The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 299

Chapter 299: 299 | The Unedited Version

"There’s a lot to not mention."

"I figured. That’s why we’re eating first."

We navigated the cafeteria line together, loading our trays with food that looked marginally better than standard institutional fare. Sloane got her chicken sandwich and a suspicious green smoothie that matched Felicity’s from the previous day. I went for the barbecue again, because consistency was important and because the short ribs were genuinely excellent.

Back at our table, we ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. The bond hummed between us, carrying small emotional updates that didn’t require verbal translation. Sloane’s satisfaction at the sandwich quality. My relief at having survived the morning without additional romantic complications. The shared contentment of sitting together in a room full of people who weren’t us and didn’t matter nearly as much.

"So," she said eventually, wiping her fingers on a napkin. "Your morning. Details."

"Conditioning with Steele at six. Three mile run, obstacle course, partner exercises."

"Partner exercises with?"

"Camille."

Sloane’s expression flickered. "Of course."

"Steele assigned the pairs. I didn’t volunteer."

"I believe you. What happened?"

"Resistance training. She tried to pretend yesterday didn’t happen. I called her on it. We had a tense conversation while she pressed her chest against my arms and told me she hated me."

"And?"

"And I told her she hadn’t decided whether she actually hated me yet. Which is true. She’s still processing."

Sloane studied my face with an intensity that suggested she was reading more than my words. The bond probably helped, giving her access to emotional subtext I wasn’t consciously broadcasting.

"You’re not wrong," she said finally. "About Camille. I’ve known her since we were kids. She doesn’t hate easily. She decides people are worth her energy or she dismisses them entirely, and the fact that she came to your room at midnight means you’ve made the first category."

"That’s what I figured."

"Which doesn’t make me feel better, for the record."

"I know."

She sighed and took a long drink of her smoothie, buying time to organize her thoughts. I watched her throat move as she swallowed, the elegant line of her neck catching the sunlight through the window.

"What about Petra?"

"What about her?"

"Lukas."

"She came to my room after Camille. While Camille was still there. It was awkward."

"I gathered that from the emotional explosion I felt through our bond at approximately one in the morning."

"You were awake?"

"I was sleeping. Your panic woke me up. I assumed something was happening and decided to give you space to handle it rather than texting to demand answers at one AM."

"That was very mature of you."

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