Better If He Goes (Always You #1) - Allie Everhart Page 0,76

probably why Brad suggested we go look for girls this week.

I don't like Brad and Riley talking about me behind my back. If they have something to tell me, they need to just say it.

Chapter Eighteen

Riley

"I can't believe you agreed to this," I say in a hushed tone as I go out the back door of the salon. I just went on break when Brad called to tell me about his date tonight.

"Riley, you know this isn't what I want. But if I don't go, Nate's going to get suspicious."

I sigh. "Can't you just tell Nate you don't like her?"

"I don't even know her. I can't say I don't like a girl I don't even know."

I pace back and forth behind the building, trying not to be angry at Brad, because it really isn't his fault. He went out with Nate twice this week to help him find a girl, and last night he did. The only problem is she was with a friend and her friend really likes Brad. He said he didn't show any interest in her, but she didn't take the hint. When Nate called to ask the other girl out, she agreed to it, but only if her friend could go out with Brad.

"Riley, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing's going to happen tonight. It's a double date. I won't even be alone with her."

"What if she tries to kiss you? What are you going to do?"

"I'll make it clear I want her to stop."

"How? How are you going to do that without Nate noticing?"

"I don't care if he notices. If he does, I'll tell him I wasn't interested in her."

"Is she hot?"

"Riley, let's stop talking about this. We only have a few minutes before you have to go back to work, and I won't be able to call you when you get home."

"Because you'll be on a date," I mutter. "With someone else."

"Thinking about my girlfriend the whole time."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"I'm saying it because it's true. I think about you constantly. And I hate that I can't see you today."

He won't see me because the pool is closed. This morning TJ tested the water and found the chemical levels were off so the pool is closed until they fix it.

Since I'm free this afternoon, Renee is letting me stay and work so I can get some extra hours. She told us she's selling the salon at last Monday's staff meeting, but couldn't tell us if we'd be losing our jobs. She said it depends on the new owner. She feels really bad about having to sell the place but said she had to because it was causing her too much stress. She cried during the meeting, so I know this was a hard decision for her.

"What about tomorrow?" I ask. "Will I see you?"

"Yes. I'll make sure of it. Even if I have to sneak out of the house at midnight to do it."

"Midnight? Does that mean you're going out with Nate again tomorrow?"

"He wants to go to some club downtown."

"Why? He already found a girl."

"But it might not work out. If tonight's date doesn't go well, he wants to go to the club tomorrow."

"Then I'm going with. I'm not spending another night home alone, especially a Friday night."

"I agree, but you should be the one telling Nate you're going with us. If I do, he'll wonder why I want you there. I have to be careful what I say to him. Every time I bring up your name, he gives me this look."

"What kind of look?"

"Like he thinks something's going on with us."

"He doesn't think that. He thinks we're talking about him behind his back. He told me that when he called earlier."

"And what did you say?"

"I told him we're only talking about him because we care about him. We want him to be happy, which is true."

"I still think he suspects something's going on between us. Or that it's about to. Why else would he keep pushing me to go out with other girls?"

"Maybe you could talk him out of going to the club tomorrow."

"I could try, but he really wants to go, and he probably won't want you going with us if he's trying to find a date."

"Then I'll get April to go with me. We'll have a girls' night."

"Riley, I really do want to find a way to see you more. And I will. I just need to find someone to keep Nate busy.