How to get me a boyfriend

Step 8: become frenemies

Dinner was served and I tried my best not to look to my side. The tension between the both of us only intensified when Aubrey's husband, Richard, asked about our relationship. We stumbled for words, looking away every time our gaze met. We were like two teens suffering from hormonal imbalance.

Finally, the topic was dropped and the adults began talking between themselves. From under the table, Matteo's leg hit mine and I looked at him, giving him a raised brow.

He mouthed the words, "secretly pass me the drumsticks."

"You pass them yourself." He sighed, shaking his head.

"I'm forbidden from eating more than two." I was hesitant but nodded. Checking if the coast was clear, I took the plater that the drumsticks were on and slid it under the table. Matteo grabbed it and stole one, handing it back to me. When it was safely back on the table, he winked at me. 

A blush crept on my cheek and I hid my face from him. Instead of facing to my left, I turned to my right where O'brian sat. O'brian was already staring at me with a look in his eyes.

"What?" I muttered. He shook his head, looking away. I nudged him on the side, grabbing his attention. "Can we talk later?" He stared at me blankly and I awaited a reply.

Before he could reply, if he was even willing to, the adults finished their conversation and their attention was now on me. I answered all their questions politely and sensibly making sure not to say something foolish.

Dinner was over and Aubrey decided to show gam gam her outdoor plantation. Richard called O'brian to help him do something in his study while I and Matteo hanged out. We were trying to throw hoops on a stick and I was in the lead.

"How do you throw it so precisely?" Matteo asked confusedly. I winked, feeling badass.

"Actually, O'brian taught me." Matteo nodded but his expression was different, it was smug, almost like he was teasing me.

"You two do hang out together quite often." I turned to him, shaking my head.

"You too? You guys read too much into this."

"Well, for as long as I've known Sean, he doesn't hang out with people like how he does with you." O'brian was something else. He had lots of secret and I wanted to unfold them but would he open up or would anyone even open up about him?

"Should that make me feel special?" Matteo laughed.

"You're funny." He threw his hoop and missed again. "Why do you call him O'brian instead of Sean?" Because it might make it easier for me not to like him.

"I use it to tease him. Like, oh Brian." I threw my hoop and when it passed through the stick, I did a victory dance. Matteo laughed at my silly moves, his eyes glistening with tears reminding me of the time O'brian filmed me dancing. 

"Stop, my stomach would soon burst into pieces." I decided to be malicious, dancing even weirder and crazier. Matteo walked to me, holding my arm to stop me from moving anymore. We both laughed at each other, like a pack of wild hyenas in the wilderness.

When we realized our proximity, he let go of me, still smiling. When he moved to the side, I saw O'brian on the stairs, looking at the both of us like he was sick in the stomach.

"You said you wanted to talk, Kendall." He said. By the way, this was the first thing he had said to me all day.

"Oh yeah," I turned to Matteo, "please excuse me." I left Matteo's company and followed O'brian out the door. He closed the door behind us as we got out and I turned to him.

"So, O'brian, how are you?" He didn't reply just stared at me like he had zoned out. "The silent treatment, is that it?"

"Just cut to the chase. What's the matter?"

"So I was thinking," I started. Oh God, I hoped he wouldn't take my words the wrong way and lash out on me. "I thought about what happened yesterday and realized, I wasn't thinking at all. Like where did it come from? Why did I say all those things? Must've been the sushi, I'm not sure. All I'm trying to say is that I want us to resume our plans."

Yes, I and Matteo we're getting along pretty well but after this dinner, what excuse could I use to visit him again? I and O'brian would've longed stopped talking so what excuse would I tell him when I came to see him?

The silence from O'brian spoke volumes making me feel awkward and embarrassed. "So what you're trying to say is that you only want us to continue talking for your selfish reasons?"

"Selfish reasons? No, we can make a deal and then both of us would profit from it at the end."

"What deal could you possibly make that would make me to agree to your plans?" He asked.

"We could... rotate shifts on the newspaper delivery stuff and you'd take the full payment."

He remained silent, "no." He was already ready to walk into the house but I grabbed onto him.

"Why are you refusing? It would help you more. You would get to sleep more and still get the full payment." He yanked my hand away from his.

"You just don't understand, mind your business and go home."

"What's wrong with you today? You're so cranky and acting mysterious, I want to understand you."

"Enemies don't understand each other." He started walking over to the door and I knew if he walked in, there was no coming back. We would stop talking and I would stop meeting up with Matteo.

"What if I want to be your frenemy, O'brian?" He gave me a sideways glance. "Would you still give me a chance?" The cold evening wind passed by, blowing my hair onto my cheek. He turned around, fully facing me still with a frown on his face. "Come to the beach tomorrow, let's work this out. Please... Sean."