I decided to make dinner. A vegetable pasta bake would be easy and was no fuss to make. Plus, I could just be me in my normal jeans and t-shirt. If Jay expected me to be more, he could look elsewhere.
Feeling better, I pottered round the apartment. Did some homework. Fidgeted. Fretted. Spoke to myself more than usual.
There was a knock at the door. I started in surprise. It was five minutes before 7:00.
Smiling I opened the door to...Matt. I instantly frowned.
“Hi Bit,” he greeted me as he walked in.
“Um…” I started to close the door, it was pushed open again as Theo strolled in. “What’s going on?” I demanded. I looked out onto the stairwell to make sure the third musketeer wasn’t behind them and closed it forcefully.
They were in my lounge. On my couch. Looking perfectly innocent.
“You’re cock blocking me?” I blurted. “You fucking told?” I demanded of Theo.
Matt was grinning. Theo was not looking at all apologetic.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, we came over to see how you were.” Theo replied, sorrylied. “It’s been very intense these last few weeks, a lot happened.”
“Yeah Bit, you left on Wednesday and we wanted to make sure you were ok. I mean c’mon, are we suddenly bad people?” Matt was all innocence.
Another knock at the door. I glared at them. They smiled back. Theo kicked his shoes off.
I threw my hands up in the air and stormed to the door. I opened it to Jay and he swooped in to kiss me. Startled, I placed my hands on his chest as he leaned low to scoop me up.
“Ari, when’s dinner to be served?” Theo called.
Bastards.
Jay stopped, he pulled his head back and appraised me. I flushed scarlet.
He took his hands off me and walked into the living room.
“You two?” Jay asked as he leaned against the door.
“Jay.” They greeted simultaneously.
“What are you doing here?” Jay asked.
“Having dinner with Ari,” Matt answered. He was sitting in the corner of my couch, his arm resting along the back of it. Perfectly at ease. I suddenly pitied the poor guy who pursued his little sister Amy.
Jay turned to me. I shrugged. What was I going to do, tell him they were here to make sure I wasn’t sleeping with him? Yeah that wouldn’t be awkward or presumptuous!
Jay’s grin was a tad rabid when he smiled at Matt. He shrugged off his jacket. “Cool, what are we watching?” He sat down on the couch.
They have got to be kidding me.
Nope. They weren’t. All three of them decided to find a film that weallcould watch. They settled on one of the Fast & Furious films. I retreated into the kitchen in disgust. Men and their fucking egos.
I pulled out my tray bake. It looked delicious. I stabbed it ungraciously. Thankfully, I always made too much, so I would have enough to feed four. Not that I was going to be able to eat.
“Can I help?” Theo asked me from behind.
“Yes. You can leave,” I snapped turning my head to glare at him.
He grinned and pulled me backwards from the cooker. He turned me deftly in his arms and squeezed me.
“I love you Lil Bit, I’m sorry, you just can’t…you just can’t give it to him,” he murmured into my hair.