They’re an attractive couple, to say the least.
“Nice to meet you both,” I murmur. “And happy anniversary.”
“Thank you, and thanks for coming.” Benton offers me a warm smile before adding,” Oh, and these are our friends, Miguel and Mateo.”
I can feel more than see Xander beaming beside me. And the way Mateo’s eyes are glued to the side of my face is unnerving.Do I pretend we don’t know each other? That this is the first time we’re meeting?That seems like the safest option without having to explain anything.
Too fucking bad that choice is taken from me when Xander blurts out, “Oh, these two know each other,” dragging a finger between the two of us.
Mateo’s eyes glint with amusement, while I am wishing for the ground to open and swallow me whole.
“We’re neighbors,” I grit out.
That makes the man beside Mateo—Miguel—huff out a laugh. My gaze darts to his, but he’s already looking at Mateo. “Thisis your neighbor, Matty?”
“Matty?!” My hand comes up to cover my mouth, because I didn’t mean to blurt that out. ButMatty?That’s his nickname?
Mateo scowls at me, while Miguel and Xander laugh. Poor Doran and Benton stand there looking between us all, clearly missing what’s so funny. This is a disaster.
After a few minutes of awkward small talk, I’m able to excuse myself to the bar to get a strong drink. Probably not the smartest idea, but I don’t have many of those anymore.
Luckily, the place is pretty full, so we’re able to mingle with other people, while Mateo does the same. Throughout the entire event, though, I can feel his intimidating gaze on me, dark, heady eyes following my every move. It’s unnerving, and I tell myself I hate it, the way he watches me, but I’m not very convincing.
Xander and I have just finished eating what is probably our sixth taco each, when he leans in, a knowing smirk on his face. “The hickey’s from him, isn’t it?”
Knew this was coming.
“I’m not doing this.”
“But I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Xander,” I warn, the edge clear in my tone.
He grabs us each another beer, handing me mine as he takes a sip of his. It’s an IPA of some sort. I wonder if it’s made locally.
“Matty,” Xander says with a chuckle. I can’t tell if he’s saying it more for himself. “Funny nickname for such a large and in charge man.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Do you remember that time you hooked up with Branson Adler, and he didn’t know your name, so he would call you Tony-Troy?”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I grind my molars. Xander cracks up laughing, clearly finding himself so funny.
“Who’s Tony-Troy?”
Blood turning ice cold, I turn my head, gaze colliding with a familiar pair of mint greens. How I missed him walking over is beyond me.
“No, I must’ve forgotten that memory,” I deadpan, ignoring Mateo completely.
But of fucking course, I remember that one time I hooked up with a hot-ass guy only to hear from friends after the fact that he gave me a fucking nickname because he couldn’t be bothered to remember my name in the first place.
Definitely a core memory.
A highlight of my college career.
And if that one fucking nickname doesn’t perfectly describe my dating life as a whole… fine enough to hook up with, but not good enough to remember.Sounds about right.
“It’s a name someone from college gave to Trav—” Xander blurts out before I smack him in the chest with the back of my hand. “Ouch!”
