Chapter Four
S ullivan quite enjoyed the conversation he and Matty shared during the drive. He’d expected to like Matty—or rather, he’d hoped he would like him—and he’d been right. Matty was a little bashful but very sweet. He talked about his family with obvious love, and it sounded like they loved him right back. His story wasn’t an easy one, and it was definitely harder than Sullivan’s, which Sullivan disliked. He wished Matty hadn’t had to live through all of that.
Sullivan might have grown up in the coven, where most people didn’t care about him and couldn’t wait to use him, but he had loving parents and siblings. They’d always been a tight unit, even now. They tried not to show it too much because if any of them did something wrong, the leaders would use it against all of them, but they were still family. Sullivan couldn’t imagine his parents kicking him out when he’d turned eighteen. He wouldn’t have been able to survive the way Matty had.
Matty was impressive. He might be quiet and a little shy, but once he’d started talking, he’d relaxed.
Unfortunately, he was tense again. It had been almost four hours since they’d started the drive, which meant they were probably close to where Matty’s family lived. They were about to meet Sabrina and possibly Matty’s parents.
Sullivan got angry every time he thought about what those two were doing. He didn’t have children, but if he did, he would never treat them like this. Having kids didn’t stop when they turned eighteen, especially when they weren’t self-sufficient. Luckily for Sabrina, her brother would protect her. There had been no one to protect Matty, though.
Some people should never have children, and Matty and Sabrina’s parents were clearly part of that group. Maybe it was a good thing that they didn’t want anything to do with their children now that they were eighteen. They couldn’t be good people to have in someone’s life.
“We’re almost there?” he asked softly.
Matty swallowed and nodded. “Just a few more minutes.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I have no idea. I told myself several times during the drive that they don’t matter, but they’re still my parents. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to tell them what I think of them and their behavior, but I’m here now, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself.”
“Maybe you should tell them. They don’t seem to think they’re bad people, but their behavior points to the opposite. I doubt that anything you can say will stop them from kicking out your sister, but that’s not a problem because she has a home with you. It might be time for you to get closure if you don’t have it already.”
Sullivan couldn’t imagine that Matty did. He’d been forced to live on the streets for years because of his parents. It was a miracle he’d survived, and Sullivan knew that a lot of that was thanks to Theo and the family he’d put together. Without them, Matty probably wouldn’t be sitting next to Sullivan, driving to pick up his sister. Sabrina might not have had anyone to contact and might have ended up on the streets like Matty had.
It was none of Sullivan’s business, but he was here, and even though he barely knew Matty, he didn’t want anything to happen to him. If Matty’s parents tried anything, Sullivan wouldn’t hesitate to protect him.
Which reminded him of a question he hadn’t asked yet. This probably wasn’t the right moment to do so since they were almost there, but he might as well distract Matty until he parked the car. “You’re a shifter, right?” he asked.
Matty frowned. “I am. Why? Did you think I was human?”
“No. I assumed you were a shifter when I first saw you. I’m just not sure what kind of shifter.” From talking to Theo, Sullivan knew that their little family had welcomed a lot of different shifters, including a dragon and okapis. There was no way for him to guess what kind of shifter Matty was, and he was curious.
“I’m a bear shifter.”
“Like Chance and the rest of his pack?”
Matty’s smile vanished, which didn’t sit right with Sullivan. “Exactly like them. It doesn’t mean that all its members have welcomed me, though. To some of them, I still don’t belong because I wasn’t born within the pack.”
“But Chance doesn’t care about that.”
“He doesn’t, and I don’t think he ever will. He wouldn’t have welcomed Theo and everyone else into the pack otherwise. Theo is a bear, but he’s a polar bear, so he doesn’t quite belong, either.”
“And that’s not to mention everyone else.”
“Right. Chance never cared that Dustin was a dragon shifter, for example. He even opened the pack to Dustin’s brother and other dragons who found themselves without a home after the attack.”
Sullivan’s stomach churned. He’d participated in the attack. He’d tried not to hurt people, but he’d had to obey the leaders’ orders when they were present. He’d attacked some of the dragons and had helped capture them. As soon as the leaders had left, he’d tried helping the dragons who’d been wounded, but it hadn’t been easy. They didn’t trust him, and they were right not to after what he’d done.
