Chapter 8
Friday
Brooklyn
I felt surprisingly calm. Every time I moved, I was a little sore from my time in the shower with Matt. It pulled me back into this moment. Right here. With all the Untouchables and their spouses. Being here with them felt like home. And it made me feel young again. Like we were having a sleepover back in high school or something.
I blew on my mug of hot chocolate. It was like no time had passed at all. Yet…so much at the same time.
Matt pulled my feet onto his lap and smiled at me. He’d borrowed some clothes from James and the too small t-shirt clung to his muscles almost as much as his wet dress shirt had. Luckily Penny and I were about the same size. The leggings she’d let me borrow were more comfortable than anything I owned. And I couldn’t help but think about the pair that Matt had ripped recently. I really needed to go shopping. I smiled. I definitely didn’t think I’d be calm enough to be thinking about shopping right now.
“I can’t believe you almost killed someone,” Penny said to Matt. She was sitting on James’ lap and he was absentmindedly tracing circles on her thigh.
They looked so at peace. I was so happy for him.
“I don’t know if I would have done it,” Matt said.
I wasn’t so sure about that. It really seemed like he had been about to. But I was glad he hadn’t.
“I thought you were gonna do it,” Rob said. “You were all like, get Brooklyn out of here, I don’t want her to see me kill this lunatic.”
Tanner nodded. “He would have done anything to protect you, Brooklyn.”
I knew. But he didn’t need to. I lightly nudged Matt’s thigh with my foot.
He caught my ankle and started to massage my sole.
I sighed and sunk farther into the pillows on the couch.
“Craziest birthday ever,” Daphne said as she took a sip of wine. She seemed the most rattled still.
And I got it. She’d already lost someone close to her. I took a deep breath, trying to focus on Matt’s fingers on my skin.
“The most memorable birthday ever,” Rob added. “Only fitting for this lovely MILF.”
“Stop,” Penny groaned. But she was smiling so hard.
“A super memorable engagement too.” He smiled at us.
I looked down at the ring on my finger. After all these years, it was still a perfect fit. And this time it meant more. Because this time it was permanent.
A comfortable silence settled around all of us. I looked over at Mason and Bee. I was so happy to see him so happy. His eyes met mine and he winked at me.
I rolled my eyes. He probably thought I was checking him out or something. I definitely was not. I took a sip of my hot chocolate.
“I have an idea,” Rob said. “Let’s play truth or dare.”
“How do you play?” Tanner asked.
Rob groaned. “What is wrong with you? What full grown man doesn’t know how to play truth or dare?”
“I grew up overseas.”
Tanner used that excuse a lot for not understanding pretty common references. Did children really grow up so differently overseas? “It’s when you choose to share a truth or perform a dare. And then the person asking gets to either ask a very inappropriate question or dare you to do something silly.”
“Or dare you to do something inappropriate,” Rob said and winked at me.
Daphne laughed and elbowed him in the side.
He bent over, pretending to be in pain. “Who’s handing out the first dare? Birthday girl?”
“Sure,” Penny said. She turned to Matt. “Truth or dare?” she asked.
He laughed. “Dare.”
“I dare you to kiss your new fiancée.”
“Technically she’s my old fiancée.”
“Hey.” I lightly nudged him with my foot again.
“Careful with that.” He grabbed my foot off his lap and pulled me closer. “And I will love you until you’re old and gray, just so you know.” He pressed his lips against mine.
Rob whistled.
I laughed and pulled back.
“Your turn, Matt,” Rob said.
“Hmm. Truth or dare, Rob?”
“Dare of course.”
“I dare you and Tanner to each say something nice about each other.”
Rob groaned. “Seriously? Lame.”
“You have to do it,” Daphne said. “Be nice.”
Rob shook his head. “Tanner, you look better without a man bun.”
“Thanks,” Tanner said.
Rob stood up. “He just admitted he sometimes has a man bun!” He pointed at Tanner. “Didn’t you hear him?!”
Tanner just laughed. “And Young Robert…I think you have a wonderful imagination.”
“That’s not a compliment,” Rob said. “You’re calling me crazy. And I’m not crazy.”
“Well, that didn’t work,” Matt said. “Rob, you’re up.”
He glared at Tanner. “I dare you to pull your hair into a bun and take off your glasses.”
“I can’t see anything without my glasses, but fine.” He pulled them off. “And my hair is too short to put into that hairstyle.” He ran his fingers through his hair.
I cocked my head to the side. Was it too short? I couldn’t really tell.
Tanner cleared his throat and put his glasses back on. “Brooklyn.” He smiled at me. “Truth or dare?”
“Um…dare?”
“I dare you to take your shirt off,” he said.
I laughed.
“Whoa, what?” Matt said. “Not cool, man.”
“Oh? Why?”
“We’re engaged.”
“Right, but…” Tanner looked down at his phone. “I looked up the rules and that was literally one of the examples.” He held up his phone.
Sure enough it was on there. Wow, he’d seriously never played this before? I kind of thought he might be joking.
