Page 56 of Keep Me
“Because he’s been staring at me like he’s thinking of all the ways he can kill me with a pool stick since we started playing.”
“Matty’s here?” I gulped, and I couldn’t believe he was talking so casually after dropping what was essentially a nuclear bomb.
Erik hummed as his face pulled into a grin. “Mm-hm. I knew it. Something’s going on.”
“Where is he?”
Erik tipped his chin to the side, and I subtly followed. My heart stopped when I saw Matty staring straight at me.
My breath caught, and I rushed to grab the pool table to keep from falling.
“How long have they been there?” I asked through gritted teeth. Matty, Tanner, and Jackson were sitting in a booth directly opposite us. Too engrossed with the TV, Tanner and Jackson seemed oblivious to the fact that their companion was staring at the pool table.
When I dared to look over again, I caught Matty’s eyes and stilled. His face was emotionless as he took a swig of his beer and watched me with a challenging glare.
“He thinks we’re dating.” Erik leaned in to say.
How did he know that?“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “It’s just obvious. The way he’s looking at you, then back at me. I have no doubts that he thinks I’m the lucky bastard that gets to take you home tonight.”
“It’s because I was sitting next to you,” I said, and he stepped back so he could look at me fully. “He saw us today in class, and he asked me about it.”
It was a relief to get that off my chest. It might not have been the entire story, but even that little part was enough to make me feel marginally better.
“He did?! When did you see him?”
“At the game.”
“What did you tell him?” There was intrigue and amusement behind Erik’s questions. I looked up at him, too embarrassed to answer, but apparently, my reddened cheeks gave it away. “Wait a minute. Didyoutell him we were dating?”
“How did you know?”
“Oh, it’s all over your face.” He laughed. “What did he do to make you torture him like that?”
“Uh, nothing.”
He shook his head, laughing. “How did I manage to get into a couple’s problem?”
“We aren’t a couple.” I groaned. “Never have been.”
He nodded. “I get it. Friends with benefits. Those can be fun too. I’ve yet to find a girl that didn’t get hooked after one of those arrangements, though. Seems like you have the same issue. Maybeweshould try it out.”
“We weren’t friends with—” This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have. It just felt ridiculous.
“You sure? Because he’s clearly pissed.”
“No, he’s not. He has a girlfriend.”
“Mm-hm. Sure.” Looking between the two of us, a smile stretched his lips. “Can I try something?”
I tilted my head.
“Just real quick. I want to prove a point.”
I raised a brow, and he got that it was a no.
“Come on. It won’t be that bad.”
