Page 69 of Boys Like You

The old Mac is back now, I can tell by the look on his face. His armour is back up. Little does he know, he can’t take it back now. I will never unsee that part of him.

“Oh, it’s very much true, I just wasn’t back then. If I can’t have the girl I want then I will just go through the motions until I graduate.” He makes a fair point; no point putting down roots when he plans to leave.

“Fair enough, I can’t judge you.” I rub my temples. How selfish am I? Dating the guys when I could very well leave at any time.

“So it’s true? You’re sleeping with all of them?”

My eyes whip back to his. “No, I’m not sleeping with anyone. We’re having fun, living. You never know when that will be taken away from you.”

He laughs at me, and I realise he just wanted the damn goss and my reaction told him everything he wanted to know. “I think we should be friends, JD.”

“I think you’re right. I could use a friend who isn’t afraid to hurt my feelings and tell me how it is.”

He nods. “I need one who won’t let feelings cloud my judgement, to keep me on track for my dreams.”

I hold out my hand across the table. “Let’s shake on it, friend. We’ll keep each other in line.”

He shakes my hand, and as he pulls his hand back, his phone rings. I watch as he answers. “Yep, sure am.” He ends the call. Within a minute, I know who it was. All four guys storm through the door, Mercer leading the pack. He looks like he wants to murder Mac. Heads turn as they move through the café. I stand and move in front of him.

“Don’t even think about it.” I use all my force against his chest. “He did nothing wrong. Mac is my friend, so you can all deal with it.” The scene unfolding must look insane.

“He is not your friend,” Levi says, taking a stance next to Mercer. If they think having a united front will change things, it won’t.

“Yes, he is.” I fold my hands across my chest now that Mercer seems content to stay where he is.

“You don’t know him, JD, he has done some shady shit,” Rocky adds.

“Thanks, man,” Mac says to Rocky, looking slightly hurt by his comment, and I don’t blame him when all he tries to do is be friends with him.

“Hey, we’re cool, we train together, but when you mess with my girl, shit changes.” This is the first time I have seen a change in Rocky, the fun-loving guy now a protector. As much as this situation is agitating me, my heart melts that he called me his girl.

“He isn’t messing with me. I know about Savannah; how about you all just back off.” Rory hasn’t spoken yet, him and Maximus are standing back, he is smart not to say anything after being with Cindy. “I can pick my own friends. All Mac is guilty of is cheering me up after you all lied to me. He bought me a milkshake and obviously told you where we were. If he was up to something, he wouldn’t have answered your call.” Levi goes to say something, but I stop him. “Thank you for a nice time, Mac, put your number in my phone and I will text you.”

He takes my phone and types in his number. I call his phone, so he has mine. None of the guys say anything, they just watch the exchange between Mac and I.

When I’m finished, I turn and walk out, hoping they all follow me and not turn on Mac.

“JD, wait up. We need to talk,” Rory says from behind me. Standing between all their cars, I turn to face him, my hands on my hips. Seeing him just reminds me of how angry I am.

“Oh, so now we need to talk? I thought before you left yesterday would have been a good time to talk. Oh wait, we did, and you know what you said? You said you would call me. I was worried and then when Cindy answered your phone, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, because I knew there had to be an explanation and that you would tell me. Then…then I have to see a picture of you two all dressed up? It isn’t even that you were with her that’s the problem Rory, it’s that you lied.” I have worked myself up so much that tears start rolling down my face.

“I’m so sorry, I can explain, please just let me explain.”

The other four guys stand slightly back, to give us space.

“Well explain, because from where I’m standing, all I see is lies, and the one thing you guys said was no lies, it’s how your relationship works.” But you’re not one of them.

“Can we go somewhere and talk about this?”

I want to say yes, let’s go, but I can’t.

“I don’t trust myself to be alone with you right now.” I’m defensive and have reason to be. I hate feeling like this. A lone tear pools in my eye and slides down my cheek. I wipe it before he gets a chance to.

“We can take Maximus with us, he is the least likely to choke me out if you cry.”

My heart sinks, if he thinks I will cry then he royally screwed up. I can’t even think about what I will do if he says he slept with her.

“Fine.” I can see in his eyes he is struggling. I need to hear him out.

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