“Ask something else,” Matt said.
“Okay. Brooklyn, I dare you to get a hickey from Rob like the one you already have on your neck.”
I put my hand over where Matt had sucked on my neck in the shower.
“Okay,” Rob said.
“What the fuck?” Matt said. He grabbed the phone from Tanner. “What the hell is this shit? You looked up adult slumber party games.” He tossed the phone back at him.
“Right because we’re adults.”
“Choose something less that,” Matt said.
I couldn’t help but smile. I kind of loved how possessive Matt was being.
“Okay. Um…maybe just kiss Rob?” he said.
“What?!” Matt looked even more pissed about that.
I laughed. “It’s fine,” I said. “I’ll just kiss him on the cheek.” I set my hot chocolate down, climbed off the couch, and walked over to Rob.
He had a stupid cocky smirk on his face.
“Don’t make this weird, Rob,” I said.
“How am I making it weird, Sanders? Kiss me. I know you’ve been dying to.”
“Definitely not.”
“Pretty sure you have.”
No. I leaned down to kiss his cheek.
But at the last second, he turned his head and pressed his lips against mine. I slapped his cheek and pulled back.
Luckily Daphne was just laughing. I was glad they were so secure in their relationship or else that would have been incredibly awkward. But I could feel Matt’s heated gaze on my back.
“That reminds me of the good old days,” Rob said and rubbed his cheek. “But finally! I didn’t like being the only Untouchable that never kissed you.”
“I never kissed Mason either, Rob.” I felt my face turning red, realizing what I said. I turned to Penny. “Sorry,” I said.
Penny smiled. “It’s fine.” She looked up at James. “Everything worked out.”
James ran the tip of his nose down the length of hers.
I turned away and cleared my throat. “Okay, I dare Daphne to slap Rob.”
“What?” Rob said. “Rude, Sanders. You didn’t even give her a choice of truth or dare.”
Daphne lightly patted the side of his face instead of slapping him. “If you’re waiting for someone to dare you to have a threesome, it’s not happening, babe.”
He licked her palm and she screamed.
I laughed and sat back down next to Matt. “Sorry,” I whispered.
His lips dropped to my ear. “I’m actually a little relieved to hear that you never kissed him back in high school.”
“Of course I didn’t. Why would you think I did?”
“Brooklyn, you kissed a lot of people back in high school.”
I gaped at him. “Me? Really? What about you and the whole cheerleading squad?”
“Before I knew you.”
I shook my head. But I couldn’t stop smiling. Yeah, it really felt like we were teenagers again tonight.
“Okay, I dare Mason to kiss Brooklyn too,” Daphne said.
“What?” Matt turned to her. “Traitor.”
She just laughed and took another sip of wine. “Sorry, Matt.” She giggled again.
“You really do not need to do that,” I said to Mason. “Bee won’t like it. So…don’t.”
Bee poured herself another glass of wine. “I’m actually really enjoying not having the heat on me,” she said.
“Me too,” Penny said.
“Agreed,” Daphne added.
Yeah, hanging out with these guys could be a lot sometimes.
Mason took a swig of his beer, stood up, and stretched.
Why was he stretching?
“Bro,” Matt said.
“Bro,” Mason said back. “I’m the only one that hasn’t kissed her. It’s only fair.”
“I hate all of you,” Matt said.
I turned my head and tapped my cheek for Mason.
“I don’t think so,” he said. He grabbed my chin and turned me to face him.
It was strange. All these guys were hot. There was really no denying that. The Caldwells and Hunters were always too perfect for their own good. But I’d really only ever wanted to kiss Matt.
Mason shoved Matt’s shoulder and then pressed his lips against mine.
“I hate this game,” Matt mumbled.
I laughed against Mason’s lips.
It was almost like he took that as a challenge, because his tongue darted across my lips.
“What the fuck?” Matt said.
I laughed again and pulled back.
Mason laughed too. “Yeah, that was like kissing my sister.”
I pushed on his arm. Yeah that was definitely weird. And also in a strange way, it was kind of like kissing Matt. I shook the thought away. Never again.
“I’m going to kill all of them,” Matt said as Mason collapsed back down next to Bee.
I snuggled into his side. “You’re the best kisser,” I whispered into his ear.
His body untensed.
I’d officially kissed every single Untouchable. And I’d already known it, but Matt was definitely the one for me.
“I feel like it’s my turn,” Tanner said.
“Don’t you fucking dare, Tanner,” Matt said.
Tanner laughed. “I was just kidding. After all, a best friend would never cross that line. I’m definitely going to be the best man now.”
“You set me up,” Rob said.
“I know your weaknesses.”
Rob groaned. “That doesn’t prove anything.”
“You’re both ridiculous,” Mason said. “I’m definitely going to be the best man.”
Tanner and Rob both turned to him. “No,” they both said at the same time.
I laughed. I would be shocked if Matt didn’t ask Mason to be his best man. But I kind of loved this rivalry Tanner and Rob had going on.
