“Then you need to get your shit together,” she demanded.
I scoffed. “I thought we weren’t allowed to tell each other what to do.”
Ava huffed. “Don’t you have a class to get to?”
I didn’t move. “I might. Why do you care?”
“Oh, shit,” Marcus said, like he’d just realized something. “I’m going to be late for class, too.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Kallie offered.
It was obvious they were giving us our space. I was sure everyone could feel the rising tension between Ava and me, and they wanted to get the hell away from us. It was infuriating.
I pressed my fingers to my forehead, where a tension headache was forming. “I don’t want to fight. I’m just sick of sitting aroundtalkingabout this. I’m ready to do something.”
“Any suggestions?” Ava asked.
Not really.
“We could get something to eat,” I said, because she needed to eatsomething.
“I’m not hungry,” she stated, but it sounded flat. She was obviously lying. Oberi sighed heavily and pressed his forehead into my hand, further confirming my suspicions. If Oberi was concerned, so was I.
“You should eat something,” I pressed.
“I saidI’m fine,” she insisted. She could be so stubborn sometimes.
I pursed my lips. “Oberi, is she fine?”
She doesn’t want me to tell you,he admitted.You’re both fools, if you ask me.
“Oberi says you’re lying,” I stated firmly.
“Oberi!” she objected. “That’s not fair.”
What’s not fair is how you two have been treating each other,Oberi said in a snarky tone.
How have I been treating her?I demanded of Oberi in my mind.Like I care?
I know you do,he said.Might as well admit it.
I’m not admitting anything,I growled at him.
“What are you two talking about?” Ava demanded. “It’s not fair that you two can have private conversations. I’m bonded to Oberi, too.”
“I’m not the one who knows how this bonding thing works,” I said. “I don’t know why Oberi can talk to me and not to you.”
She’s jealous,Oberi told me.
Of course she is,I replied.Why don’t you just talk to her?
It’s not that easy. She has to let me in.
“What’s Oberi saying?” Ava asked again.
“He says you need to stay healthy.” I shoved my coffee toward her. “Drink up.”
Ava’s took a step back. “You know I can’t drink anything from Commissary. You remember what happened last time I did.”
