My mind feels like mush. The article isn’t exactly bad, definitely not the worst I’ve seen, and it’s not like Seraphina’s point of view is new. Honestly, her part just felt rehashed. I wonder when Marina gave her statement to Harold. It had to have been before class, but when did her switch flip from hating me to wanting to be my friend?
Shit. This is all so fucked up.
Crumpling up the paper, I toss it in the trash and glance at myself in the mirror. I look as tired as I feel, but I know exactly what will make me feel better.
My friends.
7
“Maybe we should take our lunch and go,” Theo says, eyeing the pile of students crowded inside the cafeteria.
I consider his suggestion as I chew on my bottom lip. He’s not wrong, but if there’s anything I’ve learned about my sunshine, it’s that she’s full of surprises. “Let’s wait to see what Hayliel thinks.”
“What I think about what?”
Theo replies, but I can barely hear what he’s saying because I’m lost in the sight of her, drowning beneath her radiant light. It doesn’t matter that I saw her just a few hours ago. I already knew she wore her hair down today, flowing freely across her shoulders and over her back.
It’s hard to miss the jacket she’s wearing today: a black leather thing that absolutely can’t be hers. But whose is it, and why is she wearing it?
Before I let myself obsess over it too much, I shift my gaze back to her face. Her usually shining blue eyes hold a little less sparkle today, the gold flecks barely visible. She must not be getting enough sleep. Maybe I can help with that.
“…see how it goes. With you guys here, I don’t feel so alone.” Hayliel smiles, and I watch as Theo practically melts. He tries to hide it, still worried that our friendship won’t withstand wanting the same woman, but I disagree. Other angels, maybe. But not with him, and certainly not with her. This girl has enough room in her heart for both of us. I just have to find out if her mind does, too. If last night was any indication, I think she just might.
“You’re never alone, not with us,” Theo reassures her, and she reaches out to squeeze his hand.
I take her other one, clasping both of mine on top of her small, dainty hand. “Never. And if this is an invitation for us to bunk in your dorm every night, we accept.”
A blush steals across her cheeks, and she laughs but doesn’t deny it.Laugh it off all you want, but you can’t hide the spark of heat in your eyes. Oh yes. My pretty little sunshine can definitely take us both.
We make our way through the cafeteria until we’re standing in line to grab food. It feels more like we’re the main attraction at the zoo instead of just four students trying to get some grub. But I soon realize they aren’t staring at all of us, only one.
Hayliel tries to ignore the stares and politely declines the multiple offers for her to skip ahead in line by students who I’m almost positive were scowling at her not too long ago. By the time we’ve got everything we need and find a table in the corner, she looks even more exhausted.
Sitting so she isn’t facing the crowd, I watch as she slowly comes back to herself. She must sense my staring because she looks over and our eyes meet just as she takes a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth. Well, fuck me. Who knew some creamy white yogurt on a spoon would do things to me?
Dina makes her way to us, pressing a hand to Hayliel’s shoulder and asking to save her a seat while she waits in the line that’s twice as long as before. It’s not like we’d let anyone else sit here, though. Maybe that house leader, Ezekiel, but if I didn’t have to see him today, I wouldn’t mind. He always manages to upset my girl, and that’s just not something that’ll fly with me.
The cafeteria is loud with chatter, but I drown it out in favor of listening to Hayliel offer Theo a slice of her pizza when she notices he doesn’t have any.
“Nah, but thank you. I’m not really a pizza guy.”
“Um. What did you just say? Because it sounded like you said you don’t like pizza, but that’s crazy talk.”
“It’s not that I hate it. I’m just particular. And I can’t get the image of some random angel biting into a slice on my first evening here and getting the entire layer of toppings draped down his chin.” He shudders, likely recalling the smear of sauce and grease along that kid’s chin.
Hayliel laughs and holds up her slice. “Well, I haven’t been slapped by the angry toppings god. What if I hold it for you and then you can at least try it? I don’t know who it was, but maybe that angel just doesn’t know how to bite properly. It happens to the best of us.”
He glances at me quickly, and I keep my nod as imperceptible as possible despite my want to nod vigorously because shit. This is definitely something I want to see.
“Alright, alright. Pizza me.”
She scooches her chair a little closer to him and holds up the pizza. He leans in slowly, his eyes shifting from her face to the slice before he sinks his teeth into it, their gazes locked.
We’re in a trance. Me watching them while they watch each other. It’s fucking hot.
And when Hayliel lifts a finger, swiping at the sauce on the corner of his lips before bringing it to her mouth where she licks it off … Holy shit. I might combust on the spot, and it looks like Theo could, too.
Some ass-faced angel approaches us, killing the mood. He sits in the empty seat beside Hayliel with no tray or food in sight. I don’t even know if he notices Theo and me here with her, because he only looks at her.
