Theo won’t care.
Jade
Okay, yeah. That sounds good.
Matteo
We’ll be at Harry’s Pub at eight.
See you then, Sunny.
Jade
See you then
“Jade, you might be the funniest person I’ve ever met,” Lucy laughs, shaking her head. She leans against the high-top table, looking at Matteo beside me. “I like her, Matty.”
I glance to my left, catching his eye as the corners of his mouth lift. “So do I.”
“Matty has been unstoppable on the ice, thanks to you,” Theo smiles, nodding. “We all need to throw you a party if we make it to?—”
“Don’t you dare even say the word,” Matteo cuts him off, narrowing his eyes at him. “You know we don’t do that.”
Theo lets out a laugh. “Shit, I know, but fuck...” He stops although he looks like he wants to continue. Instead, he shakes his head, silencing himself with a slug of his beer.
When Matteo told Theo I was meeting them, Theo asked Lucy to come too. According to everyone at the table, they’re just friends—best friends, really. I beg to differ with the way I keep catching him watching her.
Or, at least there’s something more there for him.
“Did you ask her about next Friday?”
I tilt my head to the side in question. “What’s next Friday?”
Matteo’s eyes widen slightly. “It’s just some stupid charity event for the organization.” He shakes his head dismissively. “I don’t even know if I’m going to go.”
“It’s mandatory,” Theo laughs.
“Please, he’s downplaying it,” Lucy interjects, scooting to the edge of her seat as she sips her martini. “It’s only the best thing they do every year. It’s basically just a gala with an auction.”
“That sounds really cool.” I smile at Lucy, ignoring the annoying dread in my stomach that Matteo didn’t tell me aboutit. We’re not dating, we’re not together. There’s no reason for him to invite me to all the things he does.
Matteo’s hand touches my forearm. “Wait, really?” I turn to look at him and his face lights up. “I didn’t ask because I didn’t want to add anything else to your plate while you were on your deadline.”
And just like that, he chases the worry away.
“I really appreciate that. Sometimes I get tunnel vision when I’m writing.”
“I know,” he says softly, his head bobbing. “I didn’t want to stress you out or pull you away from that headspace.”
“Hey Luce, let’s go get another round,” Theo says to her, sliding off his seat.
Lucy chuckles. Her drink is still half full. “Yeah, sure.” She gets up and they head over to the bar together, leaving just Matteo and me at the table.
Matteo’s eyes are soft and warm as he stares back at me. “Would you want to go with me, Sunny?” He clears his throat. “Be my date for the night?”
I know I really shouldn’t, we’re no strings attached afterall, but, “I’d love to.”
“It’s a black-tie affair. We’re supposed to be there a little early because they like to get pictures of the team and have the players walk in together.”
