Chapter 15 #2
“Of course I am,” he admits, and there’s a genuine tone in his voice that catches me off guard. “But that’s on me to earn your trust, not on you to give it unwarrantedly.”
This is more than unexpected, and the icy irritation turns to something warm inside me. Maybe Grey isn’t just all smirks and provocation. Maybe there’s more depth to him, just as I hope he might see in me.
As we walk toward the cafeteria, I’m acutely aware of him beside me. He has this way of being too close without actually touching, a skill that seems to pull me in despite my better judgment.
The familiar hum of conversation fills the cafeteria, but no whispers this time. Funnily enough, I wasn’t even worried about them since I have Mr. Super Scowl with me.
He heads straight to the vegetarian section, and I follow, reaching for a plate of stuffed bell peppers, but before I can even glance at the ingredients list, Grey nudges me aside and leans in to read it himself.
“Could you not?” I mutter, my tone sharper than intended.
Maybe he’s just audacity made flesh, after all.
“Could you not choose something that could kill you?” he retorts seriously, grabbing the plate from my hands to put it back.
“You didn’t even give me a chance to check it!” I protest.
“You should check before you even take the plate,” he accuses, his tone firm. He scans the offerings, then picks up two plates of pasta primavera after ensuring no peanuts are in them. I grab two bottles of water, and my emotions are now a confusing mix of annoyance and warmth.
Talking to Grey is like a fucking roller-coaster ride.
He makes me feel cared for yet simultaneously gets under my skin with his overbearing nature.
We sit down at their usual table, and he places my plate in front of me. “Here, no nuts, no death.” I just huff, then put some pasta on my fork and take a bite. I feel his eyes on me but keep my eyes on my plate as I chew and swallow. “So, do you like it?” Grey’s voice is almost inviting.
“Yeah, it’s actually pretty good,” I admit reluctantly, and his smile in response lights up his features in a way that makes my stomach do strange flips.
Oh shit.
Misha slides into the seat across from me with a wrap on his tray while Oliver carefully sets down his plate of vegetarian sushi before sitting next to me. Oliver’s gaze lingers on me a moment longer than usual, making my heart flip.
What’s going on with me today?
Or is it them?
Misha looks like he could use another ten hours of sleep as he rubs his eyes before turning to me with a tired grin. “Hey, Amelia, how are you today?”
“How are you?” I reply, trying to muster a grin of my own.
“Tired,” he says with a yawn, making Grey smirk down on his plate.
“Tell us something new.”
“Amelia,” Oliver chimes in, and when I turn to look at him, his smile is as soft as his tone. “Did the updates help with Jamie? Anything weird or glitchy?”
I nod, playing with the fork in my hand. “It’s already much better. Though, he seems to have taken on a lot of your traits. One moment, he’s funny, then kind, and then he’s suddenly bossy.”
Misha chuckles, but Grey shoots a pointed look at Oliver, who quickly averts his eyes, his ears tinged with a hint of red. The silent exchange makes me bite back a laugh.
“That’s fine, though,” I continue. “It was much better. The personality shifts make him feel more… real, somehow.”
“Real enough to boss you around?” Grey teases, raising an eyebrow in mock seriousness.
“Only when he’s channeling you, I guess,” I retort, and even Oliver cracks a smile at that.
It’s strange, this feeling of belonging, like I’m slowly becoming a part of their world—or maybe they’re becoming a part of mine.
Both options are wishful thinking, Amelia.
“Have you tried the kitchen appliances again?” Misha asks, catching me off guard but reminding me at the same time that this is pure business.
“No, sorry, I forgot yesterday until you brought me food,” I admit, feeling embarrassed.
I fucked up there.
But testing the new Jamie was so much fun.
“I could never forget to eat,” Misha mumbles with his mouth full.
I let out a half-hearted laugh. “I can’t really cook, and sometimes when I’m swamped with work, I just forget,” I explain, hoping they’d drop the topic.
“You forget to eat?” Grey echoes, his voice laced with incredulity. His disbelief makes me feel like I’ve confessed to something far worse.
“It’s not a big deal,” I insist, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. “I do eat as soon as I remember.”
I hate that this is becoming a thing.
Seeing their unconvinced looks, I quickly add, “I will try tonight, promise.”
“Why doesn’t Grey come over, and you guys do it together?
” Misha’s words hang in the air like a challenge.
I glance at Grey, whose scowl deepens instantly, his eyes darting briefly to Misha before settling on me.
His expression is a mix of annoyance and something unreadable, clearly not thrilled with the idea.
“What?” Misha defends, shrugging as if he’s just proposed a casual cup of coffee and not a potentially intimate evening.
This is still work for them, after all.
It’s not like they want to spend their free time with me.
“Grey is an amazing cook, and I bet it’s easier to test out everything with somebody who knows what they’re doing in the kitchen,” Oliver reassures me when he sees the worry that’s probably written all over my face.
Grey can cook?
“Just making sure she doesn’t burn the building down.” Misha grins at Grey.
Gee, thanks.
“Sure, whatever.” Grey’s scowl doesn’t waver, and I can almost feel the weight of his glare.
Tonight could either be enlightening or a complete disaster.