Chapter 7

"Mind if we join you?" Julian asked, his warm smile directed at Slade.

Slade's jaw instantly clenched. He let out a heavy sigh and slid over, making room on his side of the booth.

Julian sat down directly across from Vesper.

Vesper's lungs seized. Her heart started beating so fast it physically hurt her chest. She panicked, slamming her sketchbook shut and shoving it awkwardly under her arm so Julian wouldn't see it.

Julian noticed the sudden movement. His smile softened. "Sorry, did we interrupt a study session?"

"N-no," Vesper stuttered, her voice barely a whisper. "Just... talking."

She stared down at the table, her face burning. She could feel Julian's eyes on her, and it made her skin prickle with nervous sweat.

Slade sat perfectly still. His dark eyes flicked from Vesper's flushed cheeks to Julian's polite smile.

One of the teammates sitting next to Julian took a massive bite of a burger and grinned, leaning across the table. "Forrester, didn't peg you for a fan of the fine arts. What's the project? You finally expanding those horizons?"

Slade's head snapped toward the teammate. "Mind your own business, Miller," he muttered, his voice tight and carrying a warning edge that instantly killed the teammate's smile.

The table went dead silent. Miller swallowed hard and looked away.

Julian cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension. He looked at Vesper. "I know you, don't I? Freshman year. Outside the library in the rain. I gave you my umbrella."

Vesper's head snapped up. Her eyes went wide with pure, unfiltered joy. "You remember?"

In her excitement, her elbow jerked outward. It slammed into her full glass of ice water.

The glass tipped over. Freezing water flooded across the table, soaking into the napkins and dripping onto Vesper's lap.

"Oh my god!" Vesper gasped, jumping up from the booth. She grabbed a handful of dry napkins and started frantically wiping the table, her hands shaking violently.

"Hey, it's okay. Let me help," Julian said. He reached across the table with his own napkins.

His fingers accidentally brushed against the back of Vesper's hand.

Vesper gasped like she had been burned. She yanked her hand back, clutching it to her chest. Her face turned a violent shade of crimson, the blush spreading all the way down her neck.

Slade watched the entire exchange.

A sudden, violent surge of heat erupted in his chest. It wasn't annoyance. It was pure, blinding jealousy. He hated the way she looked at Julian. He hated the way she trembled when Julian touched her.

Without thinking, Slade reached across the table and violently yanked the sketchbook out from under Vesper's arm.

"Hey!" Vesper cried out.

Slade held the book up high, out of her reach. He plastered a cruel, mocking smirk on his face. "Since we're just 'talking,' Vesper, why don't you show Julian what you've been drawing? I'm sure he'd love to see it."

Vesper's face drained of all color. She looked at Slade, her eyes wide and filled with absolute terror and pleading. If Julian saw the confession gift she was making for Slade, he would ask questions. Her secret deal, her humiliation, everything would be exposed.

Slade looked into her terrified eyes. The anger in his chest suddenly vanished, replaced by a sharp, painful twist of guilt.

He lowered his arm. He tossed the sketchbook back onto the table in front of her.

"You know what?" Slade said, his voice tight. He stood up abruptly, grabbing his jacket. "I lost my appetite."

He didn't wait for a response. He turned and stormed out of the dining hall, his heavy boots hitting the floor with aggressive force.

Julian watched him go, shaking his head. "Don't mind him, Vesper. He's always been moody."

Vesper clutched her sketchbook to her chest. She couldn't look at Julian anymore. The guilt of what had just happened made her stomach churn.

She mumbled an apology, grabbed her bag, and practically ran out the opposite door.