Read Online When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill - Free Book Online Page B

the honesty thing, huh?” I teased.
    â€œYeah, I’m sure she’ll be really impressed when I call her and say, ‘I want to take you out, but I don’t know where.’ ”
    â€œOh, for sure, girls love that.”
    He smiled at me. “I’ll figure it out.”
    He must have done something right, because the next week when I got to class, Courtney was sitting next to Matt with the full force of her white smile shining on him. I sat beside Geena in the row behind them.
    â€œI think she has extra teeth,” Geena said in a low voice when I was settled.
    â€œI think they just reflect light and look like more,” I said.
    â€œLike diamonds?”
    â€œYeah.” I leaned forward and whispered in Matt’s ear. “I take it you did well on the phone.”
    He didn’t speak but nodded slowly.
    In a matter of weeks, Matt and Courtney were officially dating. Or at least it seemed that way to me. He took her out a few times, and they always sat together in class. When she ran out at the end of class, she always gave him a kiss on the cheek and a million-watt smile. Matt said she had a class to get to right after, so I never really got a chance to talk to her until Matt invited her to a study session for the mid-term.
    Geena and I arrived at the library together, and found Matt holding down the fort at a table in the crowded group study area.
    â€œHey! Where’s Her Highn—Courtney?” I asked.
    He narrowed his eyes at me, but ignored the slip. “She should be here any second.”
    â€œI’m glad we finally get to talk to her,” I said. “I feel like you’ve been keeping her a secret or something.”
    Matt shook his head. “Nah, she just doesn’t really come to our side of campus ever.”
    â€œStill, you should bring her around. We need a chance to give you our approval,” Geena agreed.
    â€œYeah, okay,” he scoffed with an eye roll.
    â€œAfraid of what we’ll think?” I raised my eyebrows, which is not all that impressive since they’re strawberry blond and practically invisible against my freckled forehead.
    â€œNo. She’s great.”
    â€œAfraid of what she’ll think?” Geena asked.
    â€œThat’s more likely,” I agreed.
    â€œYeah, so behave yourselves,” he said, standing up to flag down Courtney from across the room.
    Geena rolled her eyes at me, but was all smiles by the time Her Highness joined us at the table. We did the typical exchanging of names, and Courtney dropped her leather bag in the middle of the table.
    â€œSo you guys are friends with Matt?” she asked.
    â€œWe live in the same dorm,” Geena supplied.
    â€œOh.” She was digging through her backpack when she spoke, and emerged with her cell phone. She checked the display and turned her mouth into a pretty pout before stashing it again.
    We studied for a bit, but it was hard to focus. Her Highness seemed to know half the people in the library, and everyone kept coming by to talk to her. It took me a few interruptions to realize what was wrong: she wasn’t introducing Matt as anything but a guy from her class.
    After an hour, Geena let out a frustrated sigh. “Look, you guys, I have a lot of work to do for my physics class. I’m gonna head out.”
    We said goodbye while she packed up, and once she was gone, I was the official third wheel.
    â€œHey, you wanna get some dinner?” Matt asked, looking at Her Highness, then me.
    â€œYeah, sure,” she agreed.
    â€œJoss, you in?”
    I hesitated. I didn’t really want to be on a date with them, but I was hungry. “If that’s okay with you guys.”
    Her Highness shrugged. “Whatever.”
    As unwelcome as I obviously was, I wanted to go anyway. Her icy bitch routine was fascinating in the way that a car accident is. I needed more time to stare at her. I wanted to see her thaw and get a glimpse of