“A girl can sample the menu before choosing her entrée.”
“Sorry for questioning your methods, master,” I joked.
“Going to breakfast will be the perfect time to ask Mateosome questions, and possibly test the vibes about Jake and Perry.” Erin was pretty much talking to herself, but I nodded along.
She continued as I drove to the diner and parked. Before getting out, I pulled down my visor to check my reflection. My cheeks were still pink and my face shiny from exerting so much energy, but there wasn’t much I could do about it.
Pulling my hair tie out, I quickly ran my fingers through my hair, hoping to make it look more presentable. There really wasn’t anything I could do with the curly pieces near my face, but at least the rest looked okay to be down. I swiped on some ChapStick before I slipped out of the car alongside Erin, snatching my wallet.
My heart pattered in my chest at the sight of Mateo on the sidewalk. He was magnetic in a way I’d never experienced before. Looks aside, because obviously he was insanely hot, there was something else about him that drew me in. He was unfamiliar, yet felt like home.
When Mateo reached down to itch his leg, the bottom of his shorts rose up enough that I caught sight of a tattoo on his thigh. It was covered in seconds, but it was enough to peak my curiosity. What was it?
“I love this place,” Perry said as soon as we met up with them on the sidewalk.
“They have the best omelets,” Erin agreed.
Erin, Perry, and Jake led the way with Mateo and me following behind. A warm hand pressed to my lower back, calloused fingers brushing across the exposed skin between my sports bra and leggings.
It wasn’t lost on me how big Mateo’s hands were. I swore one of them extended the length from one hip to another. A shiver ran down my spine at the image of his palm elsewhere.
“After you,” Mateo said as he steered me toward the diner's door.
Erin walked ahead of us, talking animatedly with Jake and Perry. From the way the two were leaned in, listening intently, I’d garner a guess they were interested in her. Maybe her wish would come true.
“Jake and Perry seem to like Erin,” Mateo said, speaking my thoughts out loud.
“She raved about them the whole ride here.” I paused for a second and leaned back into his hand, lowering my voice. His breath fanned my neck as he bent closer to hear me. “Do you know if they’ve ever shared a woman before?”
“Uh…” I tilted my head back to see Mateo staring at me with raised eyebrows. “Are you trying to tell me you’re interested in my friends, firecracker?”
I sent my elbow into his stomach. “No. I’m asking for Erin.”
“Good.” His attention slid to my lips. “Because I’m not big on sharing.”
My mouth parted on a quiet inhale, toes curling in my shoes while the heat in his stare promised trouble.
“You guys coming?” Jake called from up ahead. I gave a jerky nod, mouth dry. Swallowing, I looked away from Mateo and followed the others as they met with the hostess and she led us to a table.
It took until we were seated, menus in front of us, before I could clear the dirty thoughts from my mind. I stared at the list of options, willing my cheeks to turn back to their normal color. My hair fell around my face blocking Mateo, who was seated next to me. One of the biggest downfalls to being a natural redhead was blushing easily. That, and never getting a tan.
“So,” Erin said far too casually, “how are we feeling about Emmie being your coach’s daughter?”
“Erin,” I hissed under my breath. There was nothing subtle about that.
“What?” She leaned forward, forearms braced against the table, her gaze sweeping deliberately from Jake to Perry on the left before landing on Mateo beside me. “I need to know before I invest in getting to know anyone.”
The air shifted.
“If you’re going to treat my best friend like shit,” Erin continued, her voice calm but sharp at the edges, “or judge her for who her father is, we’re going to have a problem.”
Her brown eyes narrowed, daring anyone to argue. The table was quiet for a moment. Once again, heat traveled up my neck. This time for an entirely different reason.
A polite but firm smile touching her lips. “I don’t play when it comes to her.”
That was why Erin was my ride or die. No matter what, she would be on my side.
Jake was the first to speak. “We have no issue with it.”
