31

                                    

                                          
"I brought this book for you," Evie placed a book in my hand, slapping my hand away when I tried to take a book from the row above us in the library. When I gave her an exasperated look, she fluttered her lashes at me, a huge smile on her face, "I read it, it's really cute."
Giving up on the idea of borrowing the crime thriller novel that I had been eyeing, I looked down at the book in my hand. Giving the cover a once-over, I nodded, "Sure," I said absentmindedly, "Shall we leave?"
She frowned, "What's up with you today?" she asked, "I usually have to drag you out of the library, yet today you want to leave on your own?"
"I just have a lot on my mind, I guess," I shrugged, turning the book in my hand, "What is this book about anyway?"
Thankfully, Evie took the bait and changed the topic, so I didn't have to tell her what was bothering me. I didn't have to explain in detail what had happened, about the kiss that I had shared with an ex that I didn't want to get back with, or about how that single kiss had changed the entire dynamics of our relationship. No, that was not something I was ready to discuss, not yet, at least.
"It's about this Ph.D. student who accidentally kisses a professor and the story after," she said and I frowned. 
"How does someone accidentally kiss anyone?"
"Easily," she shrugged, "You should read and find that out how."
"Hello, darling," someone blocked our paths and I looked up, almost groaning at the sight of Keaton in front of us, "Still into romance books, I see."
"Keaton, not today," I sighed, "I'm in a bad mood, I'll punch you if you annoy me too much."
"What's your problem?" he faked a frown turning to Evie, "Tell this dumbass to stop getting in our way, baby."
A frown flitted across my face and I frowned, looking between Evie and Keaton confused, "Baby?" the disgust that filled my body upon seeing his sly smile knew no bounds.
"You don't know?" he asked, chuckling, "Figures. You aren't important enough to know it anyway."
"Keep walking, Murphy," Evie said, her eyes narrowed in glare and I was partially satisfied on hearing the anger in her voice, "If she doesn't punch you, I will."
"Aw, baby," he pouted, his lips pulling up into an ugly smirk that I knew was only to irk Evie, "I know you're mad at me, but is that the way you talk to your boyfriend?"
I felt a wave of disgust and shock wash over me. Boyfriend? Was he for real? Evie has never shown any kind of interest in Keaton. My bully of all the people. She has never talked about him, nor has she given any kind of indication that she may even like him. And now, he was calling himself her boyfriend?
"Ex-boyfriend," Evie corrected, her eyes flashing to me, giving me an awkward smile, "I was a naïve freshman and he was a jerk."
"I was a jerk?" Keaton scoffed, "Why did you fall in love with a jerk then?"
"Biggest mistake of my life, Murphy."
"Oh, yeah?" he snickered, "I thought that the biggest mistake was sleeping with me?"
Knowing exactly where this was heading, I caught Evie's hand, trying to pull her away. Whatever this was, I can grill her about it later, but right now, we needed to get out of here. "Let's go, Evie."
"Oh, don't go yet," Keaton puckered his lips, giving me a sad look, "Get the full scoop and then leave."
"No, thanks," I snapped, "Leave us alone and while you're at it, you should probably look into the prospect of being a jackass as a career option."