Page 51 of Beautifully Scarred Omega

“You’ve had dinner, haven’t you?” I ask, keeping my voice casual.

“I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

She’s quiet for a moment. “No. I didn’t have time.”

I frown. “We didn’t meet until eight. What were you doing before that?”

“Other stuff.”

“Other stuff?”

She shoots me a look, clearly annoyed. “I was working out. Okay?”

“Working out.” I stop walking, which forces her to stop too. “On an empty stomach. For how long?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“It’s not.” I start walking again, and she falls into step beside me. “But you still need to eat something.”

She looks at me like I’ve suggested she commit a felony.

“Hey,” I say, an idea forming, “why don’t we grab something from the canteen? Elena always leaves sandwiches in the fridge. It won’t be anything fancy, but it’s food.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. Your stomach sounds like it’s trying to digest itself.”

She opens her mouth as if she wants to argue, but then her stomach growls a third time, even louder than before.

I raise an eyebrow.

She glares at me. “Fine,” she says, begrudgingly.

“Great.” We step into the elevator and I press the button for the ground floor. “I’m a bit hungry myself, actually.”

The canteen is dark when we arrive, lit only by the emergency lights and the soft glow from the drink coolers. I leave the lights off. No sense advertising that anyone’s in here.

I pull open the fridge, and its light spills a pale wedge across the floor. Sure enough, there’s a tray of sandwiches wrapped in plastic, neatly labeled with tomorrow’s date.

“Looks like we have ham and cheese, or chicken. What’s your preference?”

Sophie moves closer, peering at the tray.

“Both,” she says.

I blink. “Both?”

She reaches past me and grabs three sandwiches, two ham and one chicken, cradling them against her chest like she’s afraid I’ll take them back.

I look at the three sandwiches, then at her, then back at the sandwiches. I try very hard not to look shocked.

“Right.” I grab a sandwich for myself and close the fridge. “Drinks?”

“Water’s fine.”

I grab two bottles from the cooler and turn to face her. She’s already unwrapping the first sandwich, taking a bite before I can even suggest we find somewhere to sit.