Page 64 of One of Them Girls

“And her boyfriend is fine with her talking to you, a guy she’s kissed?”

“Fin knows he’s the only one who has her attention.” He laughs. “The dude is cocky as hell. We might not be each other’s favorite people, but we respect that we both mean something to Tinsley.” He stands and grabs another shirt. “Now can you please stop trying to pick a fight? You have nothing to worry about,” he says as he folds the shirt and adds it to the pile.

I set the phone back down onto the desk and take a deep breath. He says I have nothing to worry about, but why do I feel like I do?

“You’re right. Sorry. I think I need some fresh air.”

I stand, moving from his bed, but he grabs my hand, pulling me back.

“Babe, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing. You said you have nothing going on with her and I believe you. Besides, it’s in the past, right? It’s not like she’s right here.”

“Even if she was, you wouldn’t have to worry. I don’t think about her like that anymore. She’s my friend. Nothing more.”

“Is that why you asked her to plan our first date?”

His eyes widen. “What?”

“When I posted that picture of us from the field and tagged you in it, she commented on it. She said something like she knew I would love it and that you were doing good. So did she plan it?”

“No. Not really. I was having trouble figuring out where to take you that would mean more than dinner and a movie. I called her to ask for her advice. Hell, her and Sage helped.”

Adding the third girl’s name isn’t helping my temper, it flaring worse with each moment.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were already so worked up about her, I figured it was best not to mention it. I’m sorry that you think I didn’t plan that date, but I did. They only helped lead me in the right direction. All the work? That was all me. I didn’t even see the comment or I would have explained it then.”

“I deleted it. I didn’t want to taint the memory.”

“Listen.” He leans in pressing a kiss to my lips. “We can keep arguing about this, but at the end of the day, I can’t change the past. Yes, we had a very minor thing, but it’s over now. It has been for a long time. Long before you. She’s still my friend, though. I won’t stop being her friend just like as much as Finley may hate it, she won’t stop being mine.”

“I didn’t say you had to stop being her friend.”

He throws up his hands, turning from me. “I don’t know what you want from me. What can I say to make this better?”

A real commitment, I think to myself.

I can’t say that though. He said from the beginning he didn’t want serious. Until he makes that decision, I’m stuck in the friends with benefits circle.

“Right now? Nothing. I just need some time to myself. I’ll call you later?”

He lets out the breath he was holding, turning to me before pulling me in. He presses a kiss to my lips.

“I’ll be here. No matter what. Take all the time you need.”

Walking out of his room, I can’t help the dread that fills me. I feel like our relationship is a ticking time bomb. One wrong move and it can detonate and destroy everything.

I don’t think I would survive it either.

* * *

Xavier

It’s been two weeks and I don’t know what’s going on with Cassi. Ever since the day she read the text from Tinsley, she’s been distant.

Sure, she is still spending time with me, but it’s different. Sure, we still kiss and have sex, but when it’s done, she makes excuses of why she has to leave.

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