His heart ached at the thought of all of that, but he knew that the only way to atone was to ensure that the coven leaders wouldn’t hurt anyone ever again. He was working on freeing the dragons who’d been captured and every coven member who wanted out from under the leaders’ heels.
He’d sworn to himself that he’d see this to the end, but it was proving to be more complicated than he could’ve expected. Maybe he should have expected it. Of course things couldn’t be easy.
“I’m glad you found a home,” he murmured.
“I’m glad I did, too. The pack is a good place to call home.”
If he was insinuating that Sullivan could do the same, it wasn’t obvious, but Sullivan couldn’t help but think about it. Could he really become a pack member? Could he leave the coven behind, along with his family? Or could his family come with him? He didn’t think anything could happen until the leaders were dealt with, but maybe it was something to mention to Chance the next time they talked. It wouldn’t hurt anyone. If Chance said no, Sullivan would know where he stood. If Chance said yes, it would give Sullivan something to work toward.
Matty sucked in a breath, snagging Sullivan’s attention again. Sullivan turned to him, trying to read his expression. There was dread there, but Matty was trying to conceal it. He blinked a few times, then straightened his back and tightened his hands on the steering wheel.
Sullivan didn’t have to ask to know that they’d arrived.
Matty turned onto a street that could have belonged in a family movie. The houses were big, and the street was lined with trees. There were children playing in the front yards, their mothers watching them. A man was walking his dog, and as Sullivan watched, he stopped to talk to one of the kids. The mother waved at him, clearly knowing who he was.
It looked like the perfect place to grow up.
Matty parked on the street in front of one of the houses. It was white, with a dark gray roof and pots that were probably filled with flowers in the summer. Right now, everything inside of them was brown. It didn’t take away from the beauty of the house, though.
Sullivan had a hard time imagining Matty growing up here, but maybe he shouldn’t. This had been Matty’s home once.
Matty turned the engine off, but he didn’t move from his seat. He and Sullivan listened to the ticking engine for a moment, and while Sullivan wanted to give Matty space, someone would notice them if they stayed in the car staring at the house. “Ready?” he asked.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to face my parents.”
“Well, you don’t have to face them. You just have to help Sabrina get her things into the car. You don’t even have to go inside the house. I can do that for you if you’re not comfortable.” Sullivan would do that and a lot more for Matty if he had the opportunity.
* * * *
M atty wished he could turn away. He almost had several times during the drive here, but the thought of Sabrina had stopped him from doing that. She needed him, and he’d promised her that he’d be there for her.
Having Sullivan there helped more than Matty had expected. He didn’t know the man, even though he’d been thirsting after him since the first time he’d seen him, but he was nicer than Matty could have expected. He seemed to understand what Matty had gone through, even though his life was very different. Matty had no difficulty believing that he’d be there for him if anything happened with his parents.
Matty hoped nothing would. He wanted to get in, grab Sabrina, and get out. He didn’t need to be here any longer than that.
But he was nervous. He hadn’t seen Sabrina in four years, almost five. She’d reached out for help, but maybe that was because she didn’t have a choice. She only had him beyond their parents, so who else would protect her? Who else could offer her an alternative to living on the streets?
Some people became homeless but eventually managed to get out of it. Matty wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to do that if it hadn’t been for Chance. He wasn’t sure how long he would have survived. Four years was a lot, especially for people as young as he’d been when he’d first started sleeping rough. He understood how lucky he’d been, even though it hadn’t felt like it for the past four years.
It did now. He’d been lucky to meet Chance and to become a pack member. He wanted his sister to have that, even if she wanted nothing to do with him.
“You’ll be fine,” Sullivan murmured. “You don’t have to talk to your parents if you don’t want to.”
Matty wished he could believe that, but he knew better. His parents might have never cared about him, but they would care that he was here to help his sister. It was ridiculous since they were kicking her out, but they’d always liked putting him and Sabrina up against each other. She’d been the favorite, which was why Matty had thought they would keep her, but it was obvious now that she hadn’t actually been. It had just been their parents pitting them against each other again.
Matty should have known.
He swallowed and forced himself to let go of the steering wheel. When he reached for the door, Sullivan did the same, and they opened them at the same time. Matty slipped outside, and for the first time in years, he stood in front of the house where he’d grown up.
