The Arrangement | Book 2 | Completed

8

Matty's POV

"I know where we can go." I tell Candace, directing towards Beets.

"Where are we going?" She asks with a smile.

"It's this place called Beets. It's a raw vegan restaurant down the street. They have the best cold pressed juices. Plus, their food is actually amazing. I come here a few days a week." I tell her, pointing at the small sign up ahead.

"Do you and your girlfriend come here a lot?" She asks me. I look down at her and study her face carefully. She isn't showing any signs of jealousy or negative feelings towards the question. It's just a genuine question.

"No. She hates this place. She is a pretty picky eater, though." I shrug.

"Hmm." She hums, acknowledging my comment.

"I really think you're going to like it. It's a lot like Radish back in Vancouver." I tell her, remembering the small vegan restaurant we would always go to when we were together. She would only go because I loved it, but she never complained when I wanted to go. She never really complained with the things that we did while together. She just went along with it.

I with Melissa was more like Candace in that way.

"I'm not really picky." She laughs.

As we approach the front, I go in front of her and open the large glass door. Justin is working the front and gives me a large smile when he sees me walk in.

"Matty! Bro, finally! You're back!" He tells me, already getting started on the juice that I will never change. "Same thing as usual?" He asks, writing my name on the cup.

 "Yeah, and then whatever she wants." I say with a smile, nodding down at Candace who is scanning over the menu and the large cooler holding a ton of pre-made drinks.

"Oh, who is this?" He asks, wagging his eyebrows at me when she isn't looking.

"This is my friend, Candace." I tell him. She looks up and smiles widely at him and gives a small wave.

"Only a friend, huh?" He asks with a smirk, writing her name on another cup and places it next to mine.

"Yes, only a friend." I say, rolling my eyes in humor.

"That's too bad." He shrugs, "What can I get for you, love bug?" He asks Candace with a smile, causing her to blush.

I know he doesn't mean this in any way other than a friendly way, but I can't help but feel jealousy course through me. Almost instantly, I pull Candace into my side. It's an old instinct, and I do it without even realizing what I'm doing. Almost as quickly as I had pulled her into my side, I step away.

I have a girlfriend.

What the actual fuck am I doing right now? I have a girlfriend. Candace has a boyfriend. There is nothing going on between the two of us. There never will be. We are friends, and that is it. She pushes some hair behind her ear and I can see the slight blush still on her face. I don't know if it's from me or from Justin...or maybe even both.

Despite the fact that I have a girlfriend and she has a boyfriend, I hope it's from me.

"I think I'll get the Just-Beet-It." She says with a smile. "And whatever is good to eat here."

"Everything is good here. But, I'll make sure you get a special meal. I call this the Justin Special." He winks.

He is just being friendly. He's just being fucking friendly. This is Justin. He isn't going to try shit. I know he isn't.