“Yeah, I’m fine.” I shook my head. “A liquor refill is needed.”
They smirked.
My cup was plucked from my hand. “Hey.” I glanced over my shoulder.
“Come on, I’ll refill your drink. See you in a minute, Megan.” Matt winked as he shoved me toward the kitchen.
“What’s your deal, Doll?”
My smile rose and fell. “Matt, it has been a long day. I think I’m still bummed about the game.”
He gripped my shoulder. “Yeah, me too. Is it just me or is my buddy behaving a little strange today?”
I snorted. Where did that come from? “He’s fine. Just returned from visiting his grandfather. It didn’t go as planned.”
“Oh. I’ll grab him another drink and cheer him up too.”
Matt refilled my cup with vodka. “Thanks. How are you and Megan?”
“We’re fine. We flirt. That’s enough right?”
“I don’t know, you tell me.”
He braced his hand on the kitchen counter and leaned into my ear. “She broke my heart.”
I gasped. “Sorry, Matt. I had no idea.”
“So, we are better off keeping our distance from one another.”
He stood up straight, nodding to a few football jocks, strolling through.
“Matt.”
He met my gaze. “I need to talk to you soon. But not here. It’s important and private,” I stated, through a framed smile.
His forehead creased. “I knew something was wrong.” He leaned into my ear again.
“It’s Tate isn’t it?”
I nodded. “I’ll find you. Have fun.” Slipping away from my friend’s worried blue eyes, I peeked out the patio door. Mason stood amongst his friends, laughing like it was any other day. They had no idea they weren’t in the company of Tate. That deceiving bastard. So many feelings shook through me.
I shouldered through a crowd of obnoxious guys in route to the front door. Fleeing the party was all I cared about in that moment. Probably should have told Mason I wasready to leave. Mason. Saying his name after all these years was eerie. Chills rocked my body as I strolled down the driveway.
“Chelse.” I froze at the sound of his voice that mirrored my boyfriend’s.
“Where are you going?”
I never turned to face him. My temple pulsated a mile a minute. “Home.”
“All you had to say was, you’re ready to leave.” His hands smoothed over my arms.
My stomach churned.
“I’d like to go home, please.”
He stepped around me and opened the truck door. I slid inside.
Silence filled the air during our drive.