I ignore his teasing, which makes my stomach feel weird. People don’t really tease me like that, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to react. “Does this mean you’re considering the offer?”
He scoffs. “Hell no,” he laughs, then leans against the brick corner store. “I mean, no offense, but those friends of yours at the park were a bunch of class-A pricks. Real assholes, you know? So why would I drag my geeky butt all the way to a tattoo convention when it sounds like they’re just going to harass me once I’m there?”
“They’ll behave at the convention,” I assure him, still confused why I’m pressing so hard. “Our boss will be there. He’s a badass, and he won’t let anyone act out.”
Matty stares at me, waiting for more.
“I can pay you and give you the tattoo,” I add. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
He wiggles his eyebrows, head arched back and a knowing smile on his lips. It’s like he takes the things we’re saying and makes them loaded without even trying.
Fuck, it’s confusing how he does that.
“Fine. A trade works.”
“You’ll do it for the tattoo?”
“Nope. I need something else from you.”
This time, I raise the eyebrow and wait for him to continue.
“Two dates,” he says. “You’ll pretend to be my new boyfriend. It’s fair and square.”
“Why do you want me to pretend that?”
“Because you’re hot.”
I open my mouth, then close it again. I don’t really blush, or at least I think I don’t, but my cheeks are definitely warm.
“Listen,” Matty continues as he takes my elbow and we start walking. “There’s this guy, Milo. I’ve maybe got a small crush on him, just tiny, and I think that if I looked a little less available, he might be interested in me, too.”
The light touch of his hand on my elbow is distracting, and for some reason, so is the fact that he’s crushing on this Milo guy. “Two dates?” I ask. “You said fair and square. I only need you for one date.”
“Yeah, but you’re dragging me into the lion’s den. I’m just going to make you watch a movie with my friends. They wouldn’t hurt a fly.” He glances up at me out of the corner of his eye. “Or a brooding tattoo artist.”
I frown. Am I really brooding? I think that means depressed, but I don’t really feel depressed.
I’m just not joyful or whatever, at least not like he is.
Matty stops and offers me his hand. “Deal?” he asks.
Two movie dates isn’t a bad deal. It’s a lot better than draining my bank account. “Fine,” I say and take his hand. “Deal.”
Firm grip and soft hands. That’s nice, too.
“Wow,” Matty laughs. “I’ve never had a fake boyfriend before.”
“Me either,” I answer with a chuckle. “Shouldn’t be too hard, right? If you want to give me your number, I’ll text you the info about the tattoo convention.”
He pulls his phone out, unlocks it, and hands it to me. “Text yourself,” he says. “We’ll figure out our first plans this weekend.”
“For the movie date?”
He laughs. “No, silly. When it comes to faking a relationship, practice makes perfect.”
CHAPTERFIVE
MATTY