Nothing had changed. The house was still the same color and still looked pretty outside, like a happy family lived there. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Their family had never been happy, not even when Matty was a child. He’d always known there was something strange about the way his parents took care of him, and now, he knew what that something was.
They’d never really loved him.
He squared his shoulders, set his chin, and strode forward. There was no avoiding this, which meant he needed to face it head-on. No matter what his parents said and how they reacted to him, he wasn’t there for them. He didn’t want their approval, and he had never forgiven them.
He never would.
Sullivan was a reassuring presence as they both walked to the front door. Matty hesitated only slightly before raising his hand and ringing the bell. It rang loudly in the emptiness of the house. He doubted anything had changed inside, which meant that the house looked like no one lived there. His mother had always wanted things that way, and she’d gotten angry when Matty and Sabrina had left toys or anything else lying around.
He held his breath as he waited. He could hear noises inside, the sound of a door opening and closing, then heels on the cold marble floor. He took a step back, colliding with Sullivan. He started apologizing, but Sullivan didn’t seem to mind. He hooked a hand around Matty’s hip and squeezed as the door opened.
Matty stood in front of his mother for the first time in years.
There was a flicker of recognition in her gaze. She looked him up and down, clearly not liking what she was seeing. He didn’t care. When he’d been a teenager, she’d wanted him to wear sweaters and button-down shirts. Right now, he had on jeans and an oversized hoodie. He’d wanted to be comfortable for the long drive, and he hadn’t once thought about what his mother would think when she saw him.
“You’re here for Sabrina?” she asked. There was no warmth in her voice. He might as well have been a stranger, and he supposed that, in a way, he was. She’d never really known him, and she still didn’t.
“She called me. She told me that you were kicking her out.”
“She’s eighteen.”
Matty squeezed his hands into fists. He’d never been a violent person, and he wasn’t about to start now, but he was angry. “She’s still your daughter. She doesn’t have a job or an apartment. When you have kids, you’re supposed to look after them until they’re self-sufficient, not to kick them out as soon as they turn eighteen because you want to be free of them.”
“You and your sister need to learn responsibilities.” She looked him up and down again. “I’m not sure you have.” She glanced at Sullivan and frowned. “Who is this?”
For a moment, Matty worried about what was about to happen. He shouldn’t have.
“I’m a friend of Matty’s, and I’m here to support him,” Sullivan said in a voice that was so cold it could have frozen the air.
Maybe that was something Sullivan could do. Matty didn’t know a lot about his magic.
“Something you clearly never did, even though he’s your son,” Sullivan continued.
Matty wasn’t surprised when his mother bristled. She’d never taken it well when people expressed bad opinions of her.
Maybe she shouldn’t have abandoned her children as soon as they turned eighteen, then.
“Who are you to say that to me? You have no idea what it was like to raise these two.”
Sullivan shrugged and squeezed Matty’s hip harder. “You’re right. I don’t have any idea what it was like, and I don’t have children, so maybe I shouldn’t have an opinion on the way you raised yours, but it’s clear that they’re good people despite you, not because of you. Frankly, I think it’s a good thing that you kicked them out at eighteen. You don’t deserve to spend any length of time with them, and they deserve to be free of you.”
Matty’s mother opened her mouth, and while Matty didn’t know what she was about to say, he could imagine it all too well. He’d felt her anger on his skin too often. He wasn’t going to allow her to do the same to Sullivan, even though Sullivan could defend himself.
“You were an awful mother,” he said before she could speak. “You should never have had children, but Sullivan is right. It’s a good thing that you kicked us out at eighteen. We’re free of you now. I’ll never have to see you again after today, and neither will Sabrina. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To be free of us. To not have to deal with us anymore. Well, this is it.”
“Matty?”
Matty’s gaze snapped to his sister. She was standing on the stairs, staring at him with wide eyes. Suddenly, their mother didn’t exist anymore. Matty pushed past her and rushed to his sister, opening his arms as she ran down the stairs and threw herself at him. She knocked the breath out of him, but he caught her and hugged her tightly.
He hadn’t been sure how things would be between them when they saw each other again, but he shouldn’t have worried. Sabrina wanted him here as much as he wanted to be here. She needed him, and even though he hadn’t realized until now, he needed her.
And they’d finally found each other again.
* * * *
S ullivan watched as the siblings reunited. He knew that Matty had been worried about Sabrina and her reaction to seeing him after four years, but clearly, he shouldn’t have. Sabrina was sobbing and clinging to Matty as if she was afraid he’d disappear again.
