Cameron took a seat across from Elijah. She hadn’t even had a chance to say a word to Bradley before he’d plopped down across from Eddie, his back now facing her. She gave Eddie a polite nod.
Eddie immediately beamed, waving enthusiastically. “Hey there, handsome. We meet again. Looking even better than last time, I see.”
“Thanks, Mr. Eddie Saunders. You’re looking sharp yourself,” Cameron replied.
“Mr. Saunders? So formal. Just call me Eddie like Brad does.”
Cameron didn’t know what to say to that. She just flashed an awkward but polite smile.
The typically aloof Elijah, now realizing the guy behind them was Bradley’s brother Eddie, stood up courteously. “Hey Eddie, I’m Brad’s roommate, Elijah.”
“Well hello there! Damn, you’re a looker too. I love hanging out with attractive people. Wanna join us for lunch?” Eddie was a serious sucker for good–looking people. His enthusiasm for both hot guys and beautiful women knew no bounds.
“Want to join them?” Elijah asked Cameron.
“You’re paying, so it’s your call,” Cameron replied with a shrug.
Just like that, the two tables were pushed together.
Bradley didn’t move a muscle. His eyes, unreadable behind those gold–rimmed glasses, gave nothing away. “Hey, handsome! Come sit next to me,” Eddie called out to Cameron, waving him over enthusiastically. Cameron slid into the seat beside Eddie, directly across from Bradley. Elijah took the spot next to Bradley.
Cameron glanced up and locked eyes with Bradley. The corners of Bradley’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Cameron, are you tutoring Elijah now?” he asked.
Cameron shook his head. “Nope.”
“You tutor people?” Elijah’s eyebrows shot up.
Eddie leaned in. “Wow, handsome! Didn’t know you were a brain too. I thought only our family had the whole looks–and- brains package.”
“I’m tutoring Xander,” Cameron said with a nod.
Elijah’s jaw dropped. “Xander? Is there any hope for him academically?”
“He’s a sports scholarship kid,” Cameron explained. “The academic requirements aren’t as high for him. Even a small improvement could get him into a decent college.”
“True.” Elijah nodded.
Bradley smiled faintly, “So how did you and Elijah end up hanging out?”
“I asked him to meet up.” Elijah jumped in before Cameron could answer.
Bradley swirled his coffee absently. “When exactly did you make these plans?”
Cameron opened his mouth, trying to catch Elijah’s eye to signal him, but Elijah had already blurted out, “Around three this afternoon.”
Cameron could only sigh inwardly.
Bradley heard her silence, and while his lips kept that slight smile, the eyes behind his glasses darkened.
It was after three. Bradley had texted Cameron shortly after two. So she’d rejected him first.
‘He turned me down? But why?‘ Bradley wondered.
Even with questions swirling in his mind, Bradley knew better than to voice them right now.
Eddie casually studied Bradley’s micro–expressions. ‘What’s going on? Why is Brad even more pissed off now?‘ he thought. “Food’s ready,” Eddie said with a cheerful smile. “Let’s eat while we chat.”
The atmosphere turned weird as hell. Both Cameron and Bradley ate in complete silence.
Elijah had only planned to meet with Cameron. y with Bradley and Edu here, he didn’t have much to say.
Successfully unlocked!
Eddie scrambled to fill the awkward silence. “Ts place is eriously good. Brad, why haven’t you brought me here before?” “You’ve been too busy with your girlfriend to hang out,” Bradley shot back. “Remember?”
Eddie was speechless. ‘What the actual fuck? That was uncalled for. It’s not like I was the one who made you angry. Why come at him like that?‘ he thought.
