The atmosphere between them was unusually quiet.
Ginny could feel Cass' gaze flickering to her now and then, the unasked questions hanging heavy between them. She knew this silence, it was Cass's way of piecing together something he wasn't entirely ready to confront.
The truth was, she didn't have to guess what he was thinking.
Lyle must have mentioned Ollie's little "escort" last night.
It was just like Lyle to pass along what he thought was harmless information, oblivious to how Cass would interpret it. Cass had always been protective, sometimes to a fault, and knowing her walk home had been with someone like Ollie—a stranger—seemed to sit uncomfortably with him.
Ginny let out a soft sigh, rubbing the back of her neck, her mind already spinning for some excuse, something to reassure Cass that last night had been entirely harmless.
But before she could even formulate a response, Lucy, as if on cue, bounced up beside them, her energy as vibrant and chaotic as ever.
"Hey! So how about we make this an even better lunch, huh?" she suggested, her tone as light as if she hadn't noticed the tense air between them. Lucy's bright gaze shot to Ollie, who was still trailing behind them, looking mildly entertained by the whole scene. "Ollie, why don't you join us? The more people, the better!"
Ginny's heart skipped a beat.
The idea of sharing lunch with both Lucy and Ollie felt like a nightmare she couldn't escape. She couldn't picture anything more uncomfortable—Lucy with her relentless questions and Ollie with that cute smile he seemed to wear so naturally.
She glanced quickly at Cass, who was already frowning, his jaw tensing as he fixed a look on Lucy.
"Actually, Luce…" Ginny started, her voice tentative. "I don't think that's a good idea. We wouldn't want to disturb Ollie. Or, uh, you. I mean, you both probably have other things to do."
Ollie raised an eyebrow, his expression all too smug as he glanced at Cass and then at Ginny.
"Disturb me? Not at all," he said with a slight chuckle. "Actually, lunch sounds fun."
Ginny's stomach tightened, but before she could say anything further, Cass took a step forward, his gaze icy as he addressed Ollie directly, his tone sharper than she'd ever heard it.
"We don't have room," he said bluntly, folding his arms. "The table we use for lunch is enough for just three people—me, my brother, and Ginny."
The tension between Cass and Ollie hung thick in the air, practically crackling.
Cass stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable, his eyes flicking between Ginny and Ollie as though he were debating whether to address Ollie's presence head-on or simply ignore him out of existence.
Ollie, meanwhile, looked completely unbothered, a relaxed smirk playing on his lips that only seemed to deepen with each second Cass bristled.
Lucy, ever undeterred, glanced from Cass to Ollie, bright-eyed and practically buzzing.
"Well, that's an easy fix!" she chirped, breaking the silence with a broad grin. "I can just grab two more chairs from the canteen and bring them over. Easy as pie, problem solved!"
Ginny's stomach twisted with a mix of mortification and helpless amusement. Lucy, always in her own world, clearly couldn't see the storm brewing on Cass's face, the way his gaze had sharpened with a quiet edge. She opened her mouth, ready to say something, anything, to prevent what was starting to feel like the most awkward lunch of her life when, thankfully, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Her hand darted to her phone, the residual fear from earlier still lingering, making her heart skip a beat as she glanced at the screen. But when she saw Lyle's name at the top of the message, she felt the tension ease from her shoulders, her body unwinding with relief.
"Where are you guys? Cassian said he was bringing food, but I'm starving, and he's taking forever."
Ginny exhaled, the relief almost dizzying. It was just Lyle. She wasn't sure what she'd expected—another unknown number, some cryptic text—but this was normal, familiar, like a soft anchor to hold onto in the midst of all this… chaos.
Ginny glanced at Cass, her lips curving into a small smile as she held up her phone. "It's Lyle. He's asking where we are. Says he's starving."
Cass's jaw relaxed a bit, and for a moment, a flicker of warmth softened his expression.
"Then we'd better get going," he murmured, taking the tray from her hands with an air of finality. "He doesn't like to wait."
Before she could even respond, Cass was already striding toward the exit, his determination clear. Ginny was about to follow, grateful for the smooth exit Lyle had unknowingly given them, when she felt a tug on her sleeve.
She turned to see Lucy's wide, expectant grin.
"I can't wait!"
Ginny's eyes widened. "Luce, I don't think—"
But Ollie leaned in, hands tucked comfortably in his pockets, his smirk growing as he nodded toward Cass, who was already halfway out the door.
"I'm curious, too," he said with a casual shrug. "Can't leave my favorite ramen buddy to walk all alone, now can I?"
Ginny stifled a groan, glancing helplessly after Cass's retreating form. She could practically feel the tension rolling off him in waves, and the thought of showing up to lunch with both Lucy and Ollie in tow was enough to make her want to hide under the nearest table.
But before she could protest further, Lucy had looped an arm around hers, practically dragging her toward the exit, her chatter already filling the air again.
"You know, I think I read somewhere that sharing meals is one of the best ways to strengthen friendships," Lucy said, nodding enthusiastically as they walked. "I mean, think about it. You've got the food, the conversation, the bonding. It's like science!"
Ginny sighed, glancing over her shoulder to see Ollie following closely, a look of unrestrained amusement on his face.
This was going to be a disaster, she thought, torn between laughter and dread.