Ice on the Outside, Screaming Love on the Inside Chapter 06

Ice on the Outside, Screaming Love on the Inside Chapter 06

The next morning, Marnie and I walked into school with our arms linked.

Sure enough, Joren was waiting near the front entrance again.

He was such a contradiction—always acting like he didn’t care, then going out of his way to engineer these “accidental” run-ins.

Back when I was hopelessly into him, I thought it was fate.

Now that I’d taken a step back, I could see things a lot more clearly.

Joren held out two breakfast burritos.

“Got these for you two. No onions or cilantro.”

Marnie took hers without hesitation.

“Thanks.”

Then she shot me a look.

[I wonder if she noticed the no-cilantro part. Will she think I’m thoughtful?]

[I remember exactly what she likes.]

[I’ll bring her breakfast every day. Tomorrow I’ll stop by Benny’s and get her a bacon-and-egg bagel.]

I snorted inwardly.

I’d brought him breakfast for so long, and he’d never once thought to bring me any.

Apparently, I only got fed because I happened to be standing next to Marnie.

So this was the difference between someone liking you and someone who couldn’t stand you.

So annoying.

Joren kept rambling about breakfast in his head.

I stared down at the burrito in my hands and suddenly lost my appetite.

When I got inside, I handed it to Cassian, who sat behind me.

After school that day, I still had detention.

I’d racked up too many tardies, so I’d been assigned to clean the rink bleachers.

Luckily, Marnie helped me sweep every evening.

But wherever Marnie went, Joren showed up too.

He even brought a few teammates along.

[Poor thing. I hate that she has to do this.]

[Those hands are for writing and getting her nails done. They shouldn’t be holding a broom.]

[This weekend I’ll get her a few nail-salon gift cards and tell her they were free. She’ll definitely use them.]

By then, hearing Joren’s thoughts was starting to feel like a curse.

Every time I heard how much he cared about Marnie, a heavy pressure settled in my chest until it was hard to breathe.

So I finally told Marnie not to help me anymore.

I just wanted some peace and quiet.

Joren still came.

And somehow, that day, he came alone.

He didn’t ask a single question. He just picked up a broom and started working.

It was almost like he’d already known Marnie wouldn’t be there.

A little guilt crept in. What if he’d really come just to help me?

I pressed my lips together.

“I told Marnie to go home. Her dad’s been pretty strict lately.”

“Mm.”

“If you have somewhere to be, you can go too. You don’t have to help me.”

“I don’t have anywhere to be.”

“Then… thanks.”

“Mm.”

Even without Marnie there, he was still just as aloof.

I kept my distance, afraid he’d start roasting me in his head.

By the time we finished, my stomach was growling.

Joren put the cleaning supplies away and said casually, “A new Italian place opened near school. I heard it’s good.”

That hint was not subtle.

After he’d spent all that time helping me, turning him down outright would’ve felt rude.

“Then dinner’s on me.”

The second we got there, something felt off.

The place had just opened, but Joren knew the menu like he’d been there a dozen times.

He rattled off what was good and what was just okay.

I hadn’t finished reading the menu before he’d already ordered.

And—

Every single thing was exactly the kind of food I liked.

Even though I knew he liked Marnie, I couldn’t help feeling touched.

Fine.

If he wasn’t going to say it, I’d bring it up first.

I set down my fork and looked at him.

“Joren, I know who you like.”