Touch Me Not(30)

Just thinking about last night twisted her stomach into knots. She still couldn’t believe Adam had done that, said those awful, hurtful things to her. Never would she have thought him capable of being so cruel. She tried to tell herself it showed he cared enough to be jealous, that she might have a shot at winning him from Sue, but it hurt too much. Lily didn’t know how long it would take her to forgive him, but it wasn’t going to be soon. It might actually help, too, if Nikoli’s plan worked. If she stayed away from Adam, and spent her time with Nikoli, then it might drive him crazy enough to realize she was more than just his best friend.

If Nikoli’s plan worked, and that was a big if.

Her phone buzzed and she looked down to see Adam’s face on the screen. She hit ignore. Too early to even try to deal with that.

“You look like hell, Lily.”

Lily let her head fall on the table. Mikey. Of course. Adam probably sent him to feel out how mad she was.

“Well, thank you, Michelangelo,” she grumbled. “Make me feel all awesome, why don’t you?”

He plopped down across from her, and his plate of steaming eggs and waffles made her grimace. How anyone could eat something that heavy first thing in the morning was beyond her. Just gross.

“Soooo…”

Lily grimaced, and he laughed, but then his face got serious. “Adam got so drunk last night, I thought he might have alcohol poisoning.”

“Is he all right?” she asked, alarmed. She might be mad and hurt, but she didn’t want him hurt too. Well, not much.

“Sleeping it off, but he told me some stuff,” Mike said. “I’m sorry for what he said, Lils, and so is he.”

She sighed. “Sorry doesn’t cut it this time, Mikey.”

“I know, but you realize he only said those things because he was jealous, right?” Mike shoveled eggs in his mouth and swallowed. Man didn’t even chew. Lily screwed up her face. “All he could go on about was you and Nikoli. He wants to beat the crap out of him.”

“Yeah, well, it’s none of his business, especially after what he said to me.”

“Janet said you left with Nikoli last night.” Mikey put his fork down and stared at her. “Lily, Nikoli…”

“Is none of your business either,” she said bluntly.

“I just don’t want you to do something stupid out of spite.” Mike turned his full attention on her. “You’re like a sister to me, Lily, so I have to put my two cents in. Your eyes are bruised and hurt, so I don’t know if you’re thinking straight. Nikoli is, he’s…”

“I know all about him. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Adam. Stay out of it. I’m a big girl. I know what I’m getting into.”

Mike stared at her for a long moment. “Lily…”

“I mean it, Mikey. Leave it alone.”

“Leave what alone?”#p#分页标题#e#

Lily groaned at the sound of Nikoli’s voice. She groaned again when he sat down right beside her. He scooted until only an inch separated them. Her palms started to sweat, but she forced herself to sit still.

“Nothing,” she said and sat up. Nikoli was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a Metallica t-shirt. His hair looked rumpled, and his black eyes twinkled. Those full lips of his were turned up in a half smile.

“Dushka…”

“What does that mean?” she asked suspiciously.

He grinned wolfishly. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I know what it means in English.” Her eyes narrowed.

“But it doesn’t mean that in Russian.” Nikoli popped a grape in his mouth.

“Why is your English so good?” Mike asked curiously. “Didn’t you grow up in Russia?”

Nikoli nodded. “Yes, but my father spoke English. I speak it as well as I do Russian. Now, dushka…”

“No,” Lily interrupted. “Stop right there. Do not call me dushka. Ever.”

“You don’t even know what it means.” Nikoli laughed.

“I know what everyone else will think it means, and that’s more than enough for me. No dushka. Promise!”

“No more dushka. Katyonak instead.”

“Note to self, pick up a Russian to English dictionary.”

Mike shook his head, barely containing his laughter. Lily shot him an annoyed look, which only caused him to cough to try and hide his choked laugh.

“What’s up, guys?”

Lily closed her eyes as no less than three of Adam’s football buddies took a seat at their table. They leveled a look that promised pain at Nikoli, which he ignored completely. Instead, he focused on Lily, and she tried to scoot farther away from him. He only followed. She frowned at him and he simply smiled in response. He did warn her he was going to push her, but she thought he’d give her at least a day to come to grips with it. She should have known better.