Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Danika
By the time we finish the anatomy lab, I’m exhausted. My showerhead is calling and so is that pint of Ben and Jerry’s I stuffed into the back of the freezer.
“Do you think we should get together and study before lab tomorrow? Charlie said there’s gonna be a pop quiz about the superficial extrinsic muscles at some point this week and I’m still lost on the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and levator scapulae,” Paige says as we’re packing up our things.
It’s only three pm on Wednesday, the TA’s let us out a little early due to an event added to their own schedule, and I could always use a little extra studying. I suppose my icy men can wait a little longer.
“Sure, let’s go to the library,” I say, pulling my back onto my shoulders.
“I don’t know about you guys but I could definitely use a coffee before a study session,” Nico says, surprisingly cheerfully. “Wanna go to Groundbreaking instead?”
Paige and Carter nod enthusiastically. “We need to grab our books from my car but we’ll meet you there.”
I nod as we head out the door. Trying to walk quickly, I zoom down the path until I hear my name called from behind.
“Danika!” Damn it. “You know we’re going to the same place. We might as well walk together.” Nico has caught up to me and I have to physically stop myself from rolling my eyes. “You look good, Dani.”
Stopping in my tracks, I ball my hands into fists.
“Nico. Enough. This whole ‘trying to win me back’ game is getting really fucking old. You know I have a boyfriend now. You need to respect that.”
Nico jogs back to where I’ve stopped, the smile not falling from his face. “Dani, I know that. I’m not trying to win you back, believe me. I’ve gotten enough flack from that boyfriend of yours.”
I tentatively meet his eyes.
“But we are in a group together now, which means we’ll be spending a whole lot of time together this semester. I thought it would just be easier on both of us if we were just cordial.”
“Cordial?”
Nico nods. “I just want to be friends.”
I narrow my eyes, menacingly. He raises his hands in defense. “Okay, okay. Not friends…yet. Classmates? How about that?”
I’m silent for a moment. Unfortunately, he’s not wrong. The fact that we’re in this group together means we will have to spend multiple hours together every week. I can spend those hours with steam pouring out of my ears or I can be…cordial.
With pursed lips, I take this white flag for what it is. “Fine.”
“Fine.” Nico smiles, extending his hand toward me. With a scoff, I push his hand away and continue walking toward the cafe. But I do allow him to walk with me this time, which is growth.
We walk the rest of the way in silence, and Nico holds the door open for me. I don’t resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“It’s pretty crowded. I’ll hold the table down over here if you wanna order.”
“I’m not buying you a coffee, dick.”
Nico chuckles, handing me a twenty dollar bill. “It’s on me. Just black for me.”
Whatever. Free coffee. I take the bill and walk toward the counter.
“Welcome to Groundbreaking, what can I—”
Blinking a few times, I bring myself back to focus. “Arden?”
He looks up at me. His face flushes, turns beet red then he takes a very deep breath and releases it. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have lab this afternoon?”
“They let us out early.” I know my eyes are as wide as saucers but I have no idea how else to react right now.
Arden is on the other side of this counter.
Huge, broad Arden is wearing a black apron and a backwards baseball cap that says GBC.
God, he looks sexy. Shaking the visual of him wearing only the apron and cap out of my mind, I continue my thought.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were working here?”
“Why does it matter?” His harsh tone takes me aback.
“It doesn’t? Arden, I’m so confused, I—”
“What’s the hold up? Oh, hi.” Behind me, Nico puts his arm on my shoulder, but I immediately push it off. Arden doesn’t miss the contact, not for one second. His fist clench again and the muscle in his jaw jumps. “Wait, why do you look so shocked? Didn’t you know your boyfriend worked here?”
Nico is baiting me. Something is going on here that I’m not completely understanding but believe me, I’m going to find out.
“Of course I do. I just didn’t know he was working today.”
Nico nods but it doesn’t seem like he fully believes me. He’s already on thin ice, we don’t need it to start cracking.
“You,” I point to Nico, “Go away.” To his credit, he backs off and goes to sit back at the table.
When I turn back to Arden, his knuckles are white. “You’re here…with him?”
“We’re in an anatomy group together.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why does it matter?” I shoot his words right back to him before softening a bit.
“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d care…” Because why would he?
This fake relationship is for my benefit to make Nico think I’m taken.
It really has nothing to do with Arden. He has no stake in the emotional aspect of Nico and I. He just needed a tutor.
“Of course I—” He stops himself. Taking another deep breath, he lets it out before continuing. “If we’re going to do this successfully, you need to tell me everything.”
I find myself nodding without even realizing. “Okay, Arden. I will from now on. But also, right back at ya.”
He nods and smiles but it doesn’t meet his eyes. “Okay.” Another deep breath. “So, this group…it’s just you and him?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” I reply, and the timing couldn’t be better as Paige and Carter walk in right at that time. They go to join Nico at the table.
Arden watches the exchange and nods, visually relaxing a bit. “So, what are you drinking?”
“Oh, I want a chai latte and asswipe over there wants a black coffee.” Pulling out the twenty from my pocket, I anticipate his raised eyebrows. “Don’t worry, this is his cash.”
“Good,” he says, typing something into the register. “Pocket it.” The register opens and then Arden pushes it shut, the receipt popping out without me paying a thing. Without another word, he goes to make the drinks and I’m back at the table within a few minutes.
Putting the drink down in front of Nico, he looks up at me. “Change?”
“Nope,” I say and grab my anatomy textbook from my backpack. Let the studying begin.