Arrogant Heir (The Heirs #2) - Michelle Heard Page 0,59
over his heart. “Was that your way of telling me I’ve just been downgraded to second place in your life?”
“Shut up.” I burst out laughing. “You downgraded me first, ass.”
“Ahh.” Hunter feigns hurt. “The blow.”
“Fuck off,” I grumble as I walk out of his room.
“Well,” he sighs, “I’ll just have to look on the bright side. At least I won’t have you farting in my bed anymore.”
“Yeah? You should’ve bottled that shit. I still think people would pay millions for a whiff of Eau de Jase.”
MILA
Breathe, Mila. Just breathe.
“Finally, we get to eat,” Jade croons as we walk into the restaurant.
“Yeah, I’m starving,” I lie. I’ll have to stomach the food somehow.
I grab a chair that will have my back to the other tables, and it gives me a view of the expansive bay windows overlooking the stretch of lawn between the dorms and the lecture halls.
My gaze darts over the students as they cross the lawn. Most have their eyes trained on their phones. Some laugh.
It reminds me to smile.
My lips lift automatically. It’s one thing that’s becoming easier to fake.
“What are you having?” Jade asks.
“A salad,” I reply without looking at the menu. At least it will be a light meal.
My eyes land on Jessica and her friends as they walk toward the restaurant. Jessica’s gaze meets mine, and a hateful look crosses her features as she slowly shakes her head at me as if she can’t believe my audacity.
My eyes narrow on her until she’s out of view.
Bitch.
Kao and Noah join us at the table, and not having spoken to them much, I widen my smile. “Hey, how are you?”
“I’m great,” Kao answers from where he’s sitting next to Fallon. His eyes dart to her before he glances at me again. “How are you holding up?”
“Much better.”
Another lie.
A waiter comes to take our order, and after he leaves, Noah says, “You look much better.”
“Thanks.” I grin at my cousin.
“The Halloween Ball is coming up,” Fallon mentions. “Any volunteers to help with the decorations?”
“Hell no,” Jade instantly protests. “I saw how you suffered with the welcome ball. There’s no way I’m submitting myself to that kind of torture.”
Fallon turns her gaze to me, and I point to Jade. “What she said.”
“Hey, Mila,” Jessica suddenly pops up next to me. “I just wanted to tell you how absolutely horrified I was to hear what happened to you. I hope you feel better soon.”
I struggle not to glare at her and fail miserably. “That’s so sweet of you.”
Bless your fucking heart, bitch.
For a moment, Jessica smirks before she turns her attention to Kao and Noah. “Hey guys, looking good as always.”
Noah’s eyes are sharp on Jessica, where Kao doesn’t even bother to look up.
“Anyway,” she drags the words out. “Fallon, I’ll see you at the decorating committee meeting, right?”
Before Fallon can answer, Jade leans forward and says, “If you’re done sucking up and ruining my lunch, you’re welcome to leave. I’d like to salvage what I can of my remaining appetite.”
The fake smile drops from Jessica’s face, and she sucks in a deep breath. “Jade, it’s always such a pleasure.”
“Someone hold me back,” Jade growls, and I quickly reach over to her and place my hand on her arm.
It only hits me a second later what I just did, and my eyes slowly turn to where I’m touching Jade. My lips part and an overwhelming sense of relief floods me.
I just gained something precious back.
Another simple touch.
My eyes dart to Jade’s, and I see her watching me with a hawk eye.
A wide smile spreads over my face, and I give her arm a squeeze before I pull back.
I don’t even notice Jessica leaving, and I couldn’t care less about her as my eyes scan over my friends. They all saw the touch and have equally huge smiles on their faces.
Small wins, Mila. Each one counts.
Chapter 23
JASE
It’s been four days since I’ve returned to classes, and Mila seems to be getting better every day.
She’s smiling more, and her appetite is back. Every little step she takes back to being her old self is a win and makes pride grow in my chest.
I’m holding off for a couple of days before I start my weekly visits to my grandfather again.
With it being Friday, we’d usually hit the club, but that’s the last place we’ll be going back to any time soon. Instead, we decided to spend a quiet night at home and play Pictionary.