Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 77

Nik's POV:

The second I got home, I kicked off my shoes, not even caring where they landed. I stormed into the kitchen, a gnawing hunger suddenly tearing at my insides. I needed to eat-needed something to fill the emptiness that was spreading through my chest. My brain was a chaotic mess, a whirlwind of anger, hurt, and betrayal. But food... food could help, right? It was something to focus on, something I could control.

I threw open the fridge door and started pulling out anything that looked appetizing. Cold pizza, leftover chicken, a jar of pickles-I didn't care. I was on autopilot, grabbing whatever I could get my hands on.

From the living room, I could hear Noah and Padma talking softly, but I ignored them. I was too wrapped up in my own head, in the boiling rage that simmered just below the surface. But they must've heard me stomping around like a goddamn elephant because soon enough, they cautiously made their way into the kitchen.

"Nik, you... uh, wanna talk?" Noah asked, his voice tentative.

"No." I didn't even look up from the pile of food on the counter, continuing to rummage through the cabinets for more. Crackers, peanut butter, an apple-I didn't give a shit what it was as long as it was edible.

Padma, being the sharp one she always was, seemed to sense the tension in the room. She tried to lighten the mood, bless her. "I have some granola bars in my bag. Do you want them, Nik?"

"Yes," I snapped, still not making eye contact.

Padma nodded and left the room briefly, returning with the granola bars. She handed them to me, her brown eyes warm and caring, and I felt a pang of guilt for being such an asshole. But before I could say anything, she spoke again, her tone gentle. "Ria borrowed me her hair clip last week. Is she coming over today?"

I froze, my hands still for the first time since I started this food scavenger hunt. The mention of Victoria made something in me break all over again. "No," I muttered, the word coming out harsher than I intended.

Padma tilted her head, concern etched on her face. "Did you guys have a fight?" she asked, her voice softer now, like she was afraid of pushing me too far.

Noah took a seat by the island, probably realizing that Padma was better at handling this kind of shit than he was. I appreciated that he didn't try to pry.

"She broke up with me," I said with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant, like it didn't matter, like it didn't feel like someone had just ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it.

Padma's eyes widened, and Noah straightened up in his chair, his expression shifting from casual curiosity to concern. "Any particular reason?" Padma asked, her Indian accent a bit more pronounced, something that always happened when she was really invested in something.

"She met someone else." The words tasted bitter as they left my mouth, and I laughed, but it was a hollow, empty sound. I bit into something-I didn't even know what it was-and chewed angrily, like somehow, the action would make the hurt go away.

"What?" Noah's voice was sharp, disbelief written all over his face. "That doesn't even make sense."

"Yup," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "She dumped me for someone else."

Padma frowned, a look of concentration on her face, like she was trying to puzzle something out. "No way. I know what the fuck I saw. You two had something. That doesn't just disappear," Noah insisted, his tone forceful, like he could will reality to change just by stating what he believed.

"Yeah, well, seems like she's a better actress than we all thought." I sighed, the weight of everything pressing down on me again. I kept grabbing food, kept eating, but nothing was making me feel better.