AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"What are you to me?" I cross my arms and stare at Xander.
"I'm your everything. We just don't fuck." He smiles and walks off like this is a reasonable response.
I throw my hands up in the air and groan, exasperated. "Jeez, I'm getting sick and tired of his bullshit. He has such double standards. He can do whatever the hell he wants with whoever the hell he wants, and I have to be fine with it, but the minute anyone starts to show the tiniest bit of attention to me, I'm a slut. It's annoying," I complain to Matteo.
"Did you ever find out if he likes you more than what he's saying? Maybe that's why he acts like this?" Matteo and I start walking again.
"No, he doesn't. Honestly, we've been with each other basically every day since elementary school. He'd spend summer vacation sleeping over at my house. He told me about the first girl he slept with. He was there when I lost my mother. He's honestly like the big brother I never wanted but now can't live without. He's a really good friend, but sometimes he takes his protection detail a little too seriously."
I stop walking and pull Matteo to a stop with me. I turn to look up into his bright blue eyes and curly blond hair. His face is so homely looking. I could picture him on a farm somewhere with a piece of hay sticking out the corner of his mouth. He'd roll up his sleeves and hammer down fences so the sheep wouldn't get out. He's precisely the kind of guy I should be going for. I mean, if I'm ever going to lose my virginity, I guess it should be with a man with some morals. Xander can't fault me for that. After all, he hasn't been a virgin in years.
"How about we hit the restaurant up a little early? I don't need to change if you want to go right now?"
Matteo's eyes open wide, and he nods with enthusiasm, "Yeah, that'd be great. What about him?"He gestures with his head in Xanders direction.
"He can take my books home. As I said, I'm grown. I can do whatever the hell I want to do." I shrug and grab hold of Matteo's hand, walking faster now, so we can catch up to Xander.
"Hey, Xander. Can you do me a favor?" I call out for him, and he stops.
"What?"
"Can you take my books home for me? I'm going with Matteo now. No need for me to go all the way home to drop these off."
Xander's eyes turn a deeper brown color, and I see the muscle on the side of his face twitch in annoyance.
"What the fuck do I look like your fucking pack mule?" He snaps out at me.
"No, you look like my friend who wants me to have a good time and who is sensible enough to know this would be a nice thing to do for someone you supposedly care about. Am I wrong?"
"Yeah, there's nothing sensible about me. " He glares at me for a second before he puts his hand out for my books.
'Thanks! " I reach up and kiss him on the cheek and turn to stand next to Matteo.
"Hey, Matty boy, Keep your fucking hands, mouth, and dick to yourself. If I hear any different, I'll make sure you figure out first hand how all of those body parts fit together." Xander smiles at him and turns to walk away. "Mel, keep your fucking phone on." He yells at me over his shoulder. When I look back at Matteo, his face is a little pale, and he's staring at me like I'm a witch or something.
"Did he threaten me?"
"Nah, he's just trying to play bad.' I joke and bite the corner of my lip. If he knew Xander had beaten up many boys who tried to mess with me, he'd never go out with me.
* * *
“Oh, my god, that had to be the best Cuban food I've ever had in my life." I hang my head back as Mateo and I walk down 124th street in the direction of my apartment.
"Tell me about it., I love going in there. I even order take-out sometimes when I can. College student, so I don't have much money." He jokes.
"Yeah, I get it." I push my hair behind my ear. "I'm in the same boat, remember."
"Huh, yeah, right. There's no way you're a poor college student like me. You're one of the few people in Columbia with your own apartment, a car, and access to all the amenities you could wish for."
"Ah, well, we're not that rich. Besides, most of it is Xander's anyway. His parent's really set him up. We don't need a car in New York, but he enjoys having it. He says it makes getting out of this tourist-infested area much faster."
"Ah, well, maybe that's why he acts like such a jerk so much. He's got the funds, so he thinks he can do whatever he wants." Matteo shrugs, and even though it's an accurate assumption, it bothers me he thinks he can talk bad about my best friend to me. Xander may be an asshole, but he's the only one that's really taken care of me. He may be a bit rough around the edges, but he's always been there.
"Nah, he's not like that. The boy would give you the shirt off his back if he needed to.
"Whatever, I don't want to talk about Xander. I want to talk more about you," Matteo says, grabbing hold of my arm and slowing my roll. I looked around the area, and though we were close to the school, we were also in the middle of what could be considered not one of the best neighborhoods in Harlem.
"We can talk more at the house," I tell him and try to push away.
