Belle's eyes sharpened. "Because you don't want to be her boyfriend."

I shook my head.

“That's not true. I love her. She loves me. The three of you basically gave us your blessing yesterday afternoon, and now you're taking it back? Are you jealous or something? Didn't you insist you'd be happy if Sam became my girlfriend so you wouldn't have to worry about other greedy bitches?"

"I would be happy if Sam became your girlfriend, but that's not the point." Belle frowned and leaned forward with her elbows on her knees again. "It's pretty obvious you don't really want to be her boyfriend.

You said just yesterday you weren't going to start dating. And you just admitted a minute ago that you only said ‘yes' because ‘no way in hell was I gonna say no’. That's not a reason for a couple to get together.”

"I assumed she wouldn't want to date ME. I never said I'd have a problem dating her."

“You don't have to say anything,“ Alice chimed in.

“Your current behavior speaks for itself."

“What are you talking about?"

“I was there when you and Neevie agreed to start dating," Belle explained.

“Your excitement was palpable. You couldn't stop grinning for DAYS. This morning? You were just stunned. You sorta Lay there Like a lump on a Log while Sam went into a frenzy on top of you. She got so absorbed in her own outrageous orgasm that she didn't notice, but I noticed. And even now? Look at you."

I blinked. "What about me?"

“You're just... there." Belle sat up again and gestured at me with one hand in a flat Line, palm up. "I think you're still stunned and unsure of how to react."

“Give him SOME credit," Mari interjected.

“He was just as lovey-dovey as Sam was at school."

“Yeah, because Sam was all over him," Belle pointed out.

“If you crawled into his lap and started making out with him right now, he'd totally get into it and be all happy.”

Alice mused on that and started pushing herself off the Lounge chair.

“Don't even," I warned, palm out.

Alice made a face and dropped her chin back onto her folded hands.

“It was easy for Matty to feel in love and be all lovey-dovey while Sam was wrapped around his arm 24/7 or dragging him out into the parking lot for a minivan nooner," Belle continued before looking straight at me. "But now that she's not here - standing in front of him all scantily-clad gorgeous platinum-blonde goddess with tits out to here -- you've defaulted back to ‘regular Matty'.”

I scowled.

“It's like you're trying to imply that I don't really love her or something."

“No, we don't doubt that, actually," Alice chimed in.

“We know you love her," Belle added.