Rabbit slipped the paper wrapper off the candy bar and peeled back an edge of the foil, snapping a piece off and slipping it into his mouth. As the mixture of mint and chocolate exploded on his tongue, he folded the wrapper back over, covering the rest of the bar, and slid it back into his pocket.
That overwhelming anxiety that had started to rush over him dissipated, the comforting taste of mint helping to soothe his disgruntled nerves. It wasn’t just all this talk of his mother that was threatening to give him a panic attack in the middle of the cafeteria. It was the idea of having to meet someone new who possibly was only interested because of his music.
Because all that did was draw attention to the fact that, at the end of the day, that’s all
Rabbit was ever going to be or be good for.
If he didn’t play the beiska, he’d be nothing.
On the same token, his mother having already approved of this merger should be giving him some sense of relief. If he and Arlet hit it off, he’d have someone he could count on and confide in for real. Someone he wouldn’t have to be afraid his mother would disapprove and get rid of.
Like the last time.
Sila’s gaze slipped past his shoulder, catching interest in something, but the moment he noticed Rabbit was done chewing the piece of candy he returned his attention to him and smiled comfortingly. “When’s it scheduled?”
“Friday.”
“That’s two days from now.” Sila thought it over. “I have a date that night too. Want to double? It might be easier for you to have a wingman since it’s obvious you’re hopeful this works out and you can check the fiancé box off your To-Do list.”
“Shut up.” Rabbit rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it. Once he’d graduated, he would go on to perform and build his actual career. Since he wasn’t a pop star or anything of the like, staying single wouldn’t be beneficial to him. Instead, presenting himself as a family man with a loving partner and a flourishing relationship would.
Or, at least, that’s what his mother had told him when she’d announced this plan in the three-minute-long communication she’d left him this morning.
“She already booked the restaurant,” he said. “If I change plans and she finds out she’ll disown me.”
If he was lucky. Which he never had been before.
“Her future cash cow?” Sila teased. “Yeah right. But I get it. You can call me if you need anything, or if it ends up going well and you want to take it somewhere else, send me a text and I can meet you guys somewhere.”
Rabbit hadn’t considered what they’d do if the date did end up going well. They were scheduled to have dinner, but he wasn’t so naïve that he wasn’t aware dates could continue past that point if both parties were amicable. Maybe they could grab coffee or something…Should he look up what other things were in the area of the restaurant?
Sila’s multi-slate chimed and he checked it quickly before his gaze slid over Rabbit’s shoulder one more time. “I’ve got to get to class. Aren’t you going to be late too?”
Cursing, Rabbit realized he was right, getting up and snatching his bag and his tray in a harried rush. He opened his mouth to agree, turning at the same time, and ended up colliding into a hard surface that most definitely shouldn’t have been there.
The momentum had him stumbling back a step, just barely catching himself with his right hand on the edge of the table to keep from completely falling on his ass. The mostly full lunch tray he’d been holding clattered to the ground with a loud sound that caused his ears to ring, but it wasn’t the only one.
Another joined it, food splattering all over the black marble floor. The contents also landed on a set of black shin-high boots, smearing condiments that hadn’t been on Rabbit’s tray all over them and the charcoal-black pants that were tucked into them.
“I am so sorry!” Rabbit looked up at the person he’d just rudely bumped into, about to offer to buy them another lunch, processing too late that a hush had fallen over the entire cafeteria and all eyes were on them.
He met a steely teal-blue gaze and sucked in a sharp breath.
Baikal Void, one of the Devils of Vitality, stood in all his intimidating glory less than three feet away. And he was scowling.
Like Rabbit, he was a senior and therefore dressed in all black, the leather accents of his clothing making everything he wore from head to toe appear expensive—which it most likely was considering what school they went to and who the Void family was.
They were well-known mafia, with criminal ties to other organizations located throughout the galaxy, but they also happened to own or have a hand in more than half the businesses on planet as well. As the only child of CEO/Dominus Sullivan Void, Baikal was set to inherit it all, which would make him the most powerful person on Vitality, even above the Emperor himself.
And Rabbit had just spilled food on his shoes.
He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and pressed against the table, straightening to his full height. He was only an inch or two shorter than Baikal and yet somehow he felt small in the presence of the other man, a feeling he wasn’t overly fond of. That added to the realization of where he was and how many people were watching, had him tucking away the insecurity and anxiety, expertly hiding them away from view.
Like a switch was flipping inside of himself, Rabbit’s spine straightened and his shoulders squared, his voice lacking the franticness it’d held only a moment prior before he’d realized exactly who it was he’d bumped into.
“Sorry,” he said, “seems like neither of us was watching where we were going.”
On the one hand, antagonizing the heir to the Brumal was idiotic, on the other, Rabbit’s reputation was on the line, and if rumors got around that he allowed anyone—even one of the famous Devils of Vitality—to intimidate him publicly, his mother would be on the first ship back to planet.
