Page 19 of Pick Me

I pushed out my lips, pretending to think before I said, “So it’s worse. At least I gained an extra two thousand followers last night and received an email from a company about an endorsement deal.”

She groaned, rolling her eyes to the ceiling, enhancing her long lashes. “They’re all bots, and the email’s a scam. Trust me, Baseball Cap, no one is interested in watching you play with anything.” Her distrust was a given, considering she knew nothing about the gaming community, but it was somewhat insulting. Just because her brother was destined for the NFL, didn’t make her better than me. How the hell Tanner and Thea gestated in the same womb at the same time, I’d never fully comprehend. They were just so… different. Tanner would never judge. He was humble and celebrated his friends. Thea was snarky as hell and had a snarl which could rival a pit bull.

“And these relationships never last,” I added to try and sour her mood as much as she had mine. Her mouth dropped and she shook her head, tutting like I’d committed the most cardinal of sins.

“Tell that to Bachelor Shawn. Three kids down the line, and he’s happy and still very much in love with his wife.”

“And how many times do they haul him out as the only success story of a franchise that has spanned longer than my lifetime?”

“Every season, obviously.”

“So… he’s still making money out of being the only successful bachelor?”

“You’re just cynical.” She pouted her bottom lip, and I flicked my gaze to the TV for a second.

Unsurprisingly, the bachelor had moved on to his next girlfriend. Gah, it sounded weird saying that when he had like twelve of them.

“Besides, you can’t judge a show you’ve never seen.”

“Sure I can. You judged my games without ever playing them.”

She turned to the TV and sunk back into the couch, suggesting that our conversation was over. It wasn’t. I had the final say in that. Rounding the couch, I found Thea snuggled tight into a fluffy purple blanket, and laughed. “I really hope you aren’t wearing that ugly onesie again. With that and the blanket, you’re going to die of heat exhaustion, and I won’t be here to save you.”

She shifted under the blanket, and I expected her to toss it off, revealing another hideous onesie. Maybe this time it would be leopard print or something equally jarring. She didn’t, though. She just sat there, stewing in her annoyance. “Even if I was dying of heat exhaustion, you’re the last person I’d accept anything from.”

“Wow, Pyro. You hate me that much? You’d rather die than accept any of my fluids.”

I smirked as her lip curled, and she gagged. “Don’t make me hurl, Jackson.”

“Then don’t cook yourself in a blanket, and we’ll be good.” I turned on my heel, headed to the kitchen counter, and grabbed my keys out of the little bowl.

“Where are you going?”

“Why do you want to know? Having people over?”

“No. I just wanted to know how long I have on my own.”

“Don’t worry, Pyro. Unlike you, I happily follow rules, and I’m more than capable of not returning here until ten thirty. Have a good night,” I said sarcastically as I strolled down the hallway. She didn’t respond, not that I expected her to.

When I reached for the door, I turned back to her. “Oh, by the way, same rules apply for you that applied for me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“No masturbating on the couch.”

Her mouth dropped, and the sick satisfaction I got with annoying her came right back. “I do not—”

Not sticking around to hear her, I walked out of the door, happy that she would be ticked off and thinking of me for the rest of the night. Meanwhile, I was going to have a delicious dinner with two of my closest friends.

“This food is delicious, Britt,” I said with a mouth stuffed full of roasted potatoes, carrots, peas, and beef. If I’d have known what a good cook Britt was, I would have married her myself. “You are incredible.” Smiling, I took her in from across me, and a blush creeped onto her cheeks. What a treasure. No wonder Matty was so protective of her even when he couldn’t have her. He must have known about her beef.

I snorted, thinking about Britt’s beef… Yeah, I bet he sampled her beef curtains before they made it official.

“I made it.” Matty, the man sitting next to the beautiful woman opposite me, interrupted my thoughts and drew my attention to him. Without a word, he flung his arm over her chair, gently tugging it toward him.

Hemade the beef?!

Well, maybe I needed to marry him instead.

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