Part 2 (1/2)
The shower was a G.o.dsend. I had fallen straight to sleep after Hunter said goodnight. I never got a chance to think things through. What better way than standing under warm flowing water beating down on my back?
So starting from the beginning; Rylan and Raina, Eli returned and tonight ... oh G.o.d. I completely forgot I had agreed to go to dinner with Hunter tonight. He said he'd already made reservations, which meant he would have got a clearance and a guardian angel chauffeur to take us. I sighed. I guess I can't back out at the last minute now.
Getting dressed and arriving at the dining hall was a blur. My mind was preoccupied with too many things, like Eli and Hunter and trying not to vomit at all the 'breakfasty' breakfast options - bacon, eggs, yogurt, milk, cereals and toast. My stomach lurched at the thought of any of those.
”Let's sit over there,” Mila suggested. Of course she was pointing over to Gabriel and Hunter.
”No, please!” I begged. ”I already have to spend dinner with him, can we leave breakfast out of it?”
She glanced longingly at their table.
”Besides, I can't tell you all the gossip when they're sitting right next to us.”
”Fine. Here will do,” she said with a pout.
It wasn't like our seating choice mattered anyway. Within minutes, Gabriel and Hunter flung themselves into the seats next to us.
'Good morning, ladies,” Hunter greeted, sliding a bowl of fruit salad in front of me. My stomach groaned.
”Good morning,” Mila replied so cheerfully it made me want to vomit even more.
”Not feeling too crash hot this morning, Ruby?” Gabriel asked.
”Eh,” I groaned.
Gabriel and Mila engaged in conversation and giggles as I slid the bowl forward and put my head down face first onto the table.
”I a.s.sumed you'd be someone who could handle their alcohol ... and hangovers.” Hunter chuckled.
”I've never touched alcohol in my life before last night.”
Hunter brushed hair out of my face and I turned to face him.
”You're kidding.”
I shook my head.
”I'm sorry ... I thought you ... really? Never?”
”Never.”
”Well, I'm glad I was your first ...” he said mockingly.
Eli had said that exact statement before he left. He'd said he was proud of me and I told him no one had ever said that to me before. Hunter had eavesdropped in on the conversation, giving me s.h.i.+t about it a few minutes later and again now.
I couldn't help but laugh. It was one of those jokes that aren't actually funny, but when you say it at the right time, it suddenly becomes funny.
”Ruby.”
Eli's voice hit me and I lifted my head toward him like a hypnotized cobra. Of course he looked amazing; he had the 'just-got-out-of-the-shower' clean skin and crisp scent, styled messy hair, and the sky blue s.h.i.+rt he wore made his skin look deliciously tan and his deep green eyes stand out.
”How's your ankle?” he asked.
Oh, don't get me started on his voice ... deep and husky, yet smooth like velvet.
”A lot better this morning ... thank you.”
He nodded and continued walking towards the other guardians, who greeted him with handshakes and hugs. My eyes fell onto the wooden table.
”Is everything okay?” Mila mumbled to me.
”Everything is fine,” I replied. ”It's just weird seeing him again after the whole Tay thing.”
It wasn't a total lie; it was weird seeing him again. Not only because I was the reason that he'd murdered his friend and fellow guardian angel, or because I was the reason he was stuck with the higher power for three months, but also because I was head over heels in love with him. I had never admitted that to myself before now. I love Eli De Luca.
”I actually ran into him after leaving your dorm last night,” Hunter said.
”Oh?”
”Yeah, he, uh, was quite angry with me.”
”What happened? What did he say?” Mila pried.
”The usual ... don't go into the girl's dorms, blah, blah, blah.”
There was no doubt that Eli would have been p.i.s.sed off at Hunter. I spared Hunter a thank you glance for keeping the whole alcohol thing to himself. It's not that I didn't trust Mila, I do, but I couldn't risk Raina finding out anything else. Raina had been very quiet lately. I got no snarky comments or smirks when I walked by her, in fact, her beady blue eyes don't even make contact with mine. When Raina is attacking me, I'm a lot more stress free. She attacks me with insults like vamp girl or wh.o.r.e because she has nothing else on me. It's the silence that makes me nervous ... I know she's planning something, something big.
”Ruby and I were going to have breakfast together ... alone. I have a few things I want to talk to her about, so ...”
That was Mila's way of telling them leave.
”Say no more,” Gabriel began. ”We have training to get to, anyway.”
”See you tonight.” Hunter winked.
”He's such a gentleman.” Mila sighed, watching Gabriel's back as he and Hunter walked away.
”He's also a guardian angel,” I reminded her.
”I know. We're just friends ...”
”Somehow I don't believe that.”
”Anyway ...” she continued, changing the subject. ”I heard you went to the dance with Hunter last night?”
”It's a long story. I wasn't intending on going with him, but he showed up and we walked together. Rylan showed up, then he got mad, and then Eli came back and I ended up rolling my ankle ...” I sighed. ”It was one big mess.”
”Wow. You do have the most interesting life.”
”Interesting? Hardly ... It's more complicated, if anything.” If only she knew. ”And now I'm going to dinner with Hunter tonight,” I added.