Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 85

Ria's POV:

It had been three weeks since that party. I didn't remember a single second of it, which was probably for the best. I'd woken up with a pounding headache that felt like a jackhammer was going off in my skull, and I made a solemn vow to myself-never drink again. Ever. The embarrassment of not knowing what happened that night still lingered, but Layla had filled in the blanks for me. Apparently, I danced on a bar, took way too many shots, and made a complete fool of myself.

Thankfully, she left out any mention of Nikolai. No sightings, no run-ins. That part of my life was well and truly behind me. The last time I saw him was in that elevator in the administration building at Ivy. And let's hope it will stay the last time I saw him. That chapter of my life is closed now. I didn't care anymore. I had more important things to focus on-like packing up my all my things in Oregon because in a month, Layla and I were moving to Oxford.

A fresh start. Finally.

Obviously just Eduard's good word, wouldn't get us in. We had to do an interview as well. So we did it through FaceTime individually, but I do have a bit of luck sometimes, beacuse Layla and I both got in.

The sunlight streamed through the windows of my and Gia's old bedroom, casting a warm glow on the hardwood floor. Boxes surrounded me as I packed my clothes, memories of this house filling my mind. It felt surreal, like the end of a chapter I'd been waiting to close for years.

"Can't believe we're actually doing this," I muttered, folding a sweater into one of the boxes.

Gia, Lia, and Mia were all crammed in the room with me, helping with the packing. They'd been worried about me lately, especially after seeing how different I looked. Thinner, paler-less of the Ria they were used to. So, I told them the truth about what had happened between Nik and me, leaving out Vlad's part. I didn't want them to be scared too. Not, when they didn't have to be. Vlad had a restraining order against them. And I'm pretty sure now that Nik and I were history, he was done with me. I don't even know where he went, or what happened with him ever since I dumped Nikolai. There was no need to drag that mess into this conversation. Besides, they were already pissed enough at Nikolai.

"Are you sure I can't punch him in the face?" Lia grumbled from the doorway, her arms crossed.

"No, Lia," Gia said, shooting her a warning look as she helped me fold some shirts and place them in a box. "That would land you in jail for assault."

"What if I just break his nose a little?" Lia tried again, raising an eyebrow mischievously.

I couldn't help but laugh. "No, Lia. It's not worth it."

Lia sighed dramatically, flopping onto my bed. "Come on, just an eeny, teeny, meeny, tiny smack. You know, to match his eeny, meeny, miny, tiny dick."

I beg to differ.

I froze for a second, my cheeks heating up. That's definitely not true . Shaking the memory of our more... intimate moments out of my head. Not the time, Ria. Not the time.

"Lia," Gia scolded, smacking her on the leg. "We're supposed to be helping her pack, not plan your next prison sentence."

"I'm just saying!" Lia raised her hands in mock surrender. "The guy deserves it. And now you're acting like it's no big deal? How are you even so calm? I don't get it."

"It's not a big deal anymore," I said, shrugging as I folded another shirt. "I'm over it. I'm moving to Oxford, starting a new life. I don't need to waste any more energy on him."

"Good for you," Mia chimed in, smiling softly from where she was taping up one of the boxes. "I'm proud of you, Ria."

"Thanks," I replied, giving her a small smile.