“That’s so gross.” My lip pulled up a little bit, as she swiped another fry through ketchup and then dipped it into her shake.
She laughed, “Creative cuisine was never your thing.”
“That’s not cuisine. It’s seeing how many things you can put on a fry before shoving it in your mouth.” I reached for the pepper shaker and said, “Try this and maybe some jelly next time.”
“Twit,” she laughed, and then added a heaping amount of pepper to her fry that was already covered in milkshake. This was why guys loved to watch her. She stuck anything in her mouth. I cringed, watching.
Before I had a chance to unwrap my straw, the diner door swung open, and Seth walked in with a girl on his arm. My face must have shown my distain, because Katie turned and looked. She started to open her mouth to say something, but she was half-choking on pepper. Turning fast, she sloshed half a cup of water down her throat, before turning around and seeing Trystan and another girl follow Seth inside. The four of them stood, waiting to be seated, just inside the door.
Trystan had on his leather jacket. It looked so soft. It was the same one he wore every year once there was a chill in the air. There were tiny white lines in the leather, showing its age. It must have belonged to someone before him. The jacket didn’t look new, but it sure made him look good. When he wore black, his gaze always seemed more intense, more vivid. More blue.
They didn’t see us. Trystan had his hand on the small of the girl’s back. She was pretty, all curves and hair, with big eyelashes with lots of make-up. She was the kind of girl who dated for fun.
I was her polar opposite. I was looking for love, which apparently was not fun.
Katie swung around before they saw her, “Holy shit. Is he frickin’ serious?” She blinked at me like she couldn’t believe it, and then glanced back at Trystan and Seth.
“Let’s just go,” I said softly, feeling the rest of my heart shatter and fall into my shoes. “I can’t watch this.”
Katie shook her head, “No. We’re staying. Something’s up with him.” A waitress led them to a booth on the other side of the door. There was a long counter with silver stools with thick padded red seats between us, along with a scattering of booths. I was in their line of sight. As soon as they sat down, Trystan would see me.
When their backs were turned, Katie jumped up, “Quick, switch sides with me.” I did as she said, my heart racing way too fast. I clung to the table, slipping silently into the booth while she passed behind me. “I’ll watch them for a while and let you know what’s up.”
I nodded slowly, wishing I were somewhere else. I didn’t really feel like eating, but I picked at the fries and sipped the shake. I couldn’t tell Katie about the other side of him, the Day Jones side that was hiding from fame. If that part didn’t exist, I would have thrown him out of my life. But I couldn’t. It didn’t make sense. Katie thought he was a glory-hog, but that wasn’t it. I didn’t know what the truth was, but it hurt to watch, trying to figure it out.
Katie told me about Mathboy. They shared a phone call earlier and some texts. “He’s so hot, Mari. Look what he said.”
I took her phone and read the texts, as she beamed back at me. It appeared that he had quite the crush. “So,” I said, “it was a good thing Brie pegged me in the head. Just think, if she hadn’t done that, and you hadn’t tried to protect me, you and Mathboy would have never connected.”
The corners of her mouth curved up. She cradled the phone in her hand, looking down at the messages. “He has a name you know.”
“Sorry. I figured we’d be calling him Mathboy until you guys got married. Then we’d call him, Mathman. That’d make you, Mrs. Mathman.” I smiled at her, but was distracted. Her eyes kept flicking over my head, back to Trystan’s table. After a little bit, I said, “Can we leave now? He’s on a date. You don’t have to protect me. I know what’s going to happen. He’ll leave with her, they’ll screw around, and I’ll cry. I really don’t want to know all the details, Katie.”
Katie ignored me, her gaze still over the top of my head. “Trystan isn’t acting like himself. He’s sitting next to her, but they aren’t touching at all. Weird, right?”
I nodded. Okay, that was weird for him. Every time I was around him, it was like he found some excuse to touch me. I’d seen him do it to other girls, too. Not touching was weird.
Katie continued, “Sexbot, on the other hand, has got some heavy hands for a public place.” Her face scrunched up, “Gross. He’s feeling her up and sucking her face off. Where does he find these girls?”
“Hoes-R-Us, aisle 4.” I said deadpan, not really thinking about my words. There was no explaining, Seth. Katie snorted. I continued, “How someone could find him appealing, with that mouth, is beyond me.”
“Maybe that’s why she hasn’t stopped sucking his face—to shut him up.”
I laughed a little too loud. I smacked my hands over my mouth and grinned.
Katie’s eyes went wide. “Holy friggin’ frack. Just sit there. Smile and laugh again.” When I started to turn around she hissed at me, “Just do it!”
I had no idea what was going on, so I smiled uncertainly and laughed again. It was a weak haha that sounded totally fake. Katie stomped my foot and I made a strangled sound, as a grin spreads across my face. Then, I kicked her back, laughing louder, not realizing that someone was approaching behind me.
“I thought I heard you,” Trystan said, as he stopped in front of our table. His leather jacket was gone. The shirt he wore clung to his body and his scent filled my head. Trystan slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans and looked from Katie to me.
Katie had a plastic smile on her face. She raised her eyebrows at me, but made no other indication that she thought this was unusual.