Just a Little Crush(36)

“Sure.”

“Meet me downstairs in ten?”

“Yeah.” I hung up and slipped on my shoes. “I’m going to eat with Mason.”

Fallon didn’t look up from her laptop. “Okay.”

Since Mason had lied about their hooking up, she’d seemingly lost interest in him. It was good and bad. I didn’t really want them together, but at the same time I hated that Mason’s drunk stupidity had given Fallon such a bad impression of him.

I headed downstairs and found Mason already waiting.

A guy in a crisp white polo leaned against the wall near the elevators. He said something to his friend, who turned, stared at me, then nodded. The one in the polo smiled.

I forced a smile in return. He was average-looking, but something about his grin seemed predatory. Like he already had me mentally undressed.

Mason, busy texting someone, didn’t notice. “Hey.” He typed something, then shoved his phone in his pocket. “Ready?”

The guy still watched me and I scooted closer to Mason. “Yep.”

“Where do you want to eat?” He held the door open and I slipped past.

“You choose.” The lack of a phone call from a certain someone was holding my appetite at bay.

“Amy’s Pho?”

I shrugged. “Sure.”

We made our way to the restaurant, which sat on the strip adjacent to campus, ordered at the counter, then slid into a booth. When the waiter delivered the bowls, he did a double take. He stared at me a few seconds longer than comfortably acceptable.

I was starting to get a complex. Mason would tell me if something was on my face, right? When the guy walked away, I said, “Be right back.”

I darted into the bathroom and checked my hair, my teeth, even made sure my clothes weren’t inside out. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Mason was already halfway through his bowl of pho when I returned. How did he eat so fast?

“So what’s up?” he asked, his mouth full of noodles.

“Not much.” This was one of those moments a girl best friend would come in handy. I wanted to share what had happened between Ryder and me but there was no way I could tell Mason any of that. “How about you?”

Mason started talking about his study group and a cute girl who had recently joined. I listened but my mind kept drifting to Ryder. And Paige. Who was she? And why did Ryder go to her last night?

“Isn’t that Noah?” Mason asked.

My head snapped up and I glanced around.

Sure enough, Noah stood near the entrance, speaking with the waiter who’d brought us our food. Noah smiled and laughed, then the guy nodded in my direction, causing Noah and me to make eye contact. His smile faded and his gaze dropped.

“That’s weird,” Mason said. “Must be pissed about you and Ryder.”

“I guess.” My face grew warm. How much did Noah really know? Would Ryder have told him about last night? I stared into my noodle bowl.

“Well, at least you don’t have to deal with him asking you out anymore.”

“Yeah,” I said again, taking a bite and changing the subject. “So what are your plans this weekend?”

“Not sure. Want to hang out?”

It was weird he felt the need to ask considering only a few weeks ago it was implied we’d do something together. I didn’t know what to make of our growing apart.

Before I could answer, Mason said, “Ryder just walked in…with a girl.”

My head spun as I looked over to where Noah stood. Paige. The girl from the picture on Ryder’s phone. I turned back to Mason and let my hair drop, covering my face. A mixture of jealousy, anger and hurt somersaulted in my chest. Technically, Ryder and I weren’t exclusive—heck, we weren’t even dating—but that didn’t mean I wanted to see him with someone else. “Maybe he won’t notice me.”

“What’s going on?” Mason straightened his shoulders and glared at Ryder.

“Nothing.”

“He’s staring at you. They all are. And Ryder looks like he wants to kill someone.”

I peeked back. The waiter had his hands up in a defensive gesture. Ryder towered over Noah, who only smirked in return. Ryder shoved him.

Paige jumped between them. She placed a hand on each guy’s chest then shifted toward Ryder. He glanced at me, shook his head and slammed the door open. He stomped out as Paige said something to Noah. She pointed at the door and gave him a nudge in that direction and followed him out. The waiter, looking relieved, shook his head and turned to the kitchen.

“What the hell was that about?” Mason asked.

“I dunno,” I mumbled. What had that been? And why did it seem to somehow involve me, yet no one had said two words to me.