Their mother huffed and moved toward them. Sullivan didn’t want to touch her, but he wasn’t above using his magic. He wiggled his fingers, and she encountered an invisible wall. She blinked, looking surprised, and Sullivan grinned at himself.
Sometimes, he loved being a mage.
She turned toward him, her eyes narrowing. “Matty never mentioned who you were.”
“I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
“You’re in my home.”
“Technically, I’m on the porch. I haven’t stepped into your house, and I have no intention of doing so.” Sullivan would if Matty needed him to, but Matty’s mother didn’t need to know that. In fact, the less she knew, the better.
“What are you?”
“Again, none of your business. Just know that if you do anything to hurt Matty or Sabrina, you’ll regret it.”
“I would never hurt them,” she said, raising her fingers to her chest as if shocked by Sullivan’s suggestion.
“I didn’t say you hit them, just that you hurt them. You can’t tell me that Matty and Sabrina weren’t hurt by you kicking them out.”
“They’re adults. They can and should take care of themselves.”
“And you’re an asshole.”
She made a strangled sound, but Sullivan didn’t care. Matty was walking toward him, dragging Sabrina by the hand. They both ignored their mother, and Matty stopped in front of Sullivan before turning to his sister. “Sabrina, this is Sullivan. He’s a friend of mine. Sullivan, this is my sister Sabrina.”
Sullivan smiled at her, hoping to help her relax. Today couldn’t be easy for her. She was turning eighteen, getting kicked out of the only home she’d ever had, and seeing her brother for the first time in four years. She probably could have done without meeting new people, and Sullivan would do what he could to make the situation easier for her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said.
She looked nervous, which made sense, but she smiled back. “I’m glad to know Matty wasn’t alone.”
“Oh, I don’t think he ever was. He has a solid family who loves him. Now, how many things of yours do we have to grab before leaving? It’s a long drive to get home, and I think that the sooner we leave, the better it will be for everyone.” Even for Matty and Sabrina’s parents. At the moment, Sullivan wasn’t sure if there was a reason not to use his magic on them. He wouldn’t kill them, just hurt them a little like they’d hurt their children.
“I only have a few bags,” Sabrina said, looking from Matty to their mother. “I’m not allowed to take anything else.”
Sullivan remembered how Matty had explained that his parents had kept everything of his just because they’d bought them—as they should have since they’d bought these things before Matty turned eighteen.
“Grab everything you’ll need, including your phone and computer.”
Sabrina watched Sullivan with wide eyes. Sullivan noticed Matty and Sabrina’s mother open her mouth, no doubt to tell him that that stuff belonged to her and her husband and that Sabrina couldn’t take it. Sullivan arched a brow at her, used his magic, and when she tried to speak, nothing came out.
Yeah, Sullivan definitely loved being a mage right now.
“Go,” Matty said, gently pushing his sister toward the stairs. “Sullivan and I will be here. Unless you need my help?”
“No, I should be fine. I just need a little more time to pack the stuff I didn’t think I could take.”
“Take all the time you need,” Sullivan told her. “I’ll keep Matty company.”
Sabrina still looked worried, which was understandable. Just like Matty, she knew what their parents were capable of, but Sullivan didn’t, so he might get a nasty surprise.
It didn’t matter because Matty and Sabrina’s parents didn’t know what Sullivan was capable of.
He wasn’t sure why he felt so protective of Matty and his sister. He found Matty attractive, and yes, he’d wondered what it would be like for them to be in a relationship, but this was different. He wanted to make sure that Matty didn’t get hurt. Matty was sweet and didn’t deserve anything that his parents had done to him, and Sullivan wished there was more he could do to ease those memories. Unfortunately, there wasn’t, but he could keep Matty safe from his parents.
Matty nodded at Sabrina, who hurried back upstairs. He glanced at his mother next, looking surprised that she wasn’t speaking but instead glaring at Sullivan. It took him a second to understand what was happening.
“What are you doing to her?” he asked.
Sullivan hoped he hadn’t overstepped. “I didn’t want your sister to hear whatever she was about to say,” he explained before lifting the magic from Matty’s mother.
“How dare you?” she asked, puffing up her chest like an angry chicken.
