“That was months ago.” I wave off her insinuation, hoping that will help. It’s fruitless though, I know she won’t let it go.
“So what? You said so yourself he’s a cutie and always has been.”
I frown. “When did I say that?”
She throws me another look of exasperation. “You’ve said it heaps of times, and besides, I know you like him from the way you’re always trying to deflect whenever he’s brought up.”
“Bethany Jo Marsden!”
“Try and deny it.”
“Of course I like Jay, we’ve known each other a long time. But he’s a well-known fuck boy in hockey circles. And besides, I’m done with dating athletes.”
“Jay wouldn’t be like that with you!” she protests. “From what you’ve told me, he completely adores you. And you can’t tar all sports guys with the same brush.”
I roll my eyes. “Can’t I?”
“So you wouldn’t even consider something more with Jay if he wanted to?”
I once again try to deflect and play that notion down as I grab my bag from the floor and we get ready to leave the cafe. It’s been a lovely afternoon sitting here watching the world go by. We don’t get to do this often enough.
“He wouldn’t want to,” I say. “Remember that whole fuck boy thing?”
“And remember how I said he wouldn’t be like that with you? Maybe he just hasn’t found the right girl yet.”
“And I’m sure he doesn’t want to. Just this morning at the rink, he had some busty blonde calling after him, trying to hook up right in front of me.”
Her eyes bug wide, stopping just outside the cafe doors as we exit. “What?”
“Yeah, you should have seen it. I had to skate away, she was practically hanging over the barricade to try and get to him.”
“Holy shit. What did he do?”
“Seemed like he blew her off and skated over to me.”
“Well, there you go then. Did he seem remotely interested in her?”
I think back, tapping my fingers on my chin. I know how annoyed it made me feel this morning, but it’s exactly how it is for these sports guys. And I’m a friend, nothing more. I’ve no claim over him just because we accidentally kissed months ago and shared a reggae dance at that bar. “Actually, he seemed to want to get as far away from her as possible.”
“That’s a good sign, J.”
I let out a breath. “A good sign of what? I’m not interested in Jay that way.”
“What way?” A voice says behind us.
I shriek, clutching my chest as I turn on my heel and see none other than the man in question standing right behind us. Low and behold if he doesn’t have a quizzical expression on his face. His cute head tilted, a wry smiling playing on his lips like he’s deciding whether to expand it or not. I wish he would; he looks cute when he smiles.
“Oh, hey, Jay!” Beth chirps brightly.
“Hey.” Jay grins like a Cheshire cat, immediately sticking his hand out toward my bestie. “I don’t think we met formally that night at the bar, I’m Jay.”
She juts her hand out to connect with his and gives it an enthusiastic shake. “Hey, I’m Beth. Jade’s right, you really are cute!”
“Beth!” I whack her on the arm as Jay laughs under his breath, shuffling a little awkwardly from one foot to the other.
“Nice to know what she says about me when I’m not here.”
They share a conspiratorial laugh together as I look from one to the other.
