It makes sense, but I think I’ve answered my own question. Ididhope Ben’s behavior was more than just friendliness.
I can’t help but feel disappointed.
Chapter 4
Parker
This coffee shop is the bane of my existence. Alright, I’m being dramatic. But I think I’m owed a little bit of drama. Comes with the territory of being an artist, I suppose.
The muse is a fickle bitch.
When I agreed to meet Darcy here, I wasn’t expecting it to be like this. He’s tutoring. Helovestutoring, the weirdo. But he was also the first friend I made when I moved to this town in high school. After the fallout with Lincoln—my ex—my parents decided it was best for us to all have a fresh start.
I didn’t disagree. I needed to get out of that damn town. I sat down next to Darcy in the middle of a brand-new school, nervous out of my mind but putting on an indifferent front, and we just clicked.
He didn’t seem fazed by the full face of makeup I’d donned as a fuck you to the man. He didn’t bat an eye at the skirt I wore or the platformConverse I had on. He just introduced himself and then never stopped yapping.
I love him, even if he is driving me up a wall right now. I’ve never seen him so focused. Sure, he loves helping people. But this is above and beyond what he normally does.Must be some crush he’s got on Weston.
I’ve tried in the past to get him to watch football with me, and it was like pulling teeth. Weston Hale comes storming in with his brown eyes and his swoopy dark hair, andthenDarcy wanted to learn all about football.
He claims it’s because he needs to understand it to properly tutor, but I’m not convinced. The way he blushed when he opened a message on his phone and then refused to tell me what it was about said otherwise, but I digress.
And now, he’s just staring at his notebook, lost in his own world. I drum my fingers on the table, waiting for him to get done.
Speak of the damn devil.
West slowly approaches the table, his eyes volleying from me to Darcy. When he gets to the edge, he pauses. And it takes Darcy an embarrassingly long time to look up at him.
When he finally notices the football god standing beside us, his eyes widen in shock before a smile blooms on his face. Oh hell, he’s got it bad.
“Oh, hey,” Darcy says.
I have to stifle a laugh when West does a little wave. He’s so out of his element and clearly so into Darcy he can’t stand it. Even if he doesn’t quite know it yet.
“Hey,” West says. “I’ve never seen you in here before.”
The expression that passes over his face is too good. I know instant regret when I see it, and I can’t help but laugh.
Darcy glares at me, which I guess I deserve, then looks back up at West. I almost feel like I need some popcorn. This is so entertaining. “I’m in here all the time,” Darcy admits. “I see you come in. This is just the first time you’ve noticed me.”
Regret floods West’s eyes. “Well, that was a real shame on my part, then.”
Oof, what a cheesy line. I giggle, unable to help it, even when Darcy lets out an annoyed huff.
He turns to me with a glare. “Must you be a menace everywhere you go?”
No, but where’s the fun in that? “Yep. It’s my brand.”
Darcy rolls his eyes but tells West to pull up a chair and sit down.
“I’m actually going to grab a coffee. Can I get you two anything?” West asks, gesturing toward the line.
“Oh. Polite. I like this one, Darce.”
Darcy glares at me again. Damn. I was even trying to be nice. “I’ll take a cinnamon tea, please?”
Bleh. The most disgusting drink choice ever. I gag. I can feel West’s eyes on me, so I turn to look at him. I don’tthinkhe’s a bigoted asshole, but you never know, really, so I hold my chin a little higher and stare back just as intensely.
