Page 81 of Keep Me
“Don’t deny that you’ve been avoiding looking at him?” When I didn’t answer, she continued. “What I think I’m trying to say is that some princes turn out to be frogs.”
“Are you calling Matty a frog?”
“I just know you’re looking for an awesome guy, and I don’t want you to be one of those girls that doesn’t get what she wants because she’s waiting around for someone that’s always taken.”
Taken.
The word stung because it was true. Hewastaken. Not just taken. Engaged and preparing to be a father, and I was still grappling with that, whether I wanted to admit it.
When someone cleared their throat behind me, I turned and couldn’t help but smile at the man holding two waters for us. Okay, I might have said that their tuxes were awful earlier, but the purple really brought out the green of Erik’s eyes, so at least someone was making them look good.
“Sienna,” he said coolly, handing the drink to her but keeping his focus on me.
“Erik,” she cooed, sliding her hand over his shoulder and squeezing. “I’ve just got to interview Henry, then you’re next.” She winked, making Erik laugh.
“Henry? I’m surprised he’s still talking to you after you followed him to his dorm room the other week.”
“I didn’t follow him. I was invited.”
“Like when you were ‘invited’ into Dash’s room and caused all kinds of chaos.”
She raised her hands. “Hey, that was not what it looked like. I’m still certain he and Cade are hiding something; I just don’t know what.”
I shook my head, stifling a laugh. I remembered her calling me after that incident, adamant she had a story, and never hearing the outcome. Maybe that was why she switched frominvestigative reporting to broadcasting. She wasn’t very good at it.
“Anyway, I want to get these interviews over with, so I’ll see you in a minute, Steele. Don’t flirt with my assistant too outrageously. She might not notice it, but everyone else will.”
“Sienna,” I whisper-shouted, and she threw me a smile before flitting her fingers and waving goodbye.
Erik leaned in and said, “You know? We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” Still holding my water, he opened his arms, and I couldn’t help myself. I sank into his wide chest and hugged him back. Dare I say we’d become friends, and I liked hanging out with him. Granted, hugging him didn’t feel the same as when I did it with Matty, but it was nice.
“Meeting like what? You knew I was going to be here?”
“Yes, I did, but I didn’t know you were going to look likethat.” He stepped back, taking me in with a smile. “I mean, I should be used to it by now, but damn, it’s hard when you are full of so many surprises.”
I groaned, rolling my eyes, and pushed him away. He tried to catch my hands in the move, but I didn’t let him. “Stop with the lines. They’re terrible.”
“It’s fine.” He stopped, his mouth drawing down. “You’re right. My cheesy lines would never work on someone like you. So, how about I try this instead?” He bowed forward, showing off the number 44 on the back of his tux. I take back all the compliments I threw his way before. They really were the tackiest things I’d ever seen. Not that I wanted to compare the two, but the football team had a much classier look with black tuxes and their numbers printed onto the purple lining.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask you to marry me.” Erik cleared his throat. “Brittany, would you care to dance?” He said in a mock British accent, and I barked out a laugh.
Sienna was behind him about to interview Henry, and I should have been over there with her, but when we caught eyes, she flicked her hand to suggest I go with Erik. What did I have to lose at this point? Erik might not be my happily ever after, but at least he’d show me a good time.
“Britt? Would you mind answering? My knees are about to give out.” He was still bowing, so I put my hands on his shoulders, trying to pull him up.
Laughing, I said, “Sorry. Yes. Let’s do it.”
He huffed out a breath, and there was an element of surprise on his face. I got it. I’d been acting hot and cold for so long, but it was one dance, and I needed a little fun.
I slipped my hand in his, and when we got to the dance floor, his arms dropped to my waist, pulling me closer. We weren’t inappropriately close, but I couldn’t help but wonder if Matty was watching.
Again, it was stupid. Erik had pretended to be my date once, but flaunting anything in front of Matty after the game the other day felt a little different. He looked broken, and I could only assume it had something to do with Olana being at the game.
Erik leaned in, bringing his mouth to my ear.
“So, I did a thing,” he whispered before leaning back to gauge my reaction. “And I think you might get angry over it.”
“What did you do?”
