Page 31 of Rosie
“Some guys you just have to hit over the head.” Nadia poured wine as they talked. Rosie almost smacked herself on the forehead for forgetting it. She’d been really hungry.
“I think he got the message when I turned him down for a date.” She’d only stayed to watch the final match. Keith had kept talking to her, and when he asked if she’d want to get dinner sometime, she given him a very firm, “No, thanks.” At least he took the rejection well and dialed back the flirting after that.
“I don’t know that I like Matt hanging out with this guy. He sounds like trouble.” Olivia sipped at her wine.
“He’s not a bad guy, I’m just not attracted to him.” She turned back to her food. “Besides, Matt has to work with him.”
“I just worry about him. He’s always been so sensitive. The kids in school used to tease him mercilessly, and the adults weren’t good at doing anything about it because he was a boy. They wanted him to ‘toughen up.’ So stupid.” Olivia shook her blonde head, her ponytail bobbing behind her.
“By the way, I made cookies today. Who wants dessert?” Rosie got up from the table quickly. She needed to maneuver the conversation away from Matt. Or her blush would give away her inappropriate attraction to her best friend’s little brother.
Chapter 8
Matthadbeengoingthrough his day-to-day life on autopilot ever since the tournament. Keith hadn’t been scheduled to work while he was in the building that whole time, and he was grateful. He didn’t think he could stomach Keith talking about Rosie again. But Keith was coming in to work the lunch shift because it was Friday, and Matt couldn’t avoid him any longer. Evan was back, too, his role in the play now over.
Both men wandered into the management office, probably looking for him. “Hey Evan, how was your performance?”
“It went great! And now I have that to add to my resume. How was the tournament?” Evan jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Keith. “I’ve already heard this guy’s story. How was it for you?”
“It went fine. We made it to the semi-finals.” Matt glanced at Keith from the corner of his eye.
“Heard your girlfriend joined you.”
“She’s a friend of my sister’s. Not my girlfriend.” Matt grunted as he went back over the supplier invoices that Bruce had tasked him with auditing. “Besides, Keith was flirting with her all night.”
“Yeah, apparently Keith can’t read people as well as he thought he could.”
“Are we speaking of ourselves in the third person now?” Evan laughed. Keith just flipped him the bird.
“What do you mean, Keith?” Matt was intrigued now.
“At the end of the night, after you left, I asked her to dinner, and she turned me down.” He shrugged.
Matt’s chest felt like an elephant had just risen to its feet after sitting on him all week. “Tough luck, man.” But inside, he was nearly giddy.She didn’t like Keith!
“What got into you that night anyway? You were a surly bastard.”
Shit. If Keith had noticed, then Rosie must have as well. Mia’s words haunted him once more.She thinksyouhateher.
“Sorry. My hand was acting up. It was really hard to hold the controller.” The other guys nodded, like that was a totally plausible reason for him to act like an ass. Again.
He needed help, and fast. Once the guys left to get the tables ready for service, and he was alone in the office, Matt pulled out his phone and fired off a text.
Matt: I screwed up. I need help.
Mia: Is this about you being a Grumpy Gus at the tournament?
Matt: How did you know that?
Mia: Rosie was telling us last night about how you were cranky, and your co-worker’s flirting made her uncomfortable, but she didn’t want to say anything and make things awkward.
Matt: Shit. I really fucked up.
Mia: I have an idea.
Matt: Please tell me.
Mia: Are you going to be home before Rosie leaves for work tonight?
