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“His name was Trent.” Both of them leaned in even more at this tiny bit of information that I’d given them.
“And?” They both said in demanding unison. I rolled my eyes.
“And he was fine. It wasn’t as disastrous as Max, but it wasn’t love at first sight either.”
“So, will you go on a second date?” Leslie asked, and I immediately shook my head.
“Nah. He’s definitely not the one. He didn’t talk about sports at all, which was a huge plus, but he also didn’t have anything interesting to say. Just made me talk the whole time and responded with one-word answers the whole time.”
“Sometimes the silent ones are better anyway,” Mandy suggested, a smirk on her lips. “Less pestering.”
“True, but I don’t want them that silent,” I added, just as Landon took a seat next to me.
“Yeah, you need a man who can talk just as much as you do,” Landon teased, jumping into the conversation immediately. I sent him a glare over my shoulder. “What? You talk a lot and need someone that can keep up!”
“If you knew that, then why didn’t you set me up with someone more talkative?” I argued, and knew my point was valid.
“I didn’t know he was that quiet! I just thought he wasn’t big on random conversation at the gym.” Landon shrugged, and I just rolled my eyes, which seemed to be what I always did around him.
“So, do you have a more talkative date planned out for Belle this week?” Mandy asked, Cooper taking his seat next to her. He placed a box of pastries down in front of her, but her focus was on Landon. I considered stealing a Danish because I was sure she wouldn’t notice.
“Actually, I was going to talk to Belle about that. Just hadn’t had the chance to yet.” Landon’s eyes flicked to me but then went back to Mandy, as if he didn’t want to hold my gaze. “I have a date this Friday with someone I’ve known for a bit, so I can’t play the game this week.”
It took a lot of willpower to prevent my eyebrows from shooting up my forehead.
“What?” Leslie yelled, definitely too loud for a coffee shop. She smiled at the people that turned their heads to look at her before turning back to the table, glaring at Landon. “Who?”
“Someone Belle and I went to college with. She moved to the island recently, and we ran into each other. Here, actually.” Landon sipped his coffee that I hadn’t noticed he’d brought to the table. Then I realized it was my coffee. I gritted my teeth but kept my hands in my lap no matter how much my rising anger made me want to snatch it out of his grip.
Not that I cared to share my coffee with Landon. I never minded that. It was just that he had just told the whole group he’d found his whole date and hadn’t even said anything to me about it yet, coupled with the way he was avoiding my eyes.
“That doesn’t mean you can't set Belle up with someone, though.” Cooper finally joined the conversation, his arm draping around his girlfriend's shoulders. The girlfriend who still hadn’t noticed the pastries. The pastries I was seriously considering snagging since I was now stressed out.
But I didn’t understand why this news stressed me out. Or hurt my feelings. I didn’t really care about the game that much in all reality. So why did I feel betrayed that Landon had found himself a date with someone else?
“Well, if she doesn’t want to play because I’m not playing, I’m not going to set her up with anyone.” Finally, Landon turned to look at me.
“Yeah. I’m fine with not going out this Friday. So don’t bother finding anyone.” I said it as casually as I could, hoping that my hurt feelings wouldn’t shine through.
Landon nodded and went back to drinking my coffee. Again, I suppressed the urge to rip it out of his hands. Instead, I just got up and went to the counter again, ordering another black coffee, this time with a double shot of espresso.
“Everything good?” The voice behind me made me jump, and I turned to see Andrew behind me. I guessed he just got here and I’d barely beaten him to the counter.
“Everything’s great!” I responded cheerfully, giving my friend a smile. “Landon stole my coffee, so I’m just getting another one.”
“You two always share everything,” Andrew chuckled, patting me on the shoulder as I moved to the pick-up area.
Apparently, we didn’t share everything, because Landon couldn’t even tell me that he was going on a date this Friday and that the game was off.
And it pissed me off.
Once I returned to the table, I took my seat next to Landon, but subtly moved my chair over an inch so that he wasn’t crowding my space. Usually, it didn’t bother me, but my anger towards him was boiling, and I didn’t even want to accidentally brush arms.
I was lost to whatever conversation the group was having, silently sipping my new drink while my traitorous best friend continued drinking my first one like he’d bought it himself. All I could think about was his betrayal, and I obsessed over wondering who this girl was. Especially since Landon had mentioned that we knew her in college.
Regardless of who it was, I still found it offensive that Landon had never said anything to me about this. Was he just going to wait until Friday, when I’d set him up with someone else, to tell me that he already had plans? And that he hadn’t set me up with anyone?
I tried to keep my thoughts under control but only grew angrier and angrier as time passed. Thankfully, the conversation had moved away from our dating game, and I didn’t have to endure any more questions.
