Matchmaker - Chapter 35 #2
I’m sure we’d all been worried about James hurting himself over the years.
But I was done holding grudges. “You don’t have to apologize.
” I tried to shake away that feeling in my stomach that talking about Brooklyn always stirred up.
The guilt that had been eating me away for 16 years.
I needed to forgive my friends. But I needed to forgive myself too.
If I had any chance of giving Kennedy a life she deserved, I needed to let this go.
It was time. Past time, really. Besides, I’d made Mrs. Alcaraz a new promise.
And promises to the living were more important than promises to the dead.
They had to be. Because I couldn’t keep going like this. I took a deep breath.
“I’m just really fucking sorry, guys,” I said.
“For everything. And I don’t want there to be any resentment between us.
I don’t want you to walk on eggshells around me or worry about me being okay.
Because I am okay. I think I’m more okay right now than I’ve been since Brooklyn died.
” I shook my head. “I just want all of us to be happy. You guys are my best friends.”
Tanner cleared his throat.
“All of you,” I said. “Can we just try to…move on from the past?”
“We all made a lot of mistakes,” Rob said. “I’m sorry too.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” I said.
“Does this mean you’re done with that fake smile bullshit you’ve been doing for the last 16 years?” Mason asked. “Because you may have tricked mom with that, but you look insane when you do that.”
Wow, I’d thought I’d nailed the fake smile thing. “No more fake smiles necessary.”
Mason looked relieved.
“So you guys forgive me?” I asked. This conversation had been easier than I thought it would be.
Mason and Rob both nodded.
“Of course,” Mason said. “We weren’t looking for an apology. We just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Rob nodded.
But James stared at me. “When you were worried about me, you had my back,” he said. “And I need to return the favor. Because despite everything you just said, I think we’re all still worried about you, Matt.”
“I don’t know,” Rob said. “He looks pretty happy to me.”
“I promise you,” I said. “I’m good. Better than good.
I feel fucking fantastic.” For the first time in years I actually meant it.
I was in a good place. I’d been lying to myself for years.
Trying to put all this blame on myself when it came to Brooklyn.
But I couldn’t go back in time. And if I’d learned anything from her, it was to never take any days for granted.
She’d instilled that in me. She’d be horrified that I’d been wasting my life away.
And it was like seeing Kennedy had jump started something in my heart.
I was done being pissed and angry with everyone. I just wanted to be me again.
“Well, that was easy,” Rob said. “We kind of nailed this intervention thing, huh?” He started to stand up.
“Not so fast,” James said. “Matt, how on earth can you stand there and say you’re okay?
Is dating Poppy a cry for help or something?
I don’t agree with everything Penny said back there, because I know Brooklyn was a Pruitt and she wasn’t like the others.
But Poppy? Seriously? She’s awful. She’s just as bad as Isabella. Is this some kind of cry for help?”
“It’s complicated,” I said.
“You know how the Pruitts operate,” James said. “Of all the people in this city, you had to choose her? Didn’t you learn anything from my mistakes? There is no out with those people.”
“We have a deal…”
“Don’t tell me you signed something,” James said.
“No, nothing like that.”
They all just stared at me.
“I think I can help explain,” Tanner said. “Matt and I will let you in on our secret, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Everyone else in the city needs to believe the tabloids.”
Rob frowned, but all three of them nodded.
“Matt isn’t actually dating Poppy,” Tanner said.
“I can’t believe you guys would actually believe that.
” He said it like he hadn’t just kissed me earlier to congratulate me on the same thing.
Him knowing first was really getting to his head.
“Poppy promised not to kidnap Scarlett if Matt pretends to date her. Just until Richard lets her take over the family business. Apparently Matt’s expertise in the realm of finance is of the utmost importance to Richard. ”
“You’re going to help them launder money?” Mason asked.
I shook my head. “I’d never do that. I’m just…”
“Keeping Scarlett safe,” James said. He leaned forward in his chair, his elbows balancing on his knees. “I’m not asking you to do that, Matt.”
“You didn’t have to.” I shrugged. “We’re family.”
“Is that why you’re always trying to sleep with Penny?” Rob asked.
