Page 162 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 9
I pushed his shoulder. "But you didn't trick me. You already knew," I said.
"Damn it, Rory. Why do you always tell Connor everything before you tell me?!" Jackson said.
Rory started laughing. "Calm down, Jackson. I'll tell you first next time."
Next time?
The only noise in the room was from the T.V.
Next time that he hooks up with me? Or next time as in a new girl?I felt sick to my stomach. He must have meant next time he hooks up with me. There was no way he meant with the next girl he hooks up with. I knew we hadn't talked about what we were, but I didn't think he was going to move on that quickly. And why would he say that in front of me if he meant a different girl?
Connor cleared his throat.
"Connor!" I almost yelled, trying to change the subject. "I actually thought of the perfect girl to set you up with. I was good friends with her in college, but we kind of lost touch when I moved to Philly. But she just moved here, so I texted her this afternoon and told her all about you. And she really wants to meet you. Maybe if you're lucky you'll get to induct her into the group."
"Oh, wow. Okay. I can't argue with that. Actually that would be great. I was about to sign up for Tinder or something. It seems like the same girls have been at the bars every time we go."
"Grindr?" Jackson asked. "I'm on that."
I laughed.Wait, is Jackson actually gay?
"You do know that Grindr is like a gay version of Tinder?" Rory asked.
"I meant Tinder. I'm on Tinder." Jackson turned toward the T.V.
What the hell is happening right now?"Let me see your phone," I said to Connor, again trying to change the subject.
He handed it to me. I quickly added in my friend's number and tossed it back to him. "Her name is Julie. And I happen to know she's free tomorrow night. So you should text her."
"Thanks, Keira."
"So if you two are together now and Connor has a date, what about me?" asked Jackson. "Do you have any more single friends, Keira?"
Rory shifted in his seat.
I tried not to read into his body language too much. He wasn't comfortable admitting we were together. That was fine. We hadn't really discussed it yet anyway. And I knew he had issues with his past relationship. It would take him time to trust me. "I'm sorry, Jackson. All of my closest friends are married or engaged. Oh crap." I quickly stood up. I had completely forgotten about a wedding I was supposed to attend on Saturday.
"You okay?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, sorry, I'll be right back." I walked over to the fridge and pulled the invitation off. I had RSVP'd that I would be bringing a date.What is wrong with me?It was always so hard putting an X through the line of my plus one. Even though I had RSVP'd months ago, it was still rather optimistic of me.
"Hey, sorry about tonight."
I looked up at Rory, leaning against the fridge.God is he sexy."It's fine." I smiled at him.
"Are you sure everything's okay?"
"Yeah, it's just...it's stupid really. It's not a big deal at all. I just completely forgot about this wedding I'm supposed to attend this weekend. One of my friends from college is getting married. At least I'm not a bridesmaid this time." I laughed awkwardly. I wanted to ask him to be my plus one. But he had just acted so weird around his friends. I didn't want to put him in an awkward position.
"Oh." Rory lowered his eyebrows slightly as he looked down at the invitation. "Who's your plus one?"
"I don't think I'll bring anyone. I mean...it's probably going to be boring. I don't want to subject anyone to all that." The invitation suddenly felt heavy in my hands. It would have been so nice to bring a date. And Rory had been the one to bring it up. If he really liked me, then he wouldn't want me to go with anyone else. "Unless you want to go," I said. "But you definitely don't have to."
"When did you say it was?"
"This Saturday."
"I'll be your date if you want."
