Page 58 of Keep Me
Matty immediately plucked the drink out of her hand, and it was quiet enough that we could hear their conversation.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you mean? I was just waiting for you to finish talking to yourfriendBritt.”
He lifted her drink. “And you thought it would be a good idea to drink this?” He shook his head, placed the glass down, and took Olana’s arm. She shuffled off the barstool, and as he dragged her out, she glanced at me from over her shoulder and gave me a wink.
“Well, they look like a fun couple.” Erik squeezed my hip, drawing my attention back to him.
“How did you know they were together?”
“You know, as a hockey player, I need to be fully aware of everything that goes on around me. In order to develop that skill, I had to put it into practice daily. I guess I just got used to observing people, and I noticed that while Matty was watching you, she was at the door watching him.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t take a genius to see that you guys are caught up in some weird love triangle.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it that.”
“You know, more than one partner is more than acceptable these days, maybe you could form a ménage à trois.”
“I’m okay, thanks.”
He thought about it for a minute. “Good, a girl like you would be wasted in that kind of scenario. You deserve to be worshipped by two guys instead.”
I gulped, giving him a small smile. Honestly, a guy had never talked so openly about liking me like this before. I guessed it was partly to do with my brothers always being around, but it wasodd. Did Matty feel like this too, or was this just Erik’s way of flirting?
“Thanks,” I said meekly.
“You’re welcome,” Erik said, satisfied.
I shook off his arm and stood from the pool table.
“You didn’t have to do that, you know.”
“I know. I just thought you needed a little help. You had that deer in headlights look, and if I want to be on Santa’s good list this year, I need to start acting selflessly.”
“Thank you,” I said, dropping my gaze to my shoes. Looking at Erik had become too much. The reality of the situation had sunk in, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about any of it.
“No problem. Whenever you need a fake boyfriend, let me know. You can also call me anytime you need a real one too.” He winked, and I groaned.
Then he raised his hands. “Hey, like I said before, a guy’s got to eat when the finest steak is sitting in front of him.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to subtly look at the door where Matty walked out. As much as I wanted to move on, it was feeling impossible right now.
Chapter 12
Throwing the doors open to Covey’s Cantina, I was vibrating with anger. Why the fuck was she always ruining everything for me?
Olana dug her heels into the ground. I had no doubts she wanted to make a show of our argument and turn Britt off me entirely.
The doors to the bar shut, leaving us in relative quiet, and I could do nothing but glare at her.
She stared back at me, her lips twitching as she raised her eyebrows, pretending she was oblivious to the fact that she was ruining my life.
“Matty. What was that all about?” Her voice was cool as she touched my arm.
I backed away, slinking out of her hold. She’d lost the privilege to touch me a long time ago.
“What the fuck are you doing, Olana?” I gritted out, and she laughed, throwing me a timid, innocent smile. The same one she’d been using on me ever since she told me about her pregnancy.
The same pregnancy she was now using to manipulate me into doing everything for her, knowing I couldn’t back down. Not after all the history between us.
