Infini (Aerial Ethereal #2)(47)
Just like that, they all start eating and their irritations about Luka’s tardiness vanishes. His generosity goes a long way.
I’d say it was all a ploy, but he probably would’ve brought food regardless of being late.
Without a word, like this is as common as any other day, Luka sits right beside me.
Knees bent, leaning against the wall. We’re so close that I see the rise and fall of his chest when he breathes.
I inhale. His shampoo must be citrusy, but he smells mostly like peppermint candy. It’s a scent that I want to lean into, but I’m afraid to risk it in front of Dimitri.
His cousin is eyeing us a little, but he’s mostly busy eating.
I watch Luka open his paper to-go bag. He pulls out candy boxes of Swedish Fish, Hot Tamales, and then a can of original Pringles. Lastly, he hands a plastic container to me.
I put my journal on my lap and grip the container. Snapping the lid open, my heart skips.
He bought me a grilled cheese.
I’m floored for a second. That he remembered how much I like grilled cheese, especially after my dad died. That he thought about me when he ordered.
My throat closes. I don’t think I’ll ever find someone like him. The thought devastates me, but I’m also just happy to have this moment. Torn. I wonder if I’ll always be torn when I’m near him now.
“Thanks,” I say quietly.
Luka nods and pops a can of Fizz Life. Gently, he tilts his head towards me and speaks hushed so no one else can hear. “You’ll tell me if I overstep or anything? The line’s kind of…fuzzy.” The intensity of his gray eyes pummel me. It’s like he’s asking if I’m okay with him moving closer in my life or if it’s too uncomfortable for me. Wondering if I’m scared.
I am scared.
I’m terrified, but I want more of him. So much. “Yeah,” I say, breathless. “Actually, I need to ask you—”
“Hey, you two,” Dimitri calls us out loudly and makes a gesture that means separate.
All eyes plaster onto us, and the chatter dies down. I reluctantly pick myself off the floor and carry my grilled cheese and journal.
Luka follows.
When I sink beside my brother, he shakes his head at me.
“What?” I whisper with a shrug. I could cry. I’m just…I hate this. I hate lying to Brenden, and I hate that he believes the worst about Luka. To the point where I can’t even sit next to him without seeming weak and disloyal.
I lose my appetite, shutting my plastic container.
“What’s going on there?” Sergei motions between Luka and me with a fork. The chairs aren’t really even in rows anymore; we all sit in jagged lines, faced towards one another.
“Nothing,” Luka and I say in unison.
Sergei’s brows jump. “Sounds like something to me.” He aggravatingly digs into his chicken. Maybe he’s remembering that Luka called him a piece of shit while defending me.
“If no one’s going to say it, I will,” Brenden starts.
My eyes widen. “No, Brenden.”
“Yes,” he retorts. “Do you even remember what happened, Bay?” His voice is soft but also condescending.
“Yeah, I do. I lived it.” My neck heats at all the pierced gazes on me. I don’t like this. I don’t want to do this. “Please, Brenden, stop.”
He does stop out of respect for me, but Sergei apparently wants to guess now. “You two had a falling out?” Sergei speculates. “You got in trouble somehow?”
Luka shakes Hot Tamales into his mouth, not saying a word. Looking nonchalant about everything, but his muscles are flexed.
“No one’s going to say anything?” Sergei questions like we’re all acting suspicious.
Thora raises her hands. “I’m new. I mean, sort of.”
“What were you doing with all those forms anyway?” Brenden asks, finding a way to dodge the subject.
Thank you.
“I just completed the Wellness Program,” she says. “Technically I did a short version before I first auditioned, but I didn’t land the job back then. Since they hired me on, they wanted a full physical.” Thora drums her paperback and adds, “Oh, I’m all clear. In case you were curious or whatever…” She trails off and makes a face like she sucks at talking.
When we first met, I thought she disliked me, but she shook my hand for an awkward beat too long, actually admitted to being kind of awkward, and said she has RBF. Then Thora asked if I needed anything from the drugstore. She was about to make a quick stop for bathroom essentials.
She also tripped on her way out.
In a one-second meeting, I determined that I liked Nikolai’s girlfriend—maybe even more than I like Nik.
Sergei kicks the leg of Luka’s chair, stealing his attention. “Honesty is important between partners.” Great, he’s back to our secret. “So what’s going on here?” He gestures again. From me to Luka. From Luka to me.
Luka looks to Dimitri.
Sergei glowers. “Why are you turning to him?”
“Cool it, Serg,” Dimitri says huskily.
“That’s my brother, not yours.” Sergei stabs his fork in his chicken breast. “Don’t tell me to cool it.”
“Stop,” Luka breathes.
No one hears him.