Page 57 of Keep Me
“Fine.”
Without another word, Erik wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted me onto the pool table. When I was sittingcomfortably, he shimmied my legs open and stood between them.
“What are you doing?” I whisper-shouted.
He smiled in that easy, relaxed way. “Just go with it for two seconds. I think what might happen will surprise you.”
He guided my hands to his shoulders, and I froze.
“Erik,” I warned.
“Have you looked over at your boyfriend yet?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I sang.
“That’s subjective. Have a look.”
I subtly cut a gaze at Matty, then looked back at Erik with wide eyes. Matty wasn’t just staring at me like before. His fist was clenched on the table, scrunching up a Covey’s Cantina napkin. His eyes were dark and hooded, and his jaw was tight. He was pissed as hell, and although I shouldn’t be excited by that sentiment, a little spike of pleasure ran up my spine.
For so long I was pining over Matty, not knowing how he felt, but now things were different. Matty was being open and daring. He didn’t want to be with Olana, but I wouldn’t let him be with me when he had things he needed to deal with first.
Something about this situation made me feel in control, and I’d never felt like that with Matty.
“Incoming.”
Before I had time to think about it, Matty was right next to us.
“Hey, Marty,” Erik said.
“It’s Matty.”
“Oh, you know, I knew that. I was just a little too busy over here to think straight.” Erik was still between my legs, and when he dropped his hand to my thigh, Matty grumbled.
“Britt, can I talk to you for a second?” Matty asked. I felt his eyes on me but couldn’t bear to look at him. When I caught Erik’s gaze, I had to look away too, in fear I wouldn’t be able to stop laughing. How did I get in this situation, and why was Erikso willing to mess with Matty? Was it because, somehow in the last few hours, we’d become friends?
“I’m a little busy,” I stated when I’d gained enough courage to look at Matty. Then when I saw her from over his shoulder, all the excitement drained from my body.
Olana was here. With an oversized sweatshirt on, looking for Matty, no doubt. Her hair was still blonde, and she looked exhausted. I couldn’t imagine being pregnant in college was easy, and I almost felt a little sorry for her.
My heart sank as reality settled in. There was no way she’d ever leave Matty alone, and she shouldn’t have to.
I’d never get away from her flaunting the fact that she had a child with the only guy I had ever been interested in. She’d be around him for the foreseeable future, messing everything up. Leaving me with the confirmation that it probably wasn’t worth fighting for Matty. Although he might not think it now, she had eighteen years to wear him down again.
Olana went to the bar and ordered a drink.
“Britt. I’d really like to talk to you,” Matty urged, and I froze all over again.
Erik leaned in and wrapped his arms around my shoulder, pulling me into him.
“You know, Marty, I think you might want to deal with your girlfriend at the bar instead of trying to take mine.”
Oh. My. God.
He did not just call me his girlfriend, did he? The grin on his face was wide when Matty’s brows furrowed. How the hell did he know about Olana?
Matty turned to look at the scene behind him, and when he registered that Olana was there, flirting with the bartender no less, he sighed. “What’s she doing here?” he grumbled, then trudged over to her.
And again. If I needed any more signs that Matty would always pick Olana, I just got it. I wasn’t sure my heart could take any more of this.
