Chapter 33

Matchmaking skills

Ten years.

Ten years I've been in love with my best friend, never imagining we'd actually end up together.

Now here I am, grinning like an idiot, watching her laugh with her friends, throwing her head back with a beautiful smile that makes my heart squeeze. I love seeing her happy. I love being the reason for her happiness.

It took us forever to get here, but I wouldn't change a thing.

"You're welcome, by the way," Aiden says, draping his arm around Leila's shoulders as she joins us, sliding beside him.

"For what?" I ask.

He lifts his head, gesturing toward Gabi. "For that."

"What are you talking about?" Grayson interrupts, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"I'm the reason they got together," Aiden says with a shrug.

"You did absolutely nothing," Grayson scoffs, shaking his head.

Aiden's brows pull together. "That's not true," he argues. "If it wasn't for me—"

"They still would have ended up together," Leila interrupts, rolling her eyes. "They were always meant to be. You didn't change that."

I chuckle at Aiden's frown. Gabi and I have been a long time coming. It was a game of truth or dare and years of tension between us that finally brought us together. But seeing Aiden's expression, I feel a twinge of guilt, so I nod anyway. "Thanks," I tell him.

His lips quirk. "Thank god someone appreciates me like I deserve."

"And I don't?" Leila chimes in, teasing her boyfriend.

He smiles instantly. "No, you do," he confirms. "It would just be nice to hear someone appreciates me for my matchmaking skills."

"Matchmaking skills?" Grayson asks with a snort.

"Want me to remind you how you got Rosie again?" Aiden says, arching his brow.

Grayson's smile slips, and he lifts his hand, flipping Aiden off.

I chuckle, watching their interactions. I'll have to ask Gabi what happened between Grayson and Rosie.

I remember feeling nervous when I first met Gabi's friends. Meeting new people has never been my strong suit. I've always preferred to sit back and just listen.

But these guys… They've become more than just Gabi's friends. They're my friends now, too.

"I do so much for this group," Aiden sighs dramatically. "And no one recognizes it."

"Your head's too big anyway," Leila teases back.

Aiden's hand curls around Leila's waist as he grins up at her. But Leila looks past him, making Aiden turn his head, and his smile fades when he sees a girl standing nearby.

"Hey," she says with a flirty smile, biting her bottom lip.

Aiden swallows, his brow furrowing. "Um, hi?"

She moves closer, trailing a hand along his arm. "You're Aiden Pierce, right?"

Leila's eyebrows shoot up, and she glances at us in disbelief. "Is she… Is she serious?" she asks, her jaw dropping.

"Yeah," Aiden replies, tightening his hold on Leila's waist.

"Hmm…" The girl smiles, running her hand along his arm. "You know, I've watched your games, and—"

"Excuse me," Leila interrupts sharply, narrowing her eyes at the girl. The girl finally shifts her gaze to Leila standing beside Aiden. "Do you not see me right here, with his hand on my waist?" Leila asks, arching a brow.

Aiden's lips curve into a smile as he looks down at his girlfriend.

"That girl is dead," Grayson murmurs, chuckling as he shakes his head.

"Oh…" The girl looks down at Leila, furrowing her brows. "I didn't know."

"Well, now you do," Leila says sharply.

The girl frowns, glancing back up at Aiden. "Sorry."

"Yeah," Leila replies, narrowing her eyes. "You are."

The girl turns around and disappears into the crowd.

"Did that really just happen?" Lucas asks, shaking his head.

Leila lets out a sigh. "It happens too much for my liking," she murmurs. "I hate it."

"Me too," Aiden replies, adjusting his cap as he grins down at Leila. "But I've got to say, I find it hot as hell whenever you chase them away. It's exhausting having to deal with them."

Leila rolls her eyes. "I bet it's so exhausting having hundreds of beautiful girls wanting to sleep with you."

Aiden curls his hand under Leila's chin, lifting her head. "It is when you're the only one I want," he says with his eyes locked on hers.

Leila's lips part, and she smiles briefly before narrowing her eyes at him. "Stop trying to flirt with me."

Aiden laughs, shaking his head. "I'll never stop flirting with you."

"If Gabi was here, she'd barf," Grayson says, taking a sip of his drink.

"Nah." Aiden slides his hand around Leila's waist. "She's in love now," he says, glancing at me. "She doesn't mind seeing other people in love anymore."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Trust me. She still hates it."

Gabi's never been into PDA. Even with her boyfriends in high school, she didn't really touch them, hardly ever kissed them. But she was never like that with me. She always touched me, held me, cuddled with me.

My lips quirk at the thought. I like that she wasn't as touchy with anyone else, like she is with me.

"Hey. It's you again."

I lift my head, recognizing the girl with short hair who had hit on me at the first party Gabi brought me to. My brows furrow as she smiles at me. What was her name again? Fuck, I forgot. I remain silent as she moves closer to me.

"Are you here with anyone?"

I swallow, glancing around. Aiden's lost in conversation with Leila. I scan the crowd, spotting Lucas and Madi together on the couch, and Grayson catching up with Rosie, leaning in to kiss her. But I don't see Gabi anywhere.

"I guess not," she continues, sliding her hand up my arm.

My throat tightens as I instinctively try to step back. "Actually, I—"

"What the fuck are you doing?"

My heart leaps in my chest.

Gabi.

I'd recognize her voice anywhere.

I turn around, seeing my best friend Gabi's eyes narrow, focusing on Tiffany's hand resting on my arm. "Why the fuck are you touching my boyfriend, Tiffany?"

God, that word coming from her lips makes me smile. And I want to hear it again. Actually, I never want to stop hearing her say it.

"Boyfriend?" Tiffany asks, glancing up at me with furrowed brows. "He told me he wasn't here with anyone."

I frown. "I didn't say that."

Gabi's eyes soften briefly when they meet mine before she shoots a glare at Tiffany. "Leave him alone," my girlfriend says sharply. "He doesn't want you."

Tiffany arches a brow, moving her hand higher up on my arm. "Are you sure? He seemed interested," she says, clearly trying to provoke a reaction from Gabi.

I take a step away from her, and reach for Gabi, intertwining our fingers. "I'm definitely not," I tell Tiffany. "My girlfriend is ten times hotter than you'll ever be."

Tiffany glares, her mouth dropping open, and I feel Gabi's hand tightening around mine, as Tiffany lets out a grunt and turns around, walking away.

I glance down at Gabi, her eyes fired up with a jealousy I've never seen before. Fuck, she looks so hot right now.

"Are you ready to go?" she asks.

"Hell yeah."