Fuck. “About that. James open your present.”
James pulled out the framed picture of me, Mason, Rob, and him from high school. He looked up at me.
“You have the life I wanted,” I said. “The wife. The family. I’ve been jealous of you for years.
Penny’s always kind of reminded me of Brooklyn.
And yeah, I may have had a little crush on her.
Or a big one. Whatever, it doesn’t matter.
I don’t want to destroy your life. I know you didn’t destroy mine.
And I really want to put this all behind us.
I want us to go back to being as happy as we all were in that picture. ”
“Thanks,” James said. “That means a lot. Even though I was probably high out of my mind in this picture,” he said with a laugh.
“So not exactly like that picture,” I said.
“And we’re absolutely sure that Matt isn’t high right now?” Rob asked.
I laughed. “I swear I’m not.”
James looked up from the photo. “So…no more flirting with Penny?”
“Yeah. I really am sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re not actually dating Poppy.”
“Could you imagine?” Mason said. “I feel like we only just got rid of Wizzy.”
We all laughed.
“But you really don’t have to go through with that charade,” James said. “I can figure something out…”
“I know you can. But you don’t have to,” I said. “That’s the whole point. I’ve got your back, man,”
“This is wonderful,” Tanner said. “Here, Matt, you should celebrate with some green juice.” He handed me a to-go cup filled with Nigel’s secret hangover elixir. “You did have a lot to drink tonight. Just for preventative measures.”
“Where did you even get this?” I asked.
“I slipped out real quick while you guys were talking.”
Had he? Whatever. If he’d made this, it meant Nigel’s skeet wasn’t in it. I’d never drink one of these Nigel made ever again. I took a huge sip.
“What’s up, Mason?” Rob asked. “You look…weird.”
Mason laughed. “Nothing. I just…never really thought about how much Penny reminds me of Brooklyn. In just like…the way she always has all our backs. And her sense of humor. And a little how she looks too.”
We were all quiet.
“Well, James did propose to Brooklyn all those years ago…” Rob said.
James laughed. “Don’t bring that up. Not one of my finest friendship moments. And just for the record, you both married girls from Delaware too.”
“Huh,” Rob said. “I never really thought about it like that either.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Really.” And for the first time, I really meant it.
It may have been a good idea to mention the fact that I was dating Kennedy.
But I was planning on surprising them tomorrow night.
By bringing her to our guys’ night. She was going to have so much fun catching up with everyone.
“So we can tell everyone now?” Rob asked. “About Brooklyn?”
“Just let me tell Penny,” I said. “I owe her an apology too for lying about wanting to be set up. For lying about everything really.”
“Maybe give her a little while to cool down?” James said. “She’s pretty heated.”
I nodded. Penny definitely did seem mad at me. I’d fix that next.
“This was highly productive,” Tanner said. “And I think we’re all even now. My job here is done.” He looked down.
I followed his gaze. “What the fuck?” My pants were tenting. I didn’t even feel a little aroused. What the hell was my dick doing? Shit.
Rob started laughing. “I’ve never seen someone get so excited by an apology before.”
I covered my growing erection with my hand and looked over at Tanner. “You said your job here is done. What the hell did you do?”
He grabbed the green juice from my hand. “Nothing you didn’t deserve.”
“Did you slip something in my drink? What the fuck was it? A boner pill?” If I was still holding the glass I would have thrown the green juice in his face.
“You drugged James at his bachelor party when you were being spiteful. So it only seemed fitting that you got drugged in return. And no one seemed to want to do it. So I stepped up. Like the saying goes…revenge is best served hard.”
Rob laughed. “Okay, I have to admit that’s pretty funny. Nice one, Tanner.”
Tanner smiled. “Thanks, Robert.”
“Revenge is best served hard.” Mason laughed. “Have you been planning this since our last guys’ night? When you insisted that was a phrase?”
“Well, it was a simple plan,” Tanner said. “I was just trying to fix Matt’s mistakes. What do you say, James?”
James chuckled. “Honestly I don’t even really remember that night at the Blue Parrot Resort. But we’ll all remember this. Well played, Tanner.”
