” he says with a smirk.
I size him up, unsure what the hell he’s doing.
“Just grabbing lunch,” he says, clearly recognizing my suspicion.
“Luca wasn’t in class today. Everything okay?” I ask. I order a sandwich and wait for the girl behind the counter to prepare it for me.
“I don’t know. He threw a knife at me the other day. Sunday, he didn’t say a word to me during practice. Are you two doing okay?” Ashton asks.
I’ve never known him to inquire about Luca and me. After what transpired Saturday at the Ricci’s home, I’m hesitant to share much. But he does know what’s going on, and since I can’t tell Kensley, maybe confiding in him is the next best option?
“I don’t think so,” I say. I grab a bag of chips and wait for Ashton to get his sandwich before we both head to the register to check out.
“Second guessing your choices?” Ashton asks.
I open my mouth but shut it. I’m not sure what he’s saying, but I don’t entirely trust him. Not after what happened over the weekend. “I guess you can say Luca and I aren’t talking.”
Ashton and I pay for our meals, and he walks with me to the table that Kensley is saving for us.
“Why aren’t you and Luca talking?” Ashton asks, waiting for my answer.
He’s definitely fishing for information. I’m just not sure why.
Is it out of mere curiosity or something more sinister?
I sit at the table, and he decides to join us, uninvited. “I’m Ashton,” he says, putting down his tray and then holding out his hand to properly introduce himself.
Kensley is already munching down her sandwich and puts it down, then wipes her hands on her napkin before reaching for his hand. “Kensley,” she says. “Sorry, you totally caught me off guard. Wasn’t expecting new friends. But it’s all good.”
Kensley’s eyes are wide, and she’s trying to figure out what’s going on.
“Kensley and I met the first week on campus,” I say. “I know Ashton through Luca. They’re roommates.”
“You met me first,” Ashton says, smirking.
He’s wrong. I met Luca first, but Ashton technically asked me out first. I don’t tell him that, it’s not something he needs to know. Besides, it would probably just come back to bite me in the ass with Luca.
“Are you flirting with me?” I ask, trying to disarm whatever the hell he’s up to.
Ashton quickly shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “No,” he says and turns his attention to Kensley, like I just insulted him.
“So, how was your weekend?” Kensley asks. “You never called to tell me how that date with Luca went.”
“It didn’t happen,” I say and glance down at my food, as though it were the most interesting thing in the world. I take a bite and hope Kensley won’t ask anything more.
I’m not that lucky.
“Did hockey practice get in the way?” she asks.
“No, I did,” I say and glance at Ashton.
Luca and I haven’t spoken since Saturday night when he dropped me off back at school. “Luca is icing me out,” I say.
Kensley frowns. “What’d you do?” she asks, leaning forward, completely engrossed in my lack of a love life.
Ashton watches me, and it’s that look that says more than any words ever could. He’s waiting to see if I break and reveal the truth about the Ricci family.
I won’t. Besides, I don’t even care that they’re mafia. That’s hardly news. The bigger story is that they’ve kidnapped a little boy, which I spent all day Sunday trying to figure out who the kid is, but I came up empty—until I saw the news on television.
