Eddie shrugs, taking a bite of his burger. “Sometimes.”
She frowns. “Ugh, I hate competition.”
Eddie’s smile spreads. “There’s no competition. Don’t worry.”
She beams proudly. “Hey, didn’t I hear you saying something about watching some horror movies this weekend?”
He swallows nervously. “Um, yeah.” He looks to Wesley to bail him out, but he’s too busy sipping the last of his shake out of the metal glass they gave him, the slurping obnoxiously atrocious.
Wesley swallows nervously when he notices everyone looking at him. “It’s kind of a guy thing,” he says, backing up his friend.
“Oh, so no girls are allowed?” she asks, batting her eyelashes.
Eddie coughs. “Umm, I’d have to ask the boys.”
Wesley snorts. “Don’t look at me, dude. If you want to add a girl to the group, go for it.”
“Shut up,” Eddie mutters, shooting him a panicked look.
Pippa laughs a little too loudly. “Well, maybe I could come hang out with you guys? I love a good horror movie, and I can be really fun.”
“I’m sure you are,” Eddie says politely, and that’s the problem. He’s polite. Not flirty. Not leaning in. Not invitingher to their weekend movie fest. She’s inviting herself, and she doesn’t notice the difference.
But I do.
Wesley nudges my foot again, gentler this time. “Does she always come on this strong?” he whispers.
Nodding, I dip my grilled cheese into the tomato soup. “Only when she wants something,” I mutter.
He keeps his eyes on his plate, not saying anything else.
As the evening goes on, Eddie loosens up a little, laughing whenever he can with Wesley. He even bumps Pippa’s shoulder once when she teases him about having ketchup on his chin. She lights up over the brief contact like it means everything.
It doesn’t.
By the time Linda drops the check, I’m emotionally overloaded and way too full of cheese. It’s definitely time to go home, but Pippa’s too busy giving Eddie hugs he’s not really returning.
The neon sign buzzes above us as Pippa pushes her hair back. “Well, I had a really nice time tonight, Eddie. I’m glad you invited us.”
“It was nice,” he agrees.
She stands there for a second, waiting for a kiss goodnight, but it never comes. He moves in for another hug, and she latches onto him, holding him longer this time.
The poor guy.
“Call me,” she says eagerly when she finally lets go.
“Yeah,” he replies. “I will.” Though he doesn’t specify when or if ever.
She smiles anyway, like he just promised her the world.
Wesley walks us over to our car as Eddie heads to his beat-up truck. Pippa lingers like she’s hoping he’ll turn around. When he doesn’t, she sighs and finally joins me and Wesley.
“I had fun,” she says, as if she’s trying to convince herself.
I squeeze her hand. “I’m glad.”
She gives me a look that saysliar, then hops into her Mustang, but before she shuts the door, she glares at Wesley.
