You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(41)

It was possible.

The fact she didn’t have a family made me open my eyes. I did pity her and it did make me rethink my ways. But that didn’t make my apology insincere. All it did was give me some perspective.

I went to the bar with Conrad on Friday night. The week at school had been torture and I had so much studying to do it made me want to hang myself. I preferred being outside, running around or working in the studio. Hitting the books didn’t interest me at all. My dad was an amazing writer and my mom was a dancer, and I felt overshadowed by their success.

Conrad sipped his beer then leaned back in his chair, his mood thoughtful.

“Anything new with Beatrice?”

“We went to the movies the other day. We saw this Ukrainian documentary. It was pretty good.”

I didn’t understand their relationship. They weren’t having sex but it seemed like they were an item. “So, do you guys kiss?”

“No.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “I told you we’re just friends.”

“That you spend nearly all your time with?”

“Is she here now?” he snapped.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she was…”

“We just have a lot in common. I like spending time with her.”

It still didn’t add up to me. “And you never touch each other? Like, ever?” I found it hard to believe that a guy and a girl could be platonic friends. It seemed too unlikely.

“Well…we hold hands sometimes.”

My jaw dropped. “You hold hands? Like you’re in second grade?”

He rolled his eyes. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

“Friends don’t hold hands. When have you and I ever done that?”

“It just happens sometimes…I can’t explain it.”

“In what context?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Sometimes when we’re sitting together, she’ll grab my hand or I’ll grab hers. When we went to the movies, we did it. It’s nice…”

I knew whatever Conrad had with Beatrice was more than he made it seem. “When was the last time you got laid?”

He rubbed his chin and pondered the question. “Uh…”

I searched his face, waiting for an answer.

“Uh…I can’t remember.” He rubbed his temple as the realization hit him.

“So, you haven’t had sex since you met Beatrice?”

“No.” He seemed shocked by his own answer.

I waited for him to put the pieces together.

Conrad still seemed confused. “Why are you asking me this?”

“Seriously, you don’t understand?”

“Understand what?” he asked.

“You only spend time with her, you aren’t sleeping around, you took her to your family’s house for Christmas…” Did I need to spell it out for him?

“So?”

“You aren’t just friends,” I snapped. “You guys are in a complicated, twisted, and monogamous relationship.”

“No, we aren’t. She said we could only be friends.”

“Who hold hands?” I asked incredulously.

“It doesn’t mean anything…we’re just…different.”

I couldn’t believe how blind Conrad was to his own feelings. “Fine.” I scanned the bar and found a pretty brunette with nice legs. “Ask her out.” I nodded to her place on the stool.

Conrad glanced at her then turned back to me. “She’s not my type.”

“She’s a pretty girl with a nice rack. What do you mean she’s not your type?”

He drank his beer and didn’t look again.

“Whatever. Pick a girl and leave with her.”

“Why?” he asked. “I’m hanging out with you.”

I laughed because he was being so ridiculous. “You’re so hung up on Beatrice and you don’t even realize it.”

“I’m not,” he argued.

“You aren’t getting any from her but you’re still around.”

“Because she’s cool. That’s all.”

We were just going in circles. It seemed like he was ignorant to his own feelings. Since he was such a Neanderthal, I understood why it was difficult for him to understand. He’d never been in a relationship and always attested he never wanted to be. Perhaps he just hadn’t realized what was happening with Beatrice. I proved my point several times but he never grasped it.

“Did you apologize to that girl?” Conrad asked.

“Yeah…” I sighed when I remembered the conversation. “She hates my guts.”

“Don’t blame her,” he said with a chuckle.

“I don’t think I’m going to get anywhere with her. She’ll always hate me.”

“I know I do.” He sipped his beer.

I ignored the insult and noticed the ripple in the crowd. All the guys were craning their necks, checking out some girl who just walked in. Guys were usually discreet about their interest, but none of them were now. Someone very special just walked through the door.

“Did a Victoria’s Secret model just walk in or something?” Conrad asked.

“Beats me,” I said with a shrug.