I follow her line of sight, and sure enough, Nico is standing next to one of the cars parked in front of the station, talking to a few people, but every so often, his gaze darts to us. Or, well, Mae. When he spots her watching, he flashes her a grin as he grabs the hem of his shirt and lifts it up to wipe his face, the motion revealing his abs.
“I guess it doesn’t hurt that the view is nice.”
Mae snorts. “I’ve seen better.”
Her comment makes me chuckle. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
We both know she hasn’t. That girl only ever dates artsy and emo guys. Tall and lanky. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her even glance at a guy with a little more muscle on his bones.
Mae shoves me away, glaring at me. “Shut up, Jessy.”
I sway on my feet, still laughing at her grumpy face and flushed cheeks, when I spot Matthew joining the group. He fist bumps the guys as they chat for a few moments, laughing amongst themselves. Then Nico slaps him over the head and turns him directly toward us.
I bite the inside of my cheek as we just stare at one another. Goosebumps pebble my skin under his watchful gaze.
I swear I can still feel his arms wrapped around me. The way my body molded to his as we held onto each other tightly. His warmth and scent cocooning me.
My throat bobs as I swallow, and I shift my weight from one foot to the other, unsure of what to do.
Should I go to him? Wave? Pretend I don’t see him and wait to see what he does?
Seriously, somebody needs to make a fake dating girlfriend manual on how to act in these types of situations.
Mae leans closer and whispers into my ear, “Just fake, huh?”
“Stop it,” I hiss in warning, but she just laughs and shoos me away.
“Off with you. Some of us have work to do.”
Sure enough, the guys Nico and Matthew were talking to are coming toward the stand. I nod at them as we pass each other, my gaze going to Matthew, who’s still standing in his spot. He’s dressed in a dark-blue tee with a Bluebonnet Creek PD logo and cargo pants, his clothes slightly wet from washing the cars.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling self-conscious now that we’re close together.
Chill-out, Jessy.
“You seem to have your hands full.”
The moment the words slip past my lips, I want the ground to open beneath me and swallow me whole. Because, really?You seem to have your hands full?That’s the best I could come up with?
“It’s been pretty busy,” he chuckles softly, looking around the parking lot. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Well, you didn’t invite me,” I shoot back, unable to hold back my annoyance.
Matthew’s eyes narrow slightly as he looks at me. “Are you pissed?”
“N-no,” I protest quickly. Too quickly.
“Trouble…”
“I think I’ll go.” I shake my head, looking anywhere butat him. “You have enough work as is; you don’t need me taking any more of your time.”
Turning on the balls of my feet, I start to walk away.
This was stupid.
Freaking insane.
I should have never?—
