Cracking Her Code

Chapter 52

Simone's POV

Tasha and I stepped foot into our favourite pub. The same pub that she and I have been coming to for years now. I exhaled, letting the familiar warmth of the place settle around me. I needed this, needed to get out, away from grading tests and assignments. 

Tasha steered us toward a booth near the front, right by the windows. A waitress arrived quickly, pen poised, and we rattled off our order. It only took a few minutes before two cold beers were sliding onto the table.

I took a sip of my beer, the first sip always lands just right with that crisp taste against my tongue. 

"How's it going with Jen?" I asked over the rim of my glass. 

Her cheeks flushed a little, a faint pink creeping up her neck. "It's ... terrific. She's sweet, and we're having a lot of fun. I like her a lot."

I smirked, teasing. "Hmmm. I don't think I've ever seen you blush over a girl before."

Tasha rolled her eyes, a small grin tugging at her lips. "Don't get used to it, Simone."

I laughed softly, taking another sip of my beer. "It's nice seeing you this flustered. My baby sister is finally in love."

Tasha darts me a look. 

I grinned. "I swear, Jen's got you wrapped around her little finger. She seems ... really good for you."

She shrugged, a faint smile. "Yeah, she definitely is easy to be around. She gets me."

"I'm happy for you, Tasha. It's about time you finally meet someone who is going to treat you the way you deserve to be treated." 

She leaned back slightly and asked, "Spring break is coming up soon, isn't it? Any plans?"

I let my back sink into the booth more, stretching my legs out a little. "Absolutely nothing," I said, grinning. "Relaxing, reading, maybe a little drinking  ... just unwinding. Forgetting about everything for a bit."

Tasha's brow lifted slightly. "And when you say everything ... are you referring to Nyk?"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Nope. I've already forgotten about her. Pushed those feelings away, Tash. You know how I get, bury the past so fast, it's dangerous."

She studied me for a moment. "You are good at that."

Inside, though, there was still that hollow space I didn't let anyone see. The place I'd shoved all of Nyk, the way she made me laugh despite myself, the way she looked at me like she could see right through my carefully built walls. I'd sealed it shut. Buried it deep. That was supposed to be the end of it. 

I took a sip, as I looked to the left of the pub, just slightly people watching, and then my eyes landed on a table. I froze for a brief second. It was Nyk. Leaning across a table, laughing with that girl from Friday night at Ember. The one she left with.  They were sitting close, and something in my chest tightened, hot and sharp, before I could shove it down. 

I forced a smirk, turning back toward Tasha before she could follow my gaze. "What is it with us?" I said lightly. "Seems like we can't go anywhere these days without bumping into her. Like she's haunting me."

Tasha blinked, then looked toward where I'd glanced. 

I raised my glass, hovering it at my lips, as I said. "Looks like she's made herself cozy already with the girl she picked up at the bar. Guess I'm not the only one who moves on fast, huh?"

The sound of Nyk's laugh carried across the pub, and it hit me in the chest before I even realized I was listening. Something twisted in my stomach. Sharp punch of jealousy. I told myself it didn't matter, that it shouldn't matter, but the image of her leaning toward someone else lodged itself under my skin. 

I tipped back my glass too quickly, finishing what was left in my glass. 

"Hey," Tasha's voice cut through, gentle but probing. "You okay. Simone?"

I blinked, my smirk snapping back into place like armour. "Never better, Tash ...... never better."

The lie slid out easily, and I held her gaze just long enough to make her believe it or at least to make her drop it.

But out of the corner of my eye, I still caught the tilt of Nyk's head as she listened to that girl at her side, and it burned in a way I wasn't ready to accept. 

                                                                                   ----------

Nyk's POV

Cyrene leaned in a little, her voice low and teasing. "Oh ... Ms. Winslow is here now." Her eyes flicked past my shoulder, then back to me. "But she keeps looking over at us, and I'm not sure why."

"Maybe she's just people watching or trying to place a familiar face," I smirked, keeping it light. 

Cyrene tilted her head, then shrugged. "Maybe."

I was grateful for the shift when I asked, "So any big plans for spring break?"

Her mouth twisted into something between a grin and a grimace. "Working the entire time. Except for Sunday."

"Only Sunday?" I arched an eyebrow. 

"Yep, and even that's dedicated to cranking out the assignments due Monday. If I don't, I'll be screwed. I have a good start on them already, but I'll be doing the last touches to make them perfect." She lifted her pint and took a sip, then added. "The glamorous life of a student who needs rent money."

I chuckled. "You put it so lovely!"

She rolled her eyes and slipped off her stool. Order us another round, I'm going to the washroom. 

"Will do, gorgeous," I said, smiling. 

I watched her go to the bathroom, and then caught the eyes of my bartender and motioned for two more. 

Then my phone buzzed. I picked it up, and it was Simone. 

S: Moving on quickly, I see. She looks cozy with you. Glad you didn't waste any time. 

My jaw tightened. My thumbs moved before I thought twice. 

Me: You ended it, Simone. That was your choice, not mine. I don't understand why you keep messaging me if you were so sure about it. 

It took less than a minute for her reply to land. 

S: I don't know, Nyk. I know it was the right decision, but part of me says, I fucked up. I keep trying to bury it, but it's not working. I'm hurting so much, and no one sees it. I don't show it to anyone, but I'm fucking torn. I don't know what to do. 

The words pressed into me harder than I wanted them to. Against my better judgment, I turned slightly in her direction. 

She was already looking at me. 

For a second, just a split second, our eyes held. Something raw flickered in hers, a sharp ache buried beneath that polished mask she wore so well. I offered her the faintest smile, small but sad. Then forced myself to turn back, focus don't he glowing screen in my hand. 

Me: Simone, I don't know what you want from me. Am I supposed to wait until I graduate, and then maybe you will have changed your mind again? I'll be gutted all over again when you decide it's not what you want. I can't take that hurt again. 

Her answer was slower this time. 

S: I can't ask you to wait. I know that. 

A pit settled in my stomach, heavy and unwelcome. 

Jen then, Cyrene slid back into her stool, cheeks flushed from the walk, smile bright. I shoved my phone down onto the table, forcing my own lips into a grin. 

"Good timing," I said lightly. "Was starting to think you ditched me. Gonna bruise my ego if I get stood up mid-round."

She laughed. "I was gone for a minute, Nyk. Good to know you miss already." She said with a wink. 

I laughed, leaning back in my chair, as I reached for the fresh beer and took a sip, hoping it would mask the storm happening in my chest.