Just fucking do it.
Just… get her out of your system. Move the fuck on with someone else.
“What’s wrong?” Austin asks, his voice muffled as he shovels more cheese into his mouth.
“Please, for the love of God, chew before you speak,” Nathan replies, shaking his head.
Austin ignores him, still staring at me, intrigued. “Who you texting?”
I shove my phone into my pocket, wishing the damn thing would just stop buzzing. “No one.”
Austin’s brows shoot up, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Uh oh. He’s hiding something.”
I shoot him a glare, my jaw tightening. “Can you stay out of my business, please?”
But of course, Austin doesn’t listen. He jumps off the counter, that grin still plastered on his face. “Come on, who is it?” he presses, his eyes bright with curiosity. I stay silent, but he keeps pushing. His grin falters, then grows again as he puts it together. “Wait… Is it?—”
“No,” I snap, my voice firm. The last thing I need is Austin dragging this out. He hasn’t let it go since he saw me talking to Isabella at the rink. I thought he’d drop it, but of course, he hasn’t.
His mouth doesn’t know when to shut up.
Nathan looks at me, brow furrowed. “Who’s he talking about?”
“No one,” I snap, rubbing my temples. “Can you just let it go, Jesus.” I exhale, running a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the tension building up inside me. “It’s like I’m talking to a bunch of ten-year-olds.”
Nathan chuckles, but then his face scrunches up as he groans, squeezing his eyes shut. “Speaking of ten-year-olds… I need a favor.”
I snort. “Listen, I love you, but I’m not babysitting your cousin or some shit.”
“No babysitting required,” he says with an eye roll. “I just need help carrying my sister’s stuff to her dorm. My mom called me out for not helping her, and I got an earful.”
Austin snickers from the kitchen. “Aw, you a mamma’s boy, Hayes?”
Nathan flips him off, but his eyes stay locked on me. “Will you help me out?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Now?”
He shakes his head. “No, not right now. I’m gonna grab a shower. But maybe around five? If you’re free to help then?”
I should probably say no. I should probably avoid her. If I don’t see her, I won’t think about how my hands felt on her hips, or how her lips were an inch from mine.
But then again… I kinda wanna see those brown curls and that smile again.
And I did tell her I’d be her guy if she ever needed help with anything. I’d be an asshole to go back on my word and let her down.
“Yeah,” I say, shrugging. “Sure.”
Austin’s smirk widens. “Oooh, you’re helping baby Hayes? I might tag along.”
“Get fucked,” Nathan mutters, shoving him in the chest.
Austin laughs it off, rubbing at his chest. “Fine, fine. I’ll stay here. Got some studying to do, or whatever.” He sighs dramatically. “Take pictures for me, Ryan,” he adds with a wink.
As I said… his mouth never knows when to shut up.
Nathan, however, doesn’t seem amused. He throws me a glare, clearly not thrilled at the idea of Austin joking about me and his sister.
“Chill,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Austin was just kidding.”
