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Finn said something to her, no doubt inviting her to join them, but she shook her head, obviously declining. Another moment passed by, however, and Finn apparently convinced her as Winnie gathered her bag, phone, and drink and followed Finn toward the booth.
“If you guys utter so much as a word about my supposed attraction to her…” Matthew began through gritted teeth to Graham and Cedric, but he couldn’t finish his threat as Finn and Winnie arrived that very moment.
“Hey,” he greeted, shooting a look at Finn that said, “I’ll get you for this later.”
Finn didn’t see, too busy retrieving an unused chair from a nearby table.
“Hi,” Winnie said in return, looking at the others with uncertainty. “Sorry to interrupt, but your friend here was adamant.”
Finn returned with the chair, sliding it in for her as she took her seat at the head of the table, diagonal from Matthew. Her knee bumped against his leg, and he shifted away at once, shaking out the warmth shooting up his limb.
“You’re not interruptin’,” Finn said. “Is she, Matt?”
Matthew shook his head at once. “Not at all. I was going to invite you before Finn rushed ahead.”
That seemed to ease her discomfort. Unfortunately, his only grew as his friends exchanged knowing looks at his lie.
“So,” she said, looking around the table, “I take it these are your friends.”
Matthew gave his head a little shake to pull out of his stupor. Where were his manners? “Yes, you’ve met Finn already. But this is Graham and Cedric. Boys, Winnie Knox.”
Nods and “Hiyas” were shared as Winnie smiled in response. “So you’re the ones who pulled Matthew away from practicing his jousting the last few days,” she said with no hint of malice.
“Sorry about that,” Graham said to her. “We told Matt to practice still so we could watch him joust from the sidelines, but he wouldn’t allow it.”
“I didn’t want to deal with your heckling,” Matthew retorted.
“What?” Graham asked with innocence. “Heckle? Us?”
The waiter returned then, interrupting their conversation to ask for their orders.
As the others shared what food they wished, Winnie leaned toward Matthew. “I really don’t have to stay. He just insisted…”
But Matthew shook his head. “You don’t need to worry. We’re glad to have the company.”
Cedric, who sat beside Matthew, nodded in agreement. “So long as you don’t order a salad for supper. That doesn’t belong at our table.”
Matthew was about to explain that Cedric was joking, but Winnie smiled straightaway. “You don’t have to worry about that. I already ordered a steak.”
“Ah, that’s what Matt was orderin’,” Cedric said. “Two peas in a pod, you are.”
Fortunately, the waiter asked Matthew what he wanted right then, so no awkwardness was allowed to linger. Though, he would be adding Cedric to the conversation he was planning on holding with Finn immediately following dinner.
After the orders were placed, the five of them sat in silence for only a few seconds. Fortunately, despite Matthew being annoyed with his friends, he knew he could count on them to keep the conversation going when his brain refused to work.
He wasn’t used to being like this near Winnie, lacking in all confidence. He far preferred it the other way around, but having his friends there just unnerved him.
“So we saw the car you drive,” Finn said to her, leaning back against the booth. He sat across from Matthew, diagonal from Winnie’s other side. “Aston Martins are gorgeous cars.”
She nodded. “They really are. Unfortunately, it’s just a rental, though.”
“Still,” Graham added, “it must be fun to drive.”
“Especially compared to the ridiculous beater Matthew forced us into today,” Cedric said.
“Ah, the old Mini Cooper?” Winnie asked.
How had she known that was his?
