I blink, momentarily shocked. “Don’t worry about it,” I say. “It’s nothing new. Kidding.”

He frowns, though, and starts again. “Look, I know I do that all the time, but I really shouldn’t. You were right to be mad… it’s not your job to talk to girls for me. You’re my best friend, not my matchmaker.”

You’d be better of if I was your matchmaker. “Um, no hard feelings,” I stutter. Jack’s eyes are so honest, so blue… “It’s all good.”

His face lights up again, all seriousness dropped. “Great!” He exclaims happily. He plugs his iPod in to the stereo and starts blasting music. “Let’s hang out with Ben and Lily tonight. The four of us, just as friends.”

Just as friends. It sends a pathetic ping through my heart. Lily is Ben’s girlfriend; I don’t know her well, but she seems okay. “Uh…”

“C’mon, it’ll be fun. Please?” Jack’s eyes are on my again, along with his crooked smile, and I can hardly resist. “Yeah, of course. Fun.”