Matt’s fingers were digging into my shoulder so hard it almost hurt. Yes, he wasn’t my boyfriend in real life, but if he was, this would be a horrible thing to do to him. To me. To both of us. “We didn’t, I mean, nothing happened, I mean, it was just a team thing,” I stuttered, not liking all the hostile looks from my friends. “I didn’t do anything, I swear—”
“We have an extra seat at our table, Natalie,” Zach interrupted. “It would be nice to do some team bonding before the race. Talk strategy. It’ll be good for you.”
He wanted me to join him for dinner? Wow. But I looked at Matt’s tight face, and I felt terrible. I couldn’t do that to him, but the thought of turning down Zach’s invite was awful. What if I never got another one?
“She’s fine here.” Allie’s voice was like ice. Frigid. “We’re perfectly capable of prepping her for the race. Her boyfriend is her best inspiration.”
Zach shrugged and smiled at me again. “If you change your mind, we’re right over there.” He pointed to a big booth in the corner, filled with a few other kids from the team. All seniors.
“Um ... okay,” I said. “Thanks for the invite. Maybe another time,” I added hopefully.
“Good-bye,” Allie said pointedly.
Zach gave me a final smile that curled my toes, then he glided away from the table. Was he cool or what?
“What a complete scumbag,” Allie spat out.
Tad nodded. “No kidding.” He nodded at Matt. “I think you better plan on showing up at Natalie’s meet tomorrow. He’s making a move on Nat.”
He was? Really?
Allie must have read the expression on my face. “Of course he was! He was hitting on you in front of your boyfriend! As if Matt wasn’t even there.” She shook her head. “Disgusting. I hope he breaks an ankle in the race tomorrow. “
“Allie!” Okay, I could admit that Zach had been kind of a jerk, but he was our best runner. His ankles were off limits to evil thoughts.
Tad was looking at me. “What team party last night?” He shot Matt a look of sympathy.
“Nothing happened with him,” I blurted out. “He just made it sound that way.” I looked at Matt. “I swear, Matt. He told me it was for team people only and then when I showed up all these other people were there....” My voice faded as I recalled Zach had told me that no one else was allowed so I wouldn’t bring my boyfriend. “I didn’t realize it was a party, and I swear nothing happened. A bunch of us watched a movie, and that was it.” Sure, we weren’t actually dating, but I didn’t want Matt or anyone else at the table to think I’d cheat on him.
I wasn’t like that, but more importantly, Matt deserved better than that.
Matt stared at me for a long time. “I don’t enjoy being jerked around.”
“I know that! I didn’t do anything! I swear it!”
His gaze flicked toward Zach, who was watching us with a smug look on his face while Val leaned against him. “I don’t like him enough to let him think he’s better than me.”
“He already does,” Tad said. “Look at that expression on his face. He gives runners a bad name.”
Matt locked his gaze on mine. “I have my pride.”
I swallowed at the intense look on his face. Matt might be a brainiac, but there was nothing wimpy about the look on his face right now. He was pissed, and he was insulted. In fact, he looked completely tough and sexy, and I suddenly would have bet on him instead of Zach, if they were to meet for a duel at dawn with pistols.
“Is Zach still watching?” Matt asked, not taking his gaze off me.
I glanced at the table. “Yeah.” Still sporting that smug look on his face too. Even though he was totally cute, it really did make him look like a jerk.
“Then let’s give him something to watch.” He curved his fingers around the back of my neck and applied gentle pressure. “Come here.”
It took me a split second before I realized what he was going to do. He was going to kiss me, and he was going to make it count. This wasn’t going to be like the kiss at the field the other day. This was going to be the real thing.
My heart started pounding and I couldn’t catch my breath. And I didn’t pull away. I wanted Matt to kiss me. I wanted it more than anything I’d ever wanted in my life.
When Matt lips touched mine, I was sure I was going to faint. They were so soft and warm and begging me to join them. So I kissed him back. I mean, I tried. I wasn’t exactly the expert, but I tried to copy what he was doing. Well, I tried for a little bit; after that, I couldn’t think. All I could do was taste his lips and feel his breath and try not to fall off my chair.