Feral: Book One Read Free Page B

recognition, there was no denying the flaming sensation in my cheeks.
    I didn’t realize I was still staring into blank space until I felt a sharp jab in my ribs. When I looked around, I saw my companion smirk at me in amusement and the cashier glaring at me with more annoyance than before. I snatched the bags with a growl of irritation. “You keep your mouth shut,” I snapped at Brie before cutting my eyes back to the frosted-blonde behind the counter. “And you have a very productive day.”
    My friend beamed her way out of the store. “Only you would be so snide as to wish someone a productive day. That sounded so…foreboding.”
    “It was meant to be,” I responded as I turned and went in the opposite direction of the attractive Simon Treviso. “I’m hungry. Do you want to do lunch? It’ll have to be cheap. Not as cheap as Mads—”
    “Damn! You are in a bad mood today.”
    “Sorry,” I said through a heavy sigh. “She just rubs me the wrong way. I was really hoping people would’ve forgotten, but I should’ve known better, at least when it comes to Mads. Of course, I did bait her, so in the end, I deserved it. Then again, she’d probably have found a way to bring it up again anyway. She enjoys being a bitch like that.”
    Brie looped her arm through mine. “Well, don’t think about it for right now. Let’s just go get lunch, and you can tell me all about Simon Treviso, since you seem to know him.”
    I lifted my eyes to the ceiling and shook my head. “There’s nothing to tell, Brie. I just met him today, and I’ll probably never lay eyes on the man ever again. I’m guessing he teaches here, probably philosophy or something. That’s all I can say, because I don’t actually know.”
    “Well, that’s disappointing.”
    “Yes, utterly,” I deadpanned. “Now, let’s go. I’m starving, and I need to keep my mind off S-Mads.”
    “Smads? Who’s Smads?”
    “Oh, shut up.”

TWO
     
     
    We had lunch at Olive Garden, not that I would tell my father, because he and my nonna scoffed at the “pseudo-Italian” cuisine. I had their lobster cannelloni with shrimp and a moscato aperol, the tang of the ginger ale and orange peel a delightful contrast to the creamy pasta, and regaled Brie with what very little I knew of the attractive Simon Treviso and what theories I had about what he could potentially be teaching were he an instructor.
    Afterward, we went on a little shopping spree because dealing with Madison always put me in an ill mood, and shoe shopping always cheered me up.
    I found two pairs of strappy sandals I liked, one without heels and one with, and a delicious pair of knee-high boots. Thankfully, there was a sale going on, otherwise I would have never been able to afford the sexy footwear. In reality, I probably shouldn’t have purchased them, given how much money the bookstore got from me, but I could never resist shoes. All in all, though, I was having a great afternoon.
    At least, until I got his text after arriving home.
     
    Hey. Thnkng about u lot l8ly. Miss u. Ive changed a lot in last few mnths. U wont believe that, but its true. Wish could see u right now, but im away. Probly 4 while. Just want u 2 know i think about u. X-cole
     
    “Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” I groaned into the silence of my bedroom. “Really? Ugh…I bet Mads called you, didn’t she?” I wasn’t entirely sure why I was asking these questions aloud. Yeah, I sometimes talked to myself aloud, but it was usually a stream of consciousness to work out a problem or something. This was different. It wasn’t like he could hear me and respond. “I really dislike you both, y’know that?”
    I took a moment to ponder whether or not I should send a scathing reply, but in the end, I decided it would only make the situation worse. I simply deleted the text and sent one to Brie, who couldn’t believe he would have the gall to contact me after everything that had happened. She also agreed this probably