TAMING THE PLAYBOY ALPHA - Chapter 63: Chapter 63

: FEET JUICE
FREYA'S POV:
"Aww, why do I feel like I'm not welcome here?" He laughs at not just my expression, but Xena's as well.
She scoffs, looking away from him.
"Sorry, was it too obvious?" I respond.
He chuckles again. "Entertaining as ever."
"Ignore him. He knows how to kill the mood in every given situation." Adam adds. "May I join you guys under this shade?"
I turn to Xena immediately with pleading eyes and pouting lips.
"Can he join us?"
She sighs. "This wasn't what I planned for, but I guess he can join us."
I smile excitedly, turning to Adam just as he drops right next to me, smiling back.
Lucas sits right next to Adam as well, and I glare at him instantly.
"Thought you got the message earlier?"
"Well, I wouldn't want to leave now. This seems fun." Lucas responds.
"Do whatever you want. It's not like you ever bothered about what other people think," Xena says now.
"Thank you for noticing. It's a skill I'm very proud of." He quips.
Xena ignores him now, looking away but it's obvious from her expression that her mood had already turned sour.
I feel guilty immediately.
If I hadn't pushed for Adam to join, Lucas wouldn't have needed to tag along as well.
Though I still feel he would have ruined it either way, because he wanted to.
"You don't know how hungry I've been," Adam says, obviously trying to lighten the mood and change the subject.
He takes a sandwich, moaning with glee as he bites into it with satisfaction.
The sound he makes from his eating does good for the awkwardness around us but doesn't change the current mood.
"Is that charcoal?" He asks, finally coming across Xena's delicacy.
I open my mouth to answer but Lucas beats me to it..
"It's roasted chicken."
"You sure? That doesn't look like-"
I shove him in the side with my elbow, so he shuts up. Xena seems already annoyed and I don't want him ruining her mood further by sharing his thoughts on her food.
Lucas smiles now, watching the both of us.
"You should try it, it's good." Lucas says good- naturedly.
"I thought you didn't like my cooking." Xena glares at him again, more harshly than before.
"Your roasted chicken is by far the best, ofcourse." He says that as he cuts a piece for himself, eating it like it doesn't taste like burnt wood.
I watch him bewildered and fully sure that he has lost his mind now.
"Uhh, do you want a sandwich with that... chicken?"
Adam asks with reserved concern.
"No, I'm fine with just this." He says.
Xena rolls her eyes, looking away, having no insults to give him when he's willingly eating without complaints, despite wanting him to leave.
"So..." I begin now. "What were you guys doing in the woods? I thought it's restricted area unless declared otherwise."
"That doesn't apply to Lucas and I and a few other wolves involved in paroling school perimeter. The school security is in charge, ofcourse, but we are forced volunteers." Adam explains.
"Oh, nice."
The wind suddenly picks up and my hair flies everywhere to my annoyance.
My pressed-down frizzy hair begins to unravel bits off itself that fly around my face, some threatening to go into my eye.
Once the wind calms, I'm left looking tousled. Adam chuckles at my new hair-do, leaning forward to tuck some hair away from my face.
"It's a mess, right? Sometimes, it tired me out."
"I like it," he responds warmly, probably to make me feel better about it.
I appreciate his gesture and return his smile.
"Fuck." Xena says suddenly, drawing all eyes her way.
She looks shocked while staring into space for seconds. Then looking around the blanket we are resting on before turning to me.
"I forgot refreshments. No wonder I felt so parched!"
I look down as well. It's only now I realize there's just a single bottle of water here.
"My grandma made cranberry juice and sent some. I wanted to share it with you."
"It's fine Xena. We can drink it back in the room or some other time."
"No way." She stands abruptly. "There's still time to get it."
I sigh now, rising to my feet as well. There's no dissuading her now for sure.
"Fine, let's go get it."
"No way, this is supposed to be relaxing for you. So, sit down."
"I can help." Lucas offers, raising his hand.
I scoff at him while she sends daggers his way with her eyes.
"Adam, would you mind helping me carry them all?" She turns to Adam sweetly
"Uh... sure, I guess. No problem there." "Great! Adam will help then."
She drags him to his feet quickly before walking off with him towards our dorm and regretfully leaving me all alone with Lucas.
"Great, I'm stuck with the Grinch."
"I'd like to think myself more cheerful than a green creature that steals gifts from children." Lucas retorts.
"He is cheerful, only when sapping the joy from others. You have that in common."
He glares at me now, shaking his head. "I didn't think it would be so terrible to be stuck with me."
"Of course, it is. You obviously don't like me. Of course, it won't be fun being stuck with you." "Dislike you as an individual might be too strong to describe it. You might have Silas confused and Adam swooning over you, but it seems I'm the only one with their head screwed on tight about the situation." "What? Adam isn't swooning over me."
He rolls his eyes. "That's right, your obliviousness is another one of your charms that complicates everything going on."
I remain silent, annoyed with his attitude. Despite what he says, I can feel his obvious dislike of me.
It's as though I've offended him but I only ever remember being as nice as possible on our very first meeting.
What confuses me as well is the fact that the way he treats me had changed as well.
"I wonder though, knowing Silas is going to end up with a completely different person why you are still insistent on staying with him."
"Silas and I are... We're just friends, so you can stop seeing me as a threat."
My chest clenches a bit again with the resurfacing mood. I'm unable to look at him now, feeling generally uncomfortable with the conversation. I've already labeled this feeling as guilt for having come in between two soon-to-be mates.
I feel his eyes on me, watching for the longest time.
"Well, I guess I'd take your word for it." He answers aloofly, leaning backward to rest his back against the tree shading us, and closing his eyes.
He remains like that for a while and it begins to seem like he's fallen asleep.
"Freya!" Xena yells from afar as she rushes over to me empty-handed.
I look at her, wanting to ask where the drinks are as she approaches till I spot Adam right behind her, carrying a large jug of it.
"Wow, that's a lot of cranberry juice."
"It's healthy and organic." She boasts while showing
Adam where to drop it.
In no time, she's happily distributing cups and giving each of us a portion, including Lucas.
I take a sip of it, savoring the sweet and sour flavors that mix perfectly.
The slight acidity and fruity taste are perfect, although there's this weird aftertaste. All in all, it's not bad.
"This is really nice, Xena." I compliment her truthfully and she smiles back with pride. "Why does it kind of taste like feet though?" Adam asks, swirling it around in his mouth.
"How do you know what feet taste like?" I ask, raising a brow.
He shrugs casually, taking another sip while I down the entire cup, getting ready for seconds. "That's because her grandma makes them with her feet," Lucas reveals while sipping his slowly.
I freeze in horror, hoping that he's just messing with me again. "What?" I turn to Xena expectantly, waiting for a correction.
"She uses the traditional way by squeezing the juices from the cranberry; in a barrel using her feet." She fills us in cheerfully.
I hurl almost as fast as Adam does.