Tell me about it.
I lean forward in my chair. “You can’t hide this from him forever; he’ll eventually find out. Don’t you think it’s better if he hears from you instead of some random person?”
She shakes her head. “That topic and Jeremy are giving me a migraine. I’d rather not think about his reaction that will either be violent or destructive or both.”
I take another sip of my tea, letting the liquid soothe my dry throat. “Has he always been opposed to any possible relationship you could have?”
She lifts a shoulder. “I guess he and Papa feel like no one is good enough for me. They have a Volkov god complex, I swear.”
“Volkov god complex?”
“Yeah, like no one is worthy of our bloodline except for a Russian. I mean, not really, but secretly, they do think that. Maybe I can convince Creigh to start drinking vodka like it’s milk. Do you think he’d be game?”
“I think he prefers wine.”
“I know! He’s like an old man sometimes…” she trails off as she looks behind me. At the window, I think.
While I prefer not to have a direct view of the street, Annika always likes to watch passersby, wave at a baby here and smile at a pet there.
But she’s neither waving nor smiling right now. In fact, her eyes are squinting and her lips are pursed.
I spin in my chair and follow her line of vision. My grip tightens on the teacup when I see none other than Jeremy leaning against his bike, stance nonchalant and expression calm.
But he’s not alone.
A leggy blonde grabs onto his arm, a wide smile brightening her face. She’s dressed in a micro skirt and a tight blouse that leaves nothing to the imagination. Her shiny straight hair falls to the middle of her back and she has the type of beautiful makeup only influencers are able to pull off.
It’s the same girl I saw in front of the Heathens’ mansion after the fire. The one the guard called ‘Miss,’ then let in.
No clue why I erased that incident from my memory. No, not erased. I kind of hoped it meant nothing and she was just a family friend checking on him.
Apparently, I hoped wrong.
“That bitch,” Annika hisses under her breath.
“Who is that?”
“Maya.” She narrows her eyes further. “Nikolai’s sister. I swear she’s like a clingy mosquito. Be right back. I’m going to put her in her place.”
Annika abruptly stands up and storms out of the coffee shop, leaving her purse, drink, and phone behind.
Shit must be really hitting the fan if Annika forgot her phone that looks like it was dipped in purple glitter.
I should probably stay here and not start unwanted drama, but something has happened ever since I saw Jeremy with her and recalled that fire.
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.