“I don’t understand what they see in you,” Jace says.
“What are you even talking about?”
“Tex is rebelling. Luca won’t shut up about you. And Noah—” His jaw clenches tighter. “They’re supposed to have my back, but all of them are tripping over themselves foryou.You are ruining everything.”
I blink once, tilting my head. “Sounds like ayouproblem.”
His nostrils flare.
“I didn’t ask for any of them to like me, or even talk to me. In fact, I’ve done everything I can to stay the hell out of their way. Maybe they’re just tired of being your minions.”
He scoffs, but I don’t miss the flicker of something behind his eyes.
“You think you’re special? You think that you are different than all the other pussy walking around these halls? Let me break it down for you. You’re not. Just another girl with the same shit between her legs.”
My blood boils and ringing begins in my ears.
“I’ve already been through hell, Jace. You think you scare me? Or that your opinion matters?”
He doesn’t answer, just stares at me like he can’t decide whether to hate me more.
I step around him, brushing his shoulder as I pass.
“I’m not here to break your little friend group,” I say over my shoulder. “But if it’s breaking, maybe it was never that strong to begin with.”
The café iswarm and dimly lit. Cinnamon, coffee, and the smell of something sweet floats around me. I feel like any moment I’m going to become a cartoon following the scent trail.
River is already here. He looks cute out of uniform, wearing relaxed jeans, a faded gray long-sleeved shirt, and his tousled blond hair. Waiting by the window with two mugs in front of him. He spots me and stands with a genuine smile. “Hey, you made it.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Wasn’t sure this place actually existed or if it was just a rumor.” I undo my black jacket and place it on the back of my seat. My cream color sweater matches the cozy vibes of the café.
“It’s real. I promise the drinks don’t suck.”
I take a seat across from him. The window is slightly fogged from the warmth inside. The table is small enough that our knees touch. River slides one of the mugs towards me.
“I love the hot chocolate here. Thought I’d get one for you. It’s a classic, but, if you hate it, we can get something else.”
I raise the warm mug and let the chocolate smell fill my nose. The whipped cream on top mixes in with the rich flavor and its perfect.
“This is delicious.” I lick my lips.
“I knew you’d like it.” He beams, taking a sip from his own mug.
We talk while music plays. Nothing deep. Just simple things like music,weird Blackmoore rumors, his theory that the head of the history department might secretly be a vampire.
It’s easy being around him. It’s all light and warm. He doesn’t push or pry. He listens, he laughs at the right moments. Makes eye contact without it feeling like he’s trying to pry my brain open and study it under a microscope.
I feel like I could like that.
I watch the way his fingers trace the rim of his mug absently while he talks, the way he occasionally taps his foot against the leg of the table, keeping time with music playing.
At one point, he tilts his head slightly and says, “You’re different than I thought you’d be.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know. People talk you know? And trust me I know better than to believe everything I hear but there’s something about you. Like a quiet strength. It’s kind of magnetic.”
I swallow roughly. I don’t know what to say.
