Manipulative bitch

  Maria is wrong.

  Ben likes me. And he proves it by coming up to our table to slide his tray close to mine. His arm goes around my shoulders, I am a blushing mess when he pecks my cheek and Maria shakes her head.

  “Sorry, babe. Olivia kept me waiting,” he says in an annoyed voice like he didn’t want to be there with her. He pouts and my anger dissolves. “Had stuff she needed my help with. Didn’t know it would take so much of my time. But I’m here now,” he adds with a smile and my heart riots in my chest. “Sorry.”

  Ben’s gaze roams my face, the pad of his thumb brushes the under of my eyes and my lips spread in a shy smile. Maria must have gotten annoyed by our interaction, she snaps. “She didn’t,” Maria says.

  We turn to her. “Sorry, what?” Ben says, a wedge between his eyebrows as he awaits her answer.