Page 75 of Daughter of Garnet

"You need to eat. You use more calories now that you're—" Cliff cuts himself off, eyes darting to where Ray and Viv sit on either side of us, before clearing his throat. "Studying so hard."

"Ugh, studying really takes it out of me, too. If the library allowed food, I'd do nothing but snack while working in there." Viv stabs a piece of her chicken breast and pops it into her mouth. Her voice is slightly muffled as she speaks around it. "Not that the snacks are any good here."

Ray nudges my plate closer to me. I don't know why he chose to sit beside me, but Viv gave him the stinkeye for it. "Cliff is right, you've barely touched your dinner."

"You two are mother hens," I complain, but I still shovel in a bite.

"We just care about you."

Cliff looks at Ray with narrow eyes. "Yeah… What he said." I can tell that, like me, Cliff is confused about the Alpha's change of heart regarding me.

"Are you going to the party tonight?" Viv asks after finishing her plate. I've made it through about half of mine now, but I can't force myself to eat any more. My appetite has been shit lately.

I shake my head. "Wasn't planning on it." The more parties I go to with her, the more I realize it isn't my scene. Sure, I hooked up with Cameron at one, but I doubt he'll be there tonight. If we're going to hook up again, there are better places to go.

"Me neither," Cliff agrees. I was hoping to spend some time with him tonight, so I'm glad he seems to be on the same wavelength as me.

Viv pouts, her eyes growing wide and round like a puppy. "Please? I don't want to go on my own."

"You always find someone there to talk to," Ray says. "I think you can manage without Zoe for a night."

Ray is right, but why is he speaking for me? Doesn't he usually go to these parties, too?

When I ask him as much, he shrugs. "I'm not feeling up to it tonight. Was thinking a chill night in would be better."

Viv stands with a grumble and gathers her plate. "Fine. I guess Oren is my wingperson tonight. You guys are no fun." She stomps away before I can say anything else.

"Shit, maybe I should go with her. I feel bad, like I'm neglecting our friendship."

Cliff reaches across the table and places his hand on top of mine. "You get lunch and dinner with her every day, and breakfast most days too. And you went to a party with her last Friday. You're not neglecting her."

I know he's right, but it doesn't make it any better. Warren and I haven't spoken since that day he got a glimpse of my Omega, and I can't lose another friend by not being there for Viv when she needs me.

"Still, maybe I should go…"

"Have you had a night for yourself recently?" I don't know why I expected Ray to leave with Viv, but he didn't. "Not studying, or following Viv to a party. Have you had a night where you did whatever you wanted to do?"

Have I?

Hunting down Cameron was for me, in a way. It wasn't leisure or fun, not really, but it was something I wanted to do. And I got some good information out of it, not to mention starting to develop a real relationship with the Alpha.

Outside of that…

"I'm sure I have."

Cliff snorts. "I'm not." I glare at him, and he raises his hands. "Don't shoot the messenger. You've got to relax, Zoe. The amount of stress you're holding is untenable."

Ray's nod is solemn, as if Cliff were speaking holy words. "He's right. A party isn't how you relax, and that's fine, but what's something you did before you came here?"

"Uh, mainly just hung out with Warren. We'd have a drink or two and shoot the shit. Nothing very exciting."

"Then let's start with drinks." Ray stands and starts gathering our dishes. "I have some in my room, if you two want to come back with me."

I look at Cliff out of the side of my eye, and he shrugs. He's going to let me decide if we join the Alpha, for better or worse.

Ray's room is a stark contrast to mine and Cliff's. The dorm itself is much nicer, with a first-floor sitting room that resembles the Hub's third floor, and it's huge.

And of course, he has no roommate.