“Of course he won’t,” I said as I walked to my room to the dresser to get my wallet, “We won’t tell him.”
I couldn’t help smiling a little as I heard Matt swear more under his breath.
I checked on Theo as I left, propped a note for him onto my study desk, saying I went out for a while. Matt added a scrawl at the bottom saying he was covering for him and that I was with him andnotto tell Colton. I added another line to tell him he was ok to stay for the night if he wanted.
We headed out and Matt headed to an SUV that looked like it belonged in an FBI movie. Blacked out windows, high shine, black with grilles on the bumper and rear. He clicked it open and I climbed inside. I looked at Matt and he grinned at me and started the engine.
We drove out of town and headed north. I fidgeted. Matt started to laugh. Then the phone rang. The call was coming through the console, so Matt saw who it was and groaned. Colton’s name was flashing on the screen.
“Cole.” Matt answered.
“Matt.” I felt my heart shiver. God why did he have to sound like that? I looked out the window, hoping Matt hadn’t noticed my reaction. “Where’s Theo, I just looked in the house, he isn’t back yet?”
“He’s at a friend’s, found a place to crash. He’s beat, I told you I was ok for this tonight.” Matt was straight to the point.
“Is Arielle the friend?” He said it cold. Detached. I looked at Matt anxiously.
“Yes.” Matt bit out. I rolled my eyes.
“And he’ll be there all night?” This time there was more edge to the question. Colton Dawson was hard. Always had been, wasn’t likely to change.
“I dunno Cole, he’s sleeping. It’s likely that she will let him stay there.” Matt looked at me and shrugged.
“Of course she would. That’s her style isn’t it.” Colton snorted. I gasped, he sounded so bitter. Matt looked at me frantically. I hadn’t been that loud had I?
“Matt, I think you better tell me who is in the car with you?” Colton’s voice was like ice. Matt hung his head as he pulled off the road.
“I can explain, wait a minute.” Matt turned the engine off killing the speaker conversation. He put the phone to his ear and got out of the car. I wanted to follow but thought I better stay in the car and out of the firing line. After a few minutes, Matt got back in the car.
“You ok?”
“Yeah, hold tight.” He said as he started the engine, did a U-turn and then headed back to the city.
“I thought...” I trailed off.
Matt didn’t look at me as he said, “Colton said tonight’s off, I don’t need to go.” A small smile and then he turned the radio up so there was no chance of talking.
We got back to my apartment. Matt jumped out and followed me in. He went in and woke Theo, a few minutes later they both came out. Two half-hearted hugs later and I was alone.
What the hell just happened?
I didn’t see either Matt or Theo for a few days. I got a couple of texts from both to which I replied but I didn’t push. I kept my head low and myself to myself. I found that I was looking over my shoulder a few times, scared I was suddenly going to walk into Colton. Deep down, I knew better. Cole wasn’t the kind of guy to wait outside class. He planned everything to perfection. I would see Colton when he was ready to see me.
I was still pretty mystified about what had happened on Friday night. One minute I had been in the car with Matt – although I knew he wasn’t happy about it – I would get him to break down eventually. There was quite obviously something going on with the guys and I didn’t like that they were keeping me out of it. Matt was my best friend and I knew it was hard for him because he was Colton’s best friend too.
Over the years I had watched them interact with each other. Colton and Matt had a bond that was closer than brothers. Matt understood Colton better than Connor did of that I was certain. Sure, Connor was a brother through blood and they were close, but Matt and Colton? They were solid. Even Theo, who was always the less serious of the group, the three of them together weretight.
I knew that they would do anything for each other. The way Matt had been so tight lipped after the call from Colton and the way he removed Theo from my apartment – highlighted that they were involved in something and I needed to know what.
I frowned as I thought about it. I was sitting in the coffee shop, concentrating on a text book when I realised someone was standing at the edge of my table. I looked up and saw it was Connor’s girlfriend Corey. She was all golden tan and blonde hair and was smiling at me. I felt my stomach dip in trepidation. The sun was coming in behind her making her perfectly styled golden hair look like a halo. Added to her floaty white top, she was achieving angel like attributes without even trying.
“Hi, I’m Corey.” She stuck her hand out to me. I quickly glanced around and then tentatively reached out and shook her hand.
Corey took this as an invite to sit down. She propped her Frappuccino in front of her, took a quick sip and then smiled at me again.
“Er, hi?” I said. “I’m...”
“Arielle Miller. Yes. I know. Connor filled me in on your history with him and the guys.” She leaned back still smiling. Seriously she was weirding me out, who smiles all the time? Only sociopaths grinned manically all the time, didn’t they? What does she mean Connor told her our history?Oh God, I am so not prepared for this conversation.