I lifted my cup to cover my mouth as I spoke. ‘No. Yes. I don’t know.’ I sighed. ‘Last night after my group of visitors disappeared back to … wherever it is they go, I had another one.’
Steph choked on her mouthful of orange juice. ‘Details!’
I slumped further into my chair. ‘Shh! Just rehashing a lot of things I would’ve preferred to have left buried.’
I was still reeling from the night before and I’d barely slept more than a few minutes here and there after Lincoln had left my room following his never leaving me again bombshell. It was safe to say I might never sleep again given the way the words were stuck repeating in my head like the song that just won’t go away.
‘Here he comes,’ Steph said under her breath, her eyes flicking towards the cafeteria entrance. I turned slightly to see Lincoln striding straight towards us. When he stopped in front of Gray I tensed, worried for all the obvious reasons, but Lincoln just put out his hand.
Unsure, Gray glanced at me then slowly clasped Lincoln’s hand.
‘I owe you an apology,’ Lincoln said, causing more than a few people to pause and listen in. ‘You’ve had Vi’s back for the past year when she needed someone. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.’
Gray shook his hand. ‘No hard feelings.’
Lincoln smirked. ‘Although I still owe you one for your dirty-handed tactics in the hall yesterday,’ he said.
Gray shrugged. ‘Tell me you wouldn’t have done the same.’
Lincoln laughed. ‘Perhaps. Nonetheless, you deserve my gratitude not attitude.’
Zoe snorted. ‘Since when did you start rhyming?’
Lincoln smiled and it seemed different, almost boyish. ‘Well, Zoe, you can expect a lot of things to change around here.’ He looked at Morgan, who had just arrived and was sitting down beside me. ‘Would you mind? I need to discuss a few things with Vi.’
The way he was now saying my name was so raw; the only time he’d used it like that had been at the cabin, when we’d thrown all caution to the wind. At least, that was what I’d thought. Lincoln had already devised his plan for everything by then.
I glared at Morgan as she cheerfully leaped out of the seat.
Traitor.
It wasn’t lost on anyone that there had been a definite shift in Lincoln’s behaviour between last night and this morning.
‘What are you doing here?’ I gritted between my teeth, dreading what everyone was probably thinking.
‘I live here.’ Lincoln leaned in close but spoke freely, unconcerned with who heard. ‘And I thought I made myself clear last night. I’m not letting you go again.’
‘Someone should record this for Onyx,’ Zoe threw in.
When I turned a horrified look on her she raised her hands in surrender. ‘What? He’ll only make us retell the whole conversation a dozen times if we don’t.’
Christ. She actually has a point.
I pushed back my chair suddenly, putting distance between us and ignoring the sharp grinding sound that echoed through the large cafeteria. ‘There’s a meeting in the hall in a few hours to start assembling the team going to New Orleans.’
‘Max told me,’ Lincoln responded, accepting a coffee one of the staff had brought over to him.
No one delivered my coffee.
I nodded. ‘Good. Well, I have something I need to do first.’ Seeing his expression, I quickly added, ‘In private. I’ll meet you there.’
Deciding that was that, I collected my bag, swiped a croissant from the table and turned around, only to find Lincoln now standing, blocking my path with a twinkle in his eye. Before I could ask him to move out of my way, he grabbed me around the waist and dipped me, following me down, his mouth coming dangerously close to mine.
I froze, caught in the moment for a second before I came to my senses and pushed my hands hard against his chest. Now I was frustrated and embarrassed.
And stuck with a pounding heart I have no idea how to calm.
Lincoln had never behaved like this in public. Even when things were good.
‘Next time you try that, I’ll hurt you,’ I threatened, regaining my balance and shrugging myself free of his hold.
‘Don’t you think we’ve done enough of that? Personally, I think it’s time for something else.’ He popped a piece of bread in his mouth.
Seriously, who is this guy?
‘Such as?’
He finished his mouthful and smiled. And damn him because it was a mighty fine look on him. ‘Getting on with the rest of our lives.’ His smile widened to a megawatt beam. ‘Together,’ he added.
And the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus will come and join us for Sunday lunch, too.
I shook my head at him, suddenly weary. ‘Don’t do this. It’s not going to go the way you think. Steph?’ I called, looking down at the wide-eyed people around the table.
She nodded, quickly grabbing her books and following me out.
The moment we hit the corridors she started quizzing me. ‘What the hell happened between you two last night? You didn’t … I mean, did you?’
‘No! Of course not. Lincoln just found out some stuff and he thinks it changes things.’