Page 30 of The Hookup Situation

There’s so many people crowding around, making their way off the stands, that I don’t feel like I can get close enough to Preston to tell him he was amazing, and if I’m being honest with myself, I’m still feeling really out of place and nervous, so I head towards the lobby area outside the double doors and pull out my phone instead. I’m about to text him when the door bangs open behind me and I turn, startled, to see him standing there, sweat soaked, and flushed with a towel around his shoulders, his blue eyes bright, and that ridiculous ball cap on. I can’t help but be surprised he’s here, though, instead of back inside with everyonecongratulating him. Did he see me leaving and come to find me? I can’t help the butterflies that fill my stomach at that. He’d rather be out here with me than in there soaking up the attention and praise?

“Hey, you came.”

I can’t help the small smile that curves on my lips. “Um, yeah. I wanted to say hi, but there’s a lot going on in there. I was gonna text you.” I hold up my phone like it’s some sort of proof.

He grins and his eyes flit from the phone to me. “You hungry?”

I blink. “What?”

“Food?” he says, like I don’t know what hungry means.

“Um, yeah, I guess so.” I haven’t had dinner yet, and yeah, my stomach is protesting a bit.

“I’m fucking starving. And I stink. I’m gonna go shower in the locker room and then head to BJ's. You wanna join me?”

BJ's is a local diner that has absolutely mouthwatering burgers and delicious shakes. I haven’t been in a while and it sounds so good right now. Especially being there with Preston.

Before I have time to really consider what that means and all the reasons I should be saying no, I answer, “Yeah, sure,” trying to sound as casual as possible and not like my heart is fluttering against my ribcage.

Half an hour later we’re sitting across from each other in a booth with bright red seats, on top of a white and black checkered tile floor, sipping on shakes and scarfing down the juiciest, greasiest, most mouth-watering burgers on the planet.

I noticed we’re getting some attention from the other patrons. We kind of do stand out. The model gorgeous jock with the emo theater nerd. I tend to attract attention no matter where I go with the way I dress and all of my accessories. I know Preston does, too, but for a very different reason. He’s eye candyfor the boys and the girls, and yet for some reasonhiseyes are fixed on me.

“This is almost better than sex,” he says around a mouthful of food. I raise my eyebrow at him and he chuckles before swallowing. “I said almost.”

We eat for a second longer before he takes a swig of his strawberry milkshake, then speaks again. “Hey, did you know that your friend is roommates with a good friend of mine?”

“What? Who?”

“Parker. We have some classes together and hang out sometimes. I was over at their place a few weeks ago to watch a game. He’s your friend’s roommate. Rory, right? Parker introduced us the other day at the grocery store and I saw you with him at the coffee shop andRave.”

I feel my anxiety spiking and my words are harsher than I mean for them to be when I say, “You didn’t tell him about us, did you?”

Hurt flashes in his eyes and he flushes. “Parker, or Rory?”

“Either one.”

He shakes his head. “No, why would I do that? I just thought it was interesting, and kinda cool cause maybe we’ll end up at their place together sometime, you know?”

“You can’t say anything to anyone,” I say in a whisper, leaning forward. “Especially not Parker. I don’t want Lucy and Rory to know.”

“Is Lucy your other friend? The girl?”

I nod.

He’s tense now, and so am I. God, how did this get turned around so fast? I don’t know, but I can’t have my best friends finding out about me and Preston. Especially since we’re way past myone and donerule. That’s who they know me to be, because that’s who I’ve been since they met me. If they found out they would assume it was something more serious, and it isn’t.Or even worse, they would put thoughts in my head about the possibility of itbecomingserious, and I can’t let myself entertain those fantasies. It would just complicate things if they knew and I’m struggling enough with all of this as it is.

“Why?” he asks, sounding genuinely confused, and wounded. God, I don’t want to hurt him but I can’t back down from this. I won’t.

“It’s just casual, right? So no one needs to know.” I know it’s a shitty answer but it’s the best one I can give him. My reasons for doing things this way are mine and I’m not ready to share them. I want to reach across the table and take his hand, give it a squeeze, assure him that it’s not anything personal. That he’s great. But I don’t because people would see and that’s the exact kind of scenario I’m trying to avoid. Just being here with him is probably a risk if I don’t want my friends finding out, but he suckered me in with those dreamy blue eyes, sexy as fuck smile, and contagious enthusiasm.

“I just need it to be this way for now,” I say, my voice softer, gentler, trying to placate him. “Please.”

His eyes meet mine and they’re sad, but he nods. “My roommate already knows,” he admits. “He’s known since the first day I saw you at the coffee shop. He hasn’t been at the apartment yet when you are, but he knows who’s been in my bed.”

“Has he told anyone?”

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t know why he would. But he’s friends with Parker, too.”

---