Page 19 of Best Friends
Oh God. She’s flirting with me.
Well, of course she is. We’re on a date. She’s the normal one.
“I’d never do that.” I laugh a little too loudly, and take another gulp of beer. I try not to fixate on the way Malcolm is smiling at Cecilia, but my gaze keeps getting drawn to them. Cecilia gazes into Malcolm’s eyes, running her tongue over her bottom lip, and my gut clenches with what feels like jealousy.
“Have you and Malcolm always been best friends?” Amanda asks, pulling my attention back to her.
“Yep,” Malcolm answers before I can. “C. was my neighbor growing up.”
“Oh, that’s cool,” Cecilia says.
“It was.” Malcolm gives me a warm smile. “We’ve known each other most of our lives.”
I nod, trying not to get too distracted by his white smile. “When I was a kid, my mom never wanted me in the house. Shealways kicked me outside. Malcolm was stuck entertaining me,” I tell them, meeting Malcolm’s gaze.
“It wasn’t a problem. I loved hanging out with you,” Malcolm says. “Still do.”
“That’s so cool to have known each other that long.” Cecilia sighs.
Nodding, I say, “My parents divorced when I was five. My mom wanted to find a replacement dad for me as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the guy she picked didn’t like kids.” I laugh so they won’t feel sorry for me. “That’s why she always shoved me outside to stay out of their hair.”
“Oh, no.” Amanda frowned. “Are you close to your real father?”
I grimace. “No. Once he left us, I never saw him again. He started a new family in a different state. Georgia I think.”
Amanda gasps. “Aww. That’s awful. He just abandoned you?” She rubs my shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
Malcolm’s gaze sharpens when Amanda touches me. But then he looks away and puts his arm around Cecilia’s shoulder, smiling down at her. “C. and I got even closer in high school.”
“Yeah.” I laugh, leaning back in the booth. “I got picked on a lot because I was short and skinny for my age. Malcolm fought a lot of my battles.”
“Only at first.” Malcolm shrugs.
“Well, yeah. As soon as you kicked a couple of guys’ asses, people left me alone.” And alone is what I would’ve been too, if Malcolm hadn’t taken me under his wing. For whatever reason, he’d wanted to be my friend.
Malcolm meets my gaze. “That’s cuz I love you, man. Nobody hurts you as long as I’m around.”
My cheeks warm when the two girls make little “aww” sounds again. My natural surly instincts kick in. “Malcolm just loves saying cheesy crap like that. He’s an awfully needy son of a bitch.”
Amanda and Cecilia gasp, but Malcolm just grins.
“Ignore him,” he says. “C. loves me too. He just won’t ever tell me. He’s got issues.”
Shrugging, I stifle my smile. “Just keep telling yourself that, Malc.”
“You two are so cute together.” Cecilia rests her chin on her palm.
“It’s adorable. I think it’s nice that you can share your feelings so freely, Malcolm. A lot of guys are closed off,” Amanda adds.
“Thanks.” Malcolm looks embarrassed.
“Anyway,” I say with a smirk. “I had a growth spurt and now I’m the hunky and macho stud you see before you.”
Amanda sighs, resting her hand on my bicep. “You certainly filled out nicely.”
Our eyes meet. “Thanks,” I say gruffly, forcing myself to lean in and give her a peck on the cheek.”
She giggles and drops her hand to my thigh. “You don’t have to thank me. It’s the truth,” she whispers. “You’resupersexy. I told Cecilia that the first time I saw you at Frankie’s.”
