“I’m going to find out.” Mason slid out of the booth.
“No,” I yelped. I lowered my voice. “No, please. Just sit back down. It’s nothing, I’m sure.” With my hand on his arm, I stared at him, imploring him not to make a scene.
He glanced at my hand, then slumped in his seat and grumbled, “It doesn’t look like nothing.”
Ryder and Noah stood on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. The large glass windows comprising the storefront left the whole argument visible, and even without sound, it was clearly a heated one. If they turned my way, they’d bust me watching, but I couldn’t look away.
Noah shrugged, smirked and walked away. Ryder started to storm after him but Paige stepped in front of him. She placed her palm against his cheek and his shoulders dropped. He looked defeated, or maybe calmed by her touch. It was weird, whatever it was. She looked up, her eyes wide, and said something. He shook his head, then she wrapped her arms around him and he rested his chin on her head. She pulled back, squeezed his shoulders and gestured toward me as she spoke. Ryder lowered his head and nodded, never once looking my way. She crossed her arms, glared at him and pointed at me again. He shook his head before walking off.
What the hell?
“Nothing, huh?” Mason scoffed. “What the hell’s going on, Brinley?”
My throat tightened and my eyes stung a little. I grabbed my Diet Coke and took a sip. “I honestly have no idea,” I finally managed. Settling back in the booth, I pushed my bowl away, having lost all appetite. “Here, you can have it.” Mason had long since inhaled his food but he wavered.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Eat it.”
“Not about your damn food. I mean with Ryder. Is there something I should know?” He grabbed my bowl and raised a spoonful of noodles. “Did something happen between you two?” He shoved the bite in his mouth.
“Not really. We hung out last night, but that’s it.”
He swallowed, his eyes bulged. “You hung out? What does that mean? And when did you plan to tell me?”
I rolled my eyes. “ ‘We hung out’ means we hung out. And I didn’t know I was supposed to turn a logbook in to you. Geez, Mason, I can hang out with other people.”
“This is Ryder we’re talking about. I don’t think he hangs out merely for the benefit of your pleasant company.” He shoveled in another bite.
He’d been drunk, but he didn’t try for sex. Regardless of what Mason thought. “You hang out with me for my company. Why can’t other guys?”
“Let’s just get this straight. One, I’ve known you forever. You tolerate me and we’re friends. But two, if you let me…I’d totally have sex with you.”
“Mason!” I crossed my arms.
He laughed. “Come on, Brinley. You know you’re hot. I’ve told you so a million times. I’m a guy. That’s pretty much all we think about. Don’t act surprised.”
“But you’re my friend.”
“And I always will be. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t f—”
“Stop.” I glared. “Don’t talk like that. You’re ruining everything.”
“What?” He laughed. “How in the world does that ruin everything? This isn’t new information.”
“Because you were only joking. It’s a joke. You didn’t mean it.”
“Oh, I meant it, but yeah, sure, I like to tease you about it. Why are you getting so weird about it now?”
Because he’d kissed me. Of course that was why. He’d crossed the friendship boundary and pushed right on over into the not-a-joke territory. “I’d like to think a guy can hang out with me and not be thinking about how to get into my pants.”
“Again…have you seen your ass in those jeans?”
I tried not to smile but it broke free. “I hate you.”
“No, you love me.” He finished off the last of my noodles with one big bite. “I’m not trying to get you into bed.” He grabbed my hand and helped me up. “The floor would do just fine.”
I pulled my hand free and shoved him. He laughed and draped his arm over my shoulder. “Now, is there anything I need to know? Be honest.”
Did he need to know Ryder had given me my first orgasm? “No. Trust me, there’s not.”
—
When I returned to my dorm room, Fallon informed me we were going out. Girls night.
“Mason’s forbidden. Got that?” She gave me a pointed stare. “You can’t invite him. No boys at all.”
“But won’t there be boys at the party?” I asked.