Matt hadn't been good to you.
The realisation came when he was sat at a cafe with you one afternoon with friends, Sabrina and Oliver. They were your friends more than his. He met them through you and he only hung out with them when you were around.
At least after they leave, he has you to himself. Not today though. Today, you announced that you had to go home. Matt's shoulders dropped in disappointment.
"Why?" He rested his chin on his hand. "What could be more important than spending time with your friends?"
"I have a date tonight"
The three friends looked at you with curiosity
"Oh, is that guy from Tinder you've been seeing?" Sabrina asked
"Yeah, but don't get too excited. I'm ending it with him"
"What? Why?"
You shrugged. "He isn't my type"
Sabrina snorted. "You say that about everyone. What even is your type?"
"Him" Oliver said, pointing at Matt, who just laughed.
Your cheeks flushed. "I haven't found the right person! Leave me alone" Your phone vibrated on the table and you checked it. "It's him. He's asking if our date is still on"
"Poor guy" Oliver says. "He has no idea he's about to get his heart ripped to shreds tonight"
You rolled your eyes. "Please. You're acting like he's in love with me. We've been on two dates"
"I don't know. You're pretty easy to fall in love with" Matt said, smirking at you.
Your cheeks burned darker as you attempted to smile. "Okay, I have to go" You stood up, grabbed your phone and pulled your bag over your shoulder. "See you!"
"Good luck, heartbreaker" Oliver shouted after you as you walked away.
"I can't with this girl" Sabrina shook her head. "I thought I was picky with guys"
"She wasn't always that picky. It was only after Mr YouTube over here came along" Oliver nodded his head towards Matt.
"What do you mean?"
Sabrina and Oliver exchanged a look. Matt hated when they did that, he felt like he was left out of a joke.
"You do know you are only reason she turns down all these dates, right?" Sabrina asked as if it was obvious. "She's not over you"
Matt scoffed. "That's ridiculous. We've been broken up for eight months. She's been seeing new people and I don't think she'd be doing that if she was over me"
"It couldn't be more obvious" Oliver said. "She goes on dates, then she hangs out with you for five minutes and all of a sudden, these people are no longer good enough for her?"
Matt shook his head and leaned back in his chair. "I think you're looking too much into it"
Sabrina sighed and tucked some hair behind her ear. "Ever since you told her you'd be willing to get back together when the time was right, she decided not to give anyone else a chance. It doesn't help that every time you're together, the internet acts like you're back together again"
"She doesn't read that stuff"
"You know that isn't my point"
"What then?" Matt threw his hands up in defeat. "What am I supposed to do? Stop hanging out with her?"
"That, or you can just tell her you don't want to get romantically involved anymore" Sabrina suggests. "Until you do, she's never going to move on"
Matt wouldn't admit it, but they were right. He noticed your pattern of going on a few dates with someone, then coming up with an excuse for why you can't see a future with him. Matt was guilty of enabling this behaviour by telling her that it makes sense to turn them down.
