Holy shit.
“Matthew!” His mother scolded. Matt shrugged and turned and walked over to me, Theo followed.
“You’re in so much trouble,” I whispered as we went through the doors.
“I don’t give a fuck, I’m going to punch him out soon,” Matt admitted as we walked outside.
The three of us walked over to the far end of the decking. Theo kicked a chair in frustration when we settled into a dark corner. Matt scolded him for being destructive.
“No!” Theo retorted, he raised his voice slightly. “I’m sick of this shit. What the fuck wasthatin there? He’s getting worse, I thought we had this under control?”
Matt said something and Theo turned, he crossed the decking and I was in his arms.
“I’m so sorry Ari, he’s a complete dick, are you ok?” I slid my arms around his waist, taking comfort from my friends. I nodded and muttered I was fine.
“Oh my fucking God. You two at it,again!” My eyes squeezed shut as I heard Connor behind us. Theo didn’t immediately let me go and I was genuinely grateful. As we separated, Matt was at my side and I had Theo standing strong beside me.
“What thefuckis your problem?” Matt took a step forward, he was so very angry. Connor had obviously lost his senses somewhere along the line because he stepped up into Matt’s space. Like he was challenging him.Was he crazy?Was this how he had always been? I did not like this Connor.
“Every time I turn around, Ari is with you or with Theo…or my brother. Again! She was gone for months and then she comes back and she’s kissing guys in bars. Kissing Theo. She’s probably been kissing Colton again too.”
Oh no. This was not going to go well.
Matt turned to me and Theo still standing together. I didn’t quite meet his eyes, he was angry but also confused. Theo would be wishing he was anywhere but here. I was with Theo.
Connor glared at me, “I told you. I told you in the kitchen, you weren’t to be involved with any ofus!” His eyes were glassy and his face was flushed.
“What’s it to you?” I glared back at him. “So what if I kiss half of CU! It’s none of your damn business. You arenotmy boyfriend and quite honestly at this moment in time – you aren’t even my friend!”
“Boys.”
Excellent. Jake Dawson had arrived.
Connor turned to his dad. Matt was still looking at us, trying to figure out what Connor was talking about.
“Corey is sitting at the table, waiting for you,” Jake said quietly. Connor turned back to us as if he wanted to argue more and then with a grunt, he walked away.
Jake looked at us all, “Can we go inside please?”
“No.”That would be me. Why was it me?
Jake’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
“I’m not going back in there. I don’t know what his problem is, but I am not going back in there to more of that.” For the first time in my life, Jake looked at me with what seemed to be sympathy.
“I understand, I can only apologise for my son. I’ll make your excuses,” he turned away, to go back inside. “Colton,” he said in surprise.
I looked up to see Colton standing off to the side looking at us all. As always Colton was the epitome of calm. He said nothing as his eyes ran over us. How long had he been standing there? His dad hovered beside him, his journey back inside halted.
“I’ll take you home,” Theo said to me. I went to protest but he slightly shook his head at me in warning with a quick glance at Cole.
“I’ll come with,” Matt muttered.
“Your mom will kill you with her butter knife if you leave.” A startled laugh from Matt made me grin. Theo chuckled quietly. Even Jake smiled.
“Ok how about we get a car for you Arielle and us men return before Mary Ellen gets us all?” Jake suggested.
“You’re not leaving,” came the soft command. I looked at Colton in question. He was standing tall and his gaze on me was steady.