That night, after I heard he was hurt, I was sick with worry and couldn’t sleep. And while I was struggling with my demons and nearly throwing up due to nausea, that girl probably spent the night by his side.
After gathering Anni’s stuff, I put on my backpack and head outside. Jeremy’s eyes find me before I even cross the street, and it’s like they’re storms brewing in the distance.
A disaster that’s threatening to happen any second.
How dare he look at me that way when he has another girl on the side that he never told me about?
Or maybe I’m the girl on the side.
After all, we were never in a relationship.
That thought makes my stomach plummet and tightens my chest. My steps are surprisingly calm as I walk toward them. Annika grabs onto her brother’s free arm and glares at the blonde—Maya.
“I have something to talk about with Jer. You can go.”
“Or you can go because I was here first,” Maya says with a fake smile.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but whether you were here first or last doesn’t count, because I have sister privileges. Now, off you go.”
“Nuh-uh.” She slides her attention to me. “And who is this?”
“My friend.” Anni all but pulls me toward her by the arm so that she’s sandwiched between me and Jeremy. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you don’t know what that word means since you stab them in the back and try to snatch their brother. Jer will never marry you, Maya. Go find yourself another victim.”
Marry?
Did she just say marry?
I glance at Jeremy, thinking he’s focused on his sister and Maya, but a shiver chills me when I find him looking at me.
He’s studying me intently, as if he’s peeling off my skin and peeking inside me.
What exactly is he searching for?
Maya hikes a hand up on her tiny waist. “When my father and yours have a talk about our marriage, you won’t have a say in it, Annika.”
“And yet, they haven’t, and they won’t. But do you know what will totally happen? I’m so going to tell Nikolai you’re hitting on his best friend.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
“You’re too cowardly to do that, Nika.”
I wince.
Annika gasps. “No, you didn’t just call me that!”
“Totes did.”
“I’m gonna kill you.”
“Can you even reach my shoulder, midget?”
Annika gasps again. “You bitch!”
Then she lunges at her, but before she can actually hit her, Maya’s clone appears and pushes Annika back when she stands in front of the original Maya.
She’s wearing a black dress, heavy-looking boots, and her blonde ponytail is held together with ribbons.
Twin sister.
If they had the same style, no one would be able to figure out who is who.
“Stay out of this, Mia,” Annika snarls. “Your sister called me Nika and a midget. Today is her funeral.”
The newcomer, Mia, glares back at her sister, who’s smiling in a gloating way and studying her manicured nails. “What? She said I was a bitch, and while I am sometimes, I wasn’t just now. She was being a busybody.”
Mia signs something to her sister and Maya sighs deeply. “I’m not apologizing. If you look her name up, Nika is really a nickname and she is actually short. Not my fault she doesn’t have my sublime legs.”
Mia stares at Annika and signs.
“Nope.” Annika lifts a hand. “Not hearing your apology. Take your clone and leave. Also, you’ll only marry my brother over my dead body, Maya. I swear to Tchaikovsky.”
Maya grins. “R.I.P. then, midget.”
“You little—” Annika lunges at her again and Maya only makes a face as Mia tries to singlehandedly break up the fight, signing with intense energy.
In the middle of the whole show, the person who caused this, Jeremy, remains in the same relaxed position against his bike.
Still staring at me in that unnerving, chill-inducing way.
I break eye contact before I’m roped into whatever trap he’s laying for me.
For some reason, I always feel like he’s plotting chaos or scheming against me.
As if he wants to prove a point by making sure I know that he doesn’t care. That no matter how much I learn about him, it’ll all be for nothing.
That I shouldn’t trust him, like he told me.
Well, I’m just not going to let that happen without some form of resistance.
I tell Annika I’m going to the shelter, but she’s too busy verbally sparring with Maya to hear me.
Still, I turn around and leave, feeling awkward at first, then I lift my chin and try to look normal while carrying a fluffy bag and a glittery cup that don’t fit with my jeans, shirt, and backpack.
Finally, about five minutes later, Annika catches up to me and I can be rid of her super girly belongings.
“That bitch.” She breathes heavily, then takes an aggressive drink of her juice as she falls in step with me. “Can you believe that she said she won’t only marry Jeremy but she’ll also make me a maid of honor? The audacity, the nerve, the gumption!”
“Calm down, Anni.” I stroke her shoulder. “You don’t usually get into fights.”
She’s somewhat of a people pleaser. The type who doesn’t want anyone around her to feel uncomfortable—or she was before Creigh started purging those traits out of her.
“Maya is the exception. She’s a super diva bitch who thinks everyone is beneath her.”
“Her sister looked nice.”
“Mia is anything but nice, but she’s not a clingy, condescending bitch like her sister. I swear Maya has gotten worse ever since she set her sights on my brother.”
An ache blossoms in my chest and I hate the feeling, or how much I want it to go away but can’t do anything about it.
“Are they…” I clear my throat when I’m about to choke on my words. “Are she and Jeremy engaged or set to be engaged?”
“She wishes.” Annika punches the air. “Maya started this agenda on her own last year and has been actively trying to make it real.”
“Maybe Jeremy agrees, or she wouldn’t have been this persistent.”
“Like hell he does. He really just talks to her and Mia because they’re Nikolai’s sisters. She’s the delusional one who acts like he he’s her nonexistent fiancé sometimes. Ugh. I hate her guts and I’m so going to tell Nikolai so he’ll keep her in line.”
I slide my finger on the side of my nose. “What if Jeremy wants to marry her?”
“Don’t jinx it. No, he doesn’t.”
“He didn’t look bothered just now.”
“Oh, please. That’s his standard expression, but what if…” Her face pales and she comes to an abrupt halt. “What if he actually agrees if our parents arrange the marriage? She’s Russian!”
I pat Annika’s shoulder even as mine goes rigid.
“No, no,” she says, not seeming to believe her own words. “I’m the one jinxing it now. There’s no way that would happen.”
My friend spends the rest of the walk to the shelter convincing herself that it’s all a play of her imagination and cursing Maya for calling her Nika and a midget.
Me?
I just get lost in my own head as I go over the stock of pet food.
On one hand, I shouldn’t feel this way for someone I’m not even dating.
On the other, I hate that I can’t stop.