Nothing Better (Than You) - English Vers.

¤ Chapter 25

"Keith is really going to marry Alicia," Nate muttered.

Penny and Layla looked at Nate with their jaws dropped.

"Where did you hear that?" Penny asked.

"I asked him straight out during our outing yesterday," Nate responded.

"Why did he lie about it when we asked him?" Layla complained.

Nate made a face. "We're pretty tight, so maybe he didn't want to lie to me."

"What's the deal with Alicia, then?" Penny asked. "No way Keith's got her so hooked that she'd dump her boyfriend for him, huh?"

"Alicia told him she'd already dumped her boyfriend. So, he probably doesn't think he's the one who broke them up."

Penny and Layla were shocked. They started gossiping about Keith and Alicia, while Nate went back to her office. She wasn't bothered by what her coworkers were saying about Keith. Nate was over Keith. She didn't even think about the bruise on her elbow from her scooter accident the day before.

Nate also quit trying to reach Keith, just like he'd asked. Since Keith's confession, Nate couldn't quite put her finger on how she felt. After all the sweet nothings he had whispered in her ear, Nate never thought he'd dump her. He'd moved on from her so fast.

Nate kicked herself. Stupid. Keith had made it clear that Alicia chose him over her boyfriend. Something Nate had never done. She couldn't really blame him for giving up on her indecisiveness and moving on to someone else.

♤♡◇♧

"Does he still brag about their relationship to you?" Layla asked. Lily nodded.

"I don't know if Alicia just doesn't have anyone else to share with, but she always fills me in on her dates with Keith. They've even dropped by my place a few times uninvited, so I've had to make up excuses to leave. But they just won't take the hint and wait for me to get back," Lily said, exasperated.

Nate just ate her food, not bothering to join the conversation. She, Layla, Penny, Lily, and even Devi had been having dinner together a lot lately. With Julian gone, Nate couldn't be bothered to cook, and eating alone at home felt too lonely.

"So, you've seen them together with your own eyes?" Penny asked.

"Definitely," Lily said. "Alicia even sent me this once."

Lily whipped out her phone and showed her friends a photo. Nate peeked over to take a look. The picture showed Alicia and Keith snuggled up in bed, with just a blanket covering them.

"Where's this?" Devi asked.

It's Keith's flat, Nate recognised it instantly.

"It's Keith's flat," Lily said. "What a coincidence that it's just down the street from Alicia's place!"

They're literally just a few blocks apart, Nate already knew this interesting fact.

Nate's eyes landed on the ring on Alicia's finger, and she knew it right away. It was the same ring Keith had almost bought for her when they went shopping for his mum's birthday present. So, Keith had ended up buying the ring after all—but he gave it to Alicia? And Alicia was clearly showing it off, posing like she wanted to make sure everyone saw the ring.

"She's basically saying they just hooked up?" Layla said with a snort as Lily tucked her phone away.

"Keith seems to be up for sleeping with anyone," Penny said. "He told me this story about a drunk girl who wandered into his flat. His friends made her dance in front of them, taking off her clothes piece by piece. And then, of course, Keith hooked up with her. He said something like, 'You don't turn down a free meal'."