Page 11 of Not Dating Material

“Yeah. Okay.” His eyes have tinged red as he scrambles for his phone, and I watch his hands shake as he opens his photos and starts hitting Delete.

“How can I trust you’ll delete all of them?”

His attention flicks to Elle. “Mark used my phone, and these are the only copies. I swear.”

“Finding it hard to believe you though.”

Eddie swallows thickly. “I didn’t mean any harm by it. I wanted to piss you off so you’d have to talk to me. That’s all.”

I stare at him like he’s grown another head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“You don’t know what it’s like,” he says pathetically.

“What what’s like?”

“Seeing your boyfriend with someone else.”

Even though I want to call him out for being a fulloping idiot, I soften my tone. “We weren’t dating. I’m sorry if I gave you that impression, but it was never communicated. I was clear that casual was all I was interested in.”

He glares at me. “Yeah. Okay.”

“If you took that to mean something more, that’s not on me.”

“Not on you?” he asks, some spark jumping back into his voice. “Have you ever stopped, for just a second, and considered how you play with people’s feelings? How you’re sweet and kind and then go radio silent? You might say you want casual, but your actions say otherwise. And you’re a fucking jerk for not picking that up.” He shakes his phone at me. “They’re gone. Now, get out of my house.”

He all but shoves us out the door and slams it behind us.

“Standard victim-blaming behavior. Why is it so hard to find decent men?”

I ignore Elle’s man hate for a second because I know it comes from daddy issues and isn’t directed at me. “You think he really deleted them all?”

“Well, if you’re not interested in filing charges, we have to take him at his word. He was pretty scared of me though, so there’s a good chance you’re fine.”

I sigh and bury my hand in my hair. “That was kinda messed up.”

“What was?”

“The whole thing about me leading people on.”

“Nope. We’re not getting into that. No means no, Seven. Don’t let people convince you otherwise.”

I huff a frustrated laugh as we head for the car. “It reminded me of something Molly said. About men playing games.”

“Were you playing games with the guy?”

“No.” But the more I think about it, the less sure I am. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, if I can give you some professional advice … Be sure. You don’t want to get into that kind of situation again.”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you.”

“Good.” She yanks the wig off and slides her sunglasses on. “Now, get in the car. I’ll bill you for my services later.”

“Sure. I’ll pay you in good thoughts and feelings.”

“We both know you’re just as broke in those as actual funds. I’m not above you working off your debt.” She pumps her eyebrows. “I could always use a pool boy.”

Chapter 4

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