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He sighed and touched his forehead to mine for a split second. “No, it’s fine. I could do with some decent company this afternoon.” His hand tightened against my stomach for a moment, then he walked off.
I watched him for a moment, then shook my head and hurried over to the group. I plonked down onto the grass next to Hadley and crossed my legs, shoving my skirt between them so I didn’t flash anyone.
“Uh. So, what was that about?” Hadley asked.
I jumped and looked up to find the conversation was on pause and they were all staring at me. “What?”
“That, with Roman?”
I looked behind me. “Oh, he has to…do something. Might not be here to take me home is all.” I waved a hand. “It’s fine.” It was fine, wasn’t it? I mean, I was allowed to be friends with people…
“Looked kind of cosy…” Hadley said, her voice full of implication and fishing for information.
I gave her a look that told her what I thought of that. “There is nothing cosy about him.” Which wasn’t strictly true, but she didn’t need to know that. “Lombardi’s not known for his adherence to boundaries, is he?” I smiled at her and turned it to Mason. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
Talk slowly resumed around us as Mason smiled at me. Those big blue eyes watched me carefully like I had secrets to give away. “I…uh,” His eyes dropped and he fiddled with a piece of grass at his feet. “Well I mean, I don’t want to be…” He cleared his throat. “I mean, you and Roman…?”
I blinked. “Oh my God, no.” I chuckled self-consciously. “No, why would you…?”
He huffed a laugh, sounding as self-conscious as I did. “People talk.” He shrugged. “I just… If you’re not – uh – I was wondering if you wanted to go toLacey’stonight?” I was just about to feel something about him finally asking me out when he kept talking. “Just, the others are going. And I thought it might be nice to, you know…as a group?”
Well, now I was going to feel less bad about declining.
“Yeah, no. Of course…”
“Sweet.” He nodded.
“Oh, no!” I blurted and his face fell. “I mean, I’d like to, but I…have plans tonight. Sorry.”
I felt bad that I’d disappointed him. Although, I couldn’t say a part of me didn’t enjoy his obvious disappointment. I know that sounds terribly sadistic, but at least it was a sign that he did actually like me.
But, he rallied well. “Oh. Well another time, then?”
I nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Next weekend, maybe?”
“Maybe.” I grinned.
He smiled, turned to Tucker, looked at me again, then started talking to Tucker. I felt Hadley nudge me none too gently.
“What?” I hissed, elbowing the offending elbow.
“You didn’t tell me you were busy tonight?”
“So?”
“What are you doing?”
“Uh…babysitting,” I said. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and saw her looking sceptical.
“Babysitting?”
I nodded.
“Who the hell are you babysitting for?”
“Family friend,” came out before I could stop it.
