Page 15 of Knot Forgotten

My cheeks darken and heat. I haven't run into Cameron and Blake since they caught me watching them.

There is no blanket to hide under. Only the bright florescent lights shining down on me like a spotlight. When they look up from their conversation, I feel like I should freeze in my spot. Instead, I force my feet forward.

Matt sets my tray down and pulls a chair out. “Here you go, Quinn.” He gestures at the chair like a gentleman, and I slide my eyes back to the trio still staring at me.

“What are you doing?” Cameron asks.

My gaze snaps to him, but he's glaring at Matt.

“Quinn is going to sit with us today.” Matt straightens his shoulders and drops into the seat next to the one he pulled out for me.

“You know the rules about omega bitches,” Blake says calmly. “Number one is, play things only. No one becomes friends, ever”.

Rules? They have rules now?

Averting my eyes, I shift on my heels ready to abandon my dinner. I only catch half of what Riley signs to the guys, most likely by design, since he's speaking about me.

But Cam sighs deeply and sinks into his chair. “Whatever, she's your problem,” he mutters.

“Ignore them, sit, your food is getting cold.” Matt taps my tray, giving me a hopeful smile.

It makes me feel warm, and I melt into the seat next to him. He rewards me with a wide toothy grin that makes my heart do somersaults inside my chest.

Slowly, the conversation starts back up, and I quickly learn Riley is on the swim team and that's why he's never in the dorm. Practice has taken over his life. He gets less than five hours of sleep each night.

This close, I take the chance to study him. He looks tired. As if he pushes himself too hard. Feeling my attention on him, his cheeks darken with a slight blush before he flicks his green eyes in my direction.

Silently, I eat as much as I can of my pasta before it grows cold, and I push it away.

I'm like a spectator, this time doing my watching out in the open and up close. Matt leans back in his chair, his bulk lifting the front legs from the floor as he balances on the back two.

“Want a cupcake?” He lifts an eyebrow at me, and if I were eating anything, I would have choked. He can't know that's what he called me once upon a time.

Mute, I shake my head. He shrugs and lets the legs click back to the floor before standing.

“I'll bring you one in case you change your mind.”

I draw in a breath as he bounds away. Awkwardness descends on the table, and with another deep breath, I decide I should go. Pushing away and picking up my tray at the same time, I stand up.

“Uh, thanks,” I force out of my tight throat.

“Leaving before dessert? I have something delicious if you don't want what Matt is offering,” Blake teases.

A glint in the depths of his eyes makes me want to rise up to his challenge. He's not talking about the cupcake. He is referencing the other night. Cameron's snicker is all the proof I need. I'd be lying if I didn't admit, to myself at least, that just the thought made my blood hot and my body wanton.

“Not much of a sweet tooth,” I reply.

“Not what it looks like from here,” Cam mutters under his breath.

The blood drains from my face, and I snap my mouth shut.

“Classy. Body shaming for the win?” I say. “Do you get off on being a jerk or does it just come naturally? Asshole.”

I don't wait for a response before I am placing my used dishes and tray in the return and pushing out into the evening air.

They are not what my memory painted them. The boys that would stand up for me in a second. Maybe they never really existed.

My anger carries me across the street and toward the library. I'll hide there until they close.

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