“Like I said, I’m observant.”
Luke snorted.
Shutting my eyes again, I increased the pressure on my temples. I had a bad feeling about the disc of doom.
“Oh crap,” muttered Colin. “I hope I don’t get threatened again.”
I started to frown, but my lips froze as I felt the shiver of awareness dance down my spine. A new sensation I’d felt several times in the recent days, but only once before, and that was when Seth had been nearby, waiting to speak with Solos after training.
And Colin’s reaction also made sense if it was Seth. Threatening the guy appeared to be a rather favorite pastime of Seth’s, and that was the only pastime I was aware of. I’m sure he had more fun ones, kinds I didn’t want to think about.
And that made the ache in my temples increase.
My heart started pounding as I kept my gaze focused on the grass between my legs. Wasn’t like Seth was actually going to come over here. He was avoiding me just as hardcore as I was avoiding him.
“Are you okay?”
Air in my lungs halted at the sound of Seth’s voice. Three weeks since the last time I’d really heard him speak. Three. Long. Weeks. I hadn’t forgotten his voice, but my memories did no justice. The slight accent was still there, hinting at some exotic background.
“Josie?” he asked.
“She’s gone mute,” Deacon quipped, and I heard him sit up. “Luke didn’t tell you that in your daily check-ins with him?”
Oh my God.
Heart pounding, I slowly lifted my head and my chest clenched when our gazes locked. Muscles tensed in my legs and the fight or flight response kicked in. I wanted to get up and run off. Weak, so very weak, but I’d been doing everything in my power to avoid Seth since the day in the garden.
Seeing him hurt.
Having him standing in front of me just killed me.
God, Seth was beautiful, so beautiful. Looking at him now, with the slightly arched brows a darker blond than the unruly strands atop his head, and the full lips, I had to wonder if I’d been smoking meth thinking he and I actually made sense. That he’d been that seriously wrapped up in me. My personality was only going to carry me so far.
Geez. Listen to me. I needed some daily affirmations or something.
The right eyebrow rose further.
Speaking would be smart. “Headache.”
He blinked. “Headache?”
Since I’d spoken one word, proving I was not in fact suddenly struck mute, I nodded.
Looking over at Luke, Seth’s brows furrowed together. “You haven’t mentioned she’d been having headaches.”
I frowned and found my voice. “Why would he? Not like you’d care anyway.”
Seth’s gaze shot back to mine and his eyes narrowed. Maybe no one else had heard that? “I care,” he stated, the two words punctuated clearly.
Awkward silence descended around us as Seth and I stared at each other. How weird would it be if I jumped up and threw my arms around him, clinging to him like a needy octopus? That would be weird. And pathetic. What about jumping up and punching him in the nuts? Also weird. And violent.
Colin stood slowly, drawing Seth’s attention as he brushed off the back of his jeans. “You again,” Seth stated.
“Yep,” Colin replied without looking up. “Me again.”
“Yay,” murmured Seth.
I sighed. “Did you need something?”
Seth’s attention shifted back to me. “Do I need something to walk over here?”
My fingers curled inward. “Yeah, I think you do.”
“I missed them together,” Deacon said, bending his knees and resting his arms on them. “They’re so warm and fuzzy, don’t you think? So cute.”
Seth ignored them. “I didn’t realize I needed a reason to say hello to my friends.”
“You have friends?” I shot back, and then sort of felt like a bitch immediately afterward.
His eyes narrowed. “Friends as real as yours.”
The very personal dig stung as I shot to my feet with a quickness that surprised us both.
“You’re an ass.” I bent over, picking up my borrowed book. Seth was quick, snatching it out of my hands. “Hey!”
Stepping back, he turned it over in his hands and his brows flew up. “Really? Myth and History 101? Are you reading this for fun?”
“So what if I am?” I made a grab for the book, but he sidestepped me. “Give it back.”
“Maybe I want to read it for fun.”
I stared at him. “Are you twelve or something?”
“I was wondering the same thing,” Luke said, and Seth shot him a droll look. Deacon was grinning like the Mad Hatter.
Seth smirked as he lifted his gaze to mine. “Actually, come to think of it, reading this for fun is practically the lamest—”
“Oh, shit!” Colin shouted, his eyes widening as he stared across the quad.
As Seth and I turned, I reached over and ripped the book from his hands just as I caught sight of the disc of doom winging over the pure. Someone shouted, but it was too late. The Frisbee on steroids slammed into the back of a girl’s head with a sickening crack, knocking her over. She hit the ground, red mixing with her blonde hair. The people sitting around her flew to their feet. Several crowded around her. The book slipped from my fingers as the red-headed pure who’d controlled the disc laughed. The guy actually laughed.
One of the halfs from a nearby group stood and hit the ground running at full speed. He was as fast as a cheetah. One second he was by us, and the next, he was tackling the red-headed pure to the ground.