Tanner smiled. “So we’re all good here? Shall we head home, Matt?”
“We’re not all good,” I said. Having a boner in front of all my friends seemed a lot worse than tripping balls to me. No one deserved this hell. They all laughed at me while I tried to get it under control. “Undo what you just did, Tanner.”
“No can do,” Tanner said with a laugh. “You’ll have to…take care of it. Actually, I’m not sure that’s how it works. It might just remain like that for about 4 hours. I didn’t read the label.”
“Four hours?! I can’t let Nigel see me like this!”
“Wait, who is Nigel?” Rob asked.
“My houseboy,” Tanner said.
“Houseboy? What the hell is that even?”
“Like a personal assistant with a bath fetish,” I said. “And I’m not going home so he can see me like this.”
“Whoa, wait,” Rob said. “You’re living with Tanner? When the hell did this happen?”
“Cool your loins, Young Robert,” Tanner said. “Best friends usually do live together.”
“Right, which is why he should be living with me,” Rob said.
I ignored them. “When I was worried about the hitwoman, Tanner offered to let me stay with him…”
“You could have stayed with me,” Rob said. “You know that.”
“It was just for a few nights. I’m moving out tomorrow.”
“Depending on Nigel’s schedule,” Tanner added. “Speaking of which, he will be worried. Let’s get going.” He slapped me on the back like a good friend that hadn’t just given me a boner in front of all my other friends.
James started laughing harder. “In the handbook about interventions I read, you’re supposed to hug at the end. Can we skip that part so Matt doesn’t try to sword fight us?”
“Shut up,” I mumbled. But I couldn’t help but laugh. This was too ridiculous not to. “And I’m good without a hug.”
“We can tell you’re good,” Mason said.
“Well, only as good as a Caldwell can get,” Rob said. He pretended to cough. “Tiny dicks.” He coughed again.
“Yeah right, Rob,” Mason said. “Drink some juice and prove you’re bigger.”
“Fine.” Rob got up. “I will. Hunters for the win.”
But before he could grab the glass, Tanner dumped it into a houseplant. “You won’t be wanting to drink that. There were a lot of pills in there.”
“What the fuck?” I said. “Do I need to go to a hospital?”
“The houseplant is probably worse off than you are. You just need some rest. We’ll see you tomorrow for guys’ night,” Tanner said, inviting himself as usual. “Ciao.”
He put his arm around my shoulders to lead me out of the study.
I pushed him off. “Dude, don’t touch me when I have a boner.”
“It’s not a real boner. It’s a fake one.”
“It sure feels real to me.”
Tanner laughed. “Well, I hope you learned your lesson. Next time don’t drug someone.”
“Same advice to you, man.”
“You’ll be fine in no time. I’ll have Nigel whip you up something to alleviate that.”
“Don’t you dare tell Nigel I have a boner.” I heard more laughter and turned around.
James was standing there shaking his head. “Just for the record, I wasn’t mad at you about my bachelor party. But we’re definitely even now.”
“Good to know that this wasn’t necessary,” I groaned.
“See you tomorrow,” said James.
“Daddy, Daddy!” Scarlett ran into the foyer.
“Pumpkin, what are you doing out of bed?”
Scarlett slid to a stop. “I was thirsty.” Her eyes grew round. “What’s in Uncle Matt’s pants?”
“Um…” James started.
I cleared my throat. “It’s not…”
“It’s a snake,” Tanner said.
Scarlett screamed and ran out of the room.
James shook his head. “I’m going to go deal with that. She has a thing about snakes. Later, guys.”
Tanner opened up the door.
“I’m going to kill you,” I grumbled.
“Is it going to be a feeble attempt like when you tried to slap me at dinner? Good luck, Matt. You can’t touch me. And I did you a favor. I fixed your relationship with your other, lesser friends.”
“I had already done that by apologizing.”
He shrugged. “Well, I’m sure this was the cherry on top for all of them.”
“Rob’s my best friend now,” I said.
Tanner laughed. “That’s just your boner talking.” He frowned. “Wow that sounded really gay.” He shook his head. “What a night, huh?”