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I don’t want him to know me anymore. I wantthemto know me.
I try to push the guys out of my thoughts, but as I stare up at Matt, my nerves pick up. I’m alone here. If something goes sideways, Lincoln isn’t going to come to my defense with fists flying; Trey isn’t going to wrap me in his arms and soothe away my panic.
It’s just me.
My heart rate kicks up at the thought, but I steel myself against the feeling.I’m okay. I survived on my own for months.
“When do you work next? I’ll stop in for a movie,” he says, oblivious to my inner turmoil.
“Umm, tonight. But aren’t you going to see your dad for Thanksgiving?”
Something akin to anger flashes in his eyes. “We don’t talk anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Matt,” I say awkwardly, but I can’t say it’s a bad thing. Even though I never saw it happen, I know Matt’s relationship with his father was abusive, both mentally and physically, so despite how I feel about Matt, I’m happy for him.
“It’s fine. You didn’t know,” he says with a shrug.
I edge around him. “Okay, well, I need to get back and change and do some homework before my shift.”
“Sure. Maybe I’ll see you tonight.”
“Sure, maybe,” I reply and practically sprint out of the double doors and across campus.
The movie theater is dead.There’s a couple making out in the back of auditorium three, and a group of professors came in for the last showing ofTop Gundrunk off their asses—they walked through the door singing the worst rendition of “Danger Zone” I’d ever heard. Damon and I exchanged amused glances after we sold them their tickets, and they stumbled away giggling.
We’re just starting to close up for the evening, working in companionable silence while he cleans and I count the till, when we hear a knock on the glass. I look up and see Matt standing outside the door waving at me with a smile on his face. My stomach does an uncomfortable dip.
Damon looks up, too, and then glances at me. “You know that guy?”
“Uh, yeah. An old friend.”
Something about my tone must sound anxious because Damon gives me a serious look and adjusts the glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Do you want me to chase him off? I can pretend to be your manager and say you’re busy.”
I smile at him. “You just want to be manager for the night,” I say, elbowing him teasingly.
The poor kid is broke and has been gunning for the assistant manager position that John mentioned a few weeks ago.
Damon smiles back at me, and we both turn when Matt knocks again, waving his hands in a ‘what the fuck’ gesture. I roll my eyes and look back at Damon. “Just, stay nearby while I see what he wants. I don’t really want to be alone with him.”
“Sure, of course,” Damon looks like he wants to ask me about Matt, but he doesn’t say anything else. Instead, he places a hand on my shoulder, giving me a gentle squeeze, and aims a hard look at Matt before returning to his closing duties.
I walk over to the door, turn the lock, and step back to let him into the lobby. I don’t really want him to hang around, but I also feel bad making him stand out in the cold.
“What’s up, Matt?”
“I guess I’m too late for a movie, huh?” he says with a faint smile.
“Yeah, unless you want to see the end of one.”
He seems like he wants to come farther inside, but when I don’t move, he leans back against the door, propping one of his dirty shoes against the glass.
“I just wanted to see you,” he says. I notice his hands are shaking, and he quickly sticks them in his jacket pockets. “Can we hang out tonight? I’ll buy you a coffee.”
“I don’t know,” I say nervously, biting my lip. I hate the way his eyes track the movement.
“C’mon.” He smiles in a way that used to induce butterflies but now just sends chills cascading through my body. “It’s just coffee. I promise. We won’t even stay out late.”
When I hesitate again, he places a hand on my bicep. I look across the street, where I can see the bright coffee shop windows illuminating the wet sidewalk. There’s several occupied tables.
