Page 29 of Daughter of Garnet

"Yeah, I'd think so. I'll have to let you know if I spend more time around an Omega and can test the theory."

Is this why Dominic is insistent? It feels like even more evidence that I'm not actually an Omega.

Cliff guides me through the building toward the classroom where my Designation Hierarchy class meets. He swoops down and kisses me on the cheek.

“Thanks for joining me for breakfast. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

He’s gone before I can form words. I touch my cheek, the skin warm and a soft tingle running through me. A kiss on the cheek shouldn't light me up the way that just did.

I stumble into the classroom in a bit of a daze, but I snap out of it when Viv calls my name and waves me toward the empty seat beside her.

She wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a half-hug. “You’re here early. Almost beat me for once.”

Viv is an excellent student. I'm lucky that she pays close attention and takes detailed notes that she's willing to share with me. I’ve never seen her slip in right before class starts, as I have once or twice already.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I went for an early breakfast with Cliff.”

“Oooh, Cliff. Is there something going on there?”

His innocent kiss on my cheek floats back to the front of my mind. I don't want to read into it, but maybe he did notice me looking and was okay with it.

Or maybe it was just platonic affection.

“No, it’s not like that. We’re friends.” It doesn't feel quite right, and I can't put my finger on why.

I pull out my notebook and rest it on my knees before flipping to the next available page.

Except the page I expect to be blank isn’t.

Scrawled in neat, pointed handwriting is a single line.

I miss you. You still owe me dinner.

CHAPTER 16

Zoe

Flashes of dark hair and green eyes play in my memory as my breath stops.

Cameron. It has to be. He's the only person who's asked me to dinner. Even without that part, I think I would've known it was him. I'm not sure how, but I would.

I flip the page before Viv can catch sight of the note.

Cliff is the only person who knows about my interaction with Cameron, and though I don't think there is a problem with Viv being aware of it, I don’t want to get into that story so early in the morning.

I want to flip back to the page and read the note over and over, even though a single glance is all it took to memorize it.

How did he get my notebook? I can’t think of a time I’ve left my bag alone, except when it’s in my room. When Viv and I were in the library, the notebook was right beside me on the table.

Did he sneak into my room? He couldn't have. There has to be another explanation.

Is it bad that I'm kind of flattered that that one conversation with me was enough to break into my room and write me a note? I know I should be scared, but if he wanted to hurt me, he would've already.

Right?

Gods, I can't think like this. His actions prove just how dangerous he is. Stalking is not romantic, Zoe. It's a precursor to violence. I shudder at the thought.

Viv looks at me out of the corner of her eye.