Despite growing up together, Catherine Simmons and Mattis Reed were never close.
Cat was inseparable from Mattis' younger sister, Chloé, while he was busy running around on the football field.
But when Cat's new dream drags her across the country du...
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I blink, my brows knitting together. Why does he look so dumbfounded?
"Well yeah, who-" I start, but clamp my mouth closed when it's my turn to have an epiphany. "Ew! You didn't know who I was?"
"Of course not; you think I would do that if I realized it was you?" he asks with a mortified look on his face.
Can't say that didn't hurt.
"Besides, I haven't seen you in years, and the last time you definitely didn't look like this."
He does have a point. And Ava's remark last week had reminded me just how big the chances were of me running into Mattis, while I'm presuming he hasn't given me much thought.
Plus, he's drunk, so I guess, on some level, I might understand how he didn't recognize me. But on every other level, I'm deeply offended.
"Classy," I say sarcastically and cross my arms, which only pushes my boobs up. Oh well, nothing he hasn't already stared at.
To his credit, his eyes doesn't stray down this time. He scratches his neck, a faint blush covering his cheeks. He leans back against the kitchen island behind him. "Uh, I'm surprised to see you here."
"Yeah, that's apparent," I scoff. "Didn't you hear I transferred?"
He huffs a laugh. "How could I miss it? Chloé was complaining about it the whole summer. No, I meant here, at the party. Didn't really think it was your scene?"
"Are you kidding me? Why the hell go to college if not for the frat parties?"
"You say standing alone in the kitchen with a glass of water." Mattis' lips twitch as he glances into my cup. It's definitely not water, but since my drink is made of two clear liquids, I can see where he went wrong.
"Well, maybe I just wanted to see how many of my lifelong best friends' older brothers I could get to hit on me. So far, I'm going one for one."
The pink tinting his cheeks disappears instantly, and his nostrils flare panically. "Shit, I'm sorry, Cat. Please don't tell Chloé."
I know Chloé would flip her shit if she found out what he did, but seeing how he didn't mean to, I decide to let this one go.
"If you insist. Can't have her castrating you." I grin as he visibly relaxes.
For a beat, we just stand there, and then his eyes narrow as he straightens up. "Wait. Did my mom and Chloé send you here to... spy on me?" he asks suspiciously.
I must really fight myself not to roll my eyes. Who the hell does he think he is?
"Yes, Matty. I transferred schools, moved across the country, leaving behind my best friend, changed my major and thereby my entire career trajectory, and then dragged my new roommate to a frat party so that I could have the chance to observe your behavior and report back to your sister and mommy."
