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But she stayed.
And I’m choosing to take that at face value.
Doesn’t mean I’m any less shocked by it, though.
I don’t think my friends can wrap their heads around it either. God, the looks on their faces when I’d followed Luna downstairs this morning, when she’d plopped herself on my lap, casual as anything. I wish I’d had one of Nick’s fancy cameras on hand to capture their blatant surprise.
“Blink twice if you’re being held hostage,” Ben had murmured to Luna in a dramatic whisper, while Cass asked if she’d got lost on the way to his room and Nick wondered aloud how devastated she must have been to be stuck with the runt of the litter.
But there was a moment, in the kitchen before we left when the girls were raiding our closets, where the guys swarmed me like a post-game celebratory huddle and filled ten, maybe fifteen, seconds with silly, boyish back-slapping and quiet cheering.
It’s been hours and there’s still a general air of disbelief, from my friends and hers. Very quickly, I picked up on the fact this isn’t exactly usual behavior for Luna. More than once, I’ve caught Kate and Amelia looking at her like she’s grown a second head, looking at me like they’re trying to figure something out, but I don’t mind. I’m not going to question it. I’m just going to enjoy it.
Besides, in her defense, I’m pretty sure I keep looking at Amelia the same way. Her being Cass’ long lost sister who just so happens to be Nick’s little crush—newly single, I should add, much to the delight of Luna—swiftly stole the prize of Most Unexpected Night from me.
It’s a comforting distraction, seeing Nick as frazzled as me. He hides it better but if you know him, you can see it. Smiles less easy, quips less frequent, a too-hard set to chronically relaxed shoulders. Amelia’s no better, and she hides it a lot worse. Sitting too straight, casting little looks Nick’s way and immediately checking to see if Cass caught her looking.
It’s because I’m watching them that I see the exact moment Amelia’s entire demeanor changes, a second before heavy hands land on the table, dishes shaking with the force, and the girls on either side of me seem to simultaneously stiffen. “We need to talk.”
It takes a second to recognize the guy looming over us. When I do, I swallow a groan. Freshman year, there was a mix-up with dorm assignments. Nick and Cass were meant to room together but somehow, they got split up. It worked out for me; I got Cass. Nick, however, got Dylan Wells.
I think Nick slept on the floor of our dorm more than he did in his own bed purely because he couldn’t stand being in the same room as the guy.
But the hatred in my friend’s gaze right now? A whole lot more than past roommate resentment.
I only met him a couple of times, and Cass never did, which is why he frowns and asks, “Who are you?”
“Her boyfriend.”
A flurry of arguments erupt, a hostile air settling. I’m not entirely sure what’s happening—he’s a dick, they broke up last night, that’s all I know—and I don’t think it’s a great time to ask. To get involved at all, really. I just try to keep the peace, try to stop Nick from leaping across the table and causing a bloody scene.
That is until Dylan turns his wrath on Luna.
“Luna,” he seethes when she tells him to fuck off, and his tone alone has my guard up, “for once in your life, shut your mouth.”
I’m halfway to standing before I know it. “Watch it.”
A hand on my thigh shoves me back to sitting but despite the nails digging into my skin and the stern look burning a hole in my face, I don’t relax until Dylan fucks off, Amelia unfortunately in tow.
Arm slung around Luna’s shoulder, I squeeze her gently. “Sorry.” When she crooks a brow in question, I quote her from last night, “you don’t need help.”
“I don’t,” she agrees. A hand slinks up my arm, dancing along my shoulder to cup the back of my neck, fingers toying with my hair. “It’s pretty hot when you try, though.”
Something in my chest warms. “That right, sweetheart?”
Luna hums, the noise brushing my lips a moment before hers do.
“Sweetheart, some of us are tryna eat.”
Ben waves a hand in the air, dramatically shushing Kate. “Keep going, this is great breakfast entertainment.”
Cass snorts. “This is a great intro for a condom ad.”
“Ten bucks says they’ll bang in the bathroom.”
“Watch your mouth.” Luna chucks a fry at Ben, a sharp elbow digging into my side. “He’s a gentleman.”
* * *