“I’m here, I’m here!” Nigel yelled and ran into the room. You could only see the top of his head. The rest of him was hidden behind a huge pile of pillows in his arms.
“Sorry,” Tanner said. “I forgot to cancel this. It was part of the adult sleepover article I read.”
What?
“Extra down in these ones,” Nigel said and put them on the floor. “And I brought the lingerie too.” He pulled a lacy bra out of a bag.
“What the hell is that for?” Matt asked.
“For the pillow fight. Like in the article Master Tanner sent me. And in my favorite movies about modern day sleepovers. If the lingerie doesn’t fit, naked is fine too, based on my research. Actually naked is better.” He dropped the bag and kicked it to the side.
What kind of movies was he referring to?
“Mademoiselle, you first,” he said and smiled at me.
“No,” Matt said firmly. “Truth or dare or whatever Nigel is referring to is over.”
“But…” Nigel started.
“I didn’t get a turn though,” Bee said. “And it’s only fair that I get to dare someone to do something.”
I stared at her. She’d definitely had a few glasses of wine. And it seemed like the more she had, the more wild she got. I was so curious about her dare.
“Screw the lingerie,” she said.
“Yes!” Nigel yelled.
She laughed. “No. We’re flipping that shit on its head. I dare all of the guys to have a pillow fight in their boxers.”
“Now that’s a dare,” Penny said.
“Here’s to that.” Daphne clinked her wine glass against Penny’s.
“Take it off!” Bee yelled and hit Mason with a pillow.
Mason stood up and tore off his t-shirt. He winked at me again as he flexed his pecs.
I wasn’t checking you out, weirdo.Although it was a little hard to look away. I watched as Rob jumped on the couch and ripped off his shirt as Daphne ducked out of the way laughing.
Penny climbed off James’ lap. “You next.”
“As you wish, birthday girl.” He kissed her and then grabbed the collar of his t-shirt and pulled it off over his head.
All of these boys had definitely grown up.
“Oh my God, this feels like Daphne’s bachelorette party all over again,” Bee said.
Penny fanned her face.
“What happened at Daphne’s bachelorette party?” I asked.
“All the guys put on a striptease for us,” Bee said. “It was so hot. And James got soooo mad at Penny. Everyone really brought their A-game for her. And she was loving it.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” Penny said.
James lowered his mouth to Penny’s ear and whispered something to her.
Her face turned bright red and she swatted him away. “It’s pillow fight time. Unless you’re backing down from a dare.”
“Me? Never,” he said and grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Matt.
Matt sighed and stood up.
My eyes raked down his body as he pulled off his too tight t-shirt. He tossed it at me and I laughed.
He lowered his sweatpants and kicked them off at me. Yes, everyone seeing him in his boxer briefs seemed inappropriate. But this show was all for me. Matt turned around and shimmied his butt in my face.
I laughed again and slapped his ass.
“We definitely have to do the same thing for your bachelorette party,” Bee said.
“There’s zero chance,” Matt said. “I think tonight has been enough.”
“Boo,” Bee said and stuck out her tongue. But then she cheered as Mason tore off his sweatpants. And yes. He tore them off.
Tanner took his shirt off, folded it, and then turned to me. “Hold this for me.” He handed me the shirt, grabbed one of the pillows Nigel had brought, and hit Rob with it.
Feathers burst out of it.
Rob grabbed a pillow too. More feathers burst into the air as he slammed a pillow against Tanner.
“Boys fight!” Nigel yelled and pulled off his shirt. He was surprisingly fit too. I’d seen him naked before, but I didn’t remember his abs. I’d been rather distracted by his enormous monster dong. I stifled a laugh.
James jumped from one couch to the other, trying to get away from Mason.
Matt tried to break up Rob and Tanner hitting each other. They were being a little violent about it. And Matt was somehow taking most of the blows from the pillows.
“This is amazing,” Penny said and plopped down next to me.
Daphne sat down on the other side of me. “It finally feels like we’re all…whole.”
Bee screamed and jumped on top of us.
“You’re so drunk,” Penny said.
Bee laughed. “Not even.” She leaned across us and grabbed a pillow. “Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Oh we’re definitely joining in on this,” Penny said.
We all got up and grabbed pillows.
“Attack!” Daphne yelled and we all charged into the fight. She jumped onto Rob’s back and they somehow managed to both hit Tanner at the same time.
James and Penny started making out and Mason and Bee hit them with pillows.
There were so many feathers in the air now that I could barely see anything.
Matt caught me around the waist, holding me close so no one could hit me.
I looked up at the feathers floating all around us. It reminded me of the snow at the lake house. I closed my eyes for just a second and pictured Miller’s smiling face. I felt him here with us. I felt him all around me. I opened my eyes and smiled.
Miller would always have my heart.
And so would Matt.
I could love them both at the same time. Daphne was right. I was whole again.
Matt leaned down and kissed me as the feathers fell all around us.