“You were about to be a dick to your children, and I didn’t want them to have to go through that. I’ll do it again if you don’t shut up.”
She pressed her lips together. Sullivan expected her to continue arguing, so he was surprised when she stomped away, her heels clicking on the floor. Matty groaned as she disappeared down the hallway. “She’s going to get my father.”
“Should I be worried?”
“She’s going to complain about what you did, and he won’t be happy.”
“Do I look like someone who cares about what makes your father happy?”
To Sullivan’s surprise, Matty leaned against him. “No, and I love that you don’t.”
He was quiet for a moment, and Sullivan had to resist the urge to drape an arm around his shoulders. He wasn’t sure what Matty was willing to give him, but they could take things slowly. In fact, it would be better if they did. Matty was overwhelmed and all over the place emotionally. Sullivan never wanted to take advantage of that.
“I was scared when I realized I have to see them again,” Matty murmured. “I guess that over the years, I built them up in my mind. They became monsters who didn’t hesitate to kick me out just because they didn’t want me anymore. I thought I’d be scared or anxious facing them, but honestly? I don’t care. I don’t care what they think anymore. I won’t ever see them again after today, and I’m happy about that. I have my own life, and I don’t need them.”
Sullivan did wrap an arm around Matty’s shoulders now. He kissed Matty’s temple, smiling when Matty shivered and pressed even closer. “You really don’t,” he murmured back. “You have a loving family and a home. They’re in the past, and you’ll never have to think about them once we leave.”
Of course, things couldn’t be that easy. A door slammed in the distance, and the click of heels told Matty and Sullivan that Matty’s mother was returning.
Just like Matty had warned Sullivan, she wasn’t alone. A tall, thin man was behind her. He wore dress pants, a sweater, and a button-down shirt. He didn’t have a tie, but he looked like he should. He probably wore one every time he left the house. Watching the two of them, Sullivan had a hard time imagining how they could have created Matty, who was so sweet and gentle and nice. There was none of that in them.
“How dare you come into my home and use magic against my wife?” Matty’s father said as he stopped in front of Sullivan.
He ignored his son. It was as if Matty didn’t exist, and Sullivan was torn about what to think of that. On the one hand, he was glad that Matty didn’t have to deal with any of this, but on the other, Matty was the man’s son. Shouldn’t he at least acknowledge him?
“Again, I have to point out that I didn’t come into your home,” Sullivan said with a grin. He knew the kind of person Matty’s father was. He was a bully, and his favorite victims had been his children. They hadn’t fought back, but Sullivan would, and usually, having someone fight back was enough to kick people like him down.
“You used magic on my wife.”
“I did, and I’ll do it again if I have to. In fact, I’m warning you that I’ll use magic against you, too, if you do or say anything to Matty and Sabrina.” Sullivan glared at the man. He might barely know Matty, but at the moment, both he and Sabrina were his to protect, and he intended to do just that.
* * * *
M atty had no idea what was happening. He hadn’t been looking forward to seeing his parents, but he’d known he’d have to, and he’d been steeling himself for it. He hadn’t expected Sullivan to step in like a knight in shining armor and defend him from them.
Matty had always taken everything they threw at him in silence. He hadn’t had a choice. He thought that part of him had always known that they wouldn’t hesitate to use any reaction he could have against him. In the end, it hadn’t mattered because they’d kicked him out even though he’d tried so hard to be the son they wanted. He hadn’t been perfect, but he’d done his best, and even that hadn’t been enough for them.
But Sullivan didn’t see him like that. When he looked at Matty, what he saw was enough. It was bewildering, and Matty didn’t know what to think of it. How could Sullivan possibly already behave like that? Matty couldn’t obsess over that, even though he wanted to spend a few hours trying to figure Sullivan out. There was too much going on in Matty’s brain—and out of it.
But once he was back home with Sabrina and both of them were safe and had a roof over their heads, Matty would poke at this. He wanted to see Sullivan again, and he thought and hoped that Sullivan wanted the same as he did—a date to start and a relationship after that.
“You have no right,” Matty’s father said.
Matty rolled his eyes. Did his father really think that would stop Sullivan? He and Matty were friends, even though their friendship had only started a few hours ago. Friends stood up for friends.
“I have every right to protect Matty,” Sullivan answered through gritted teeth. He looked like he was seriously thinking of decking Matty’s father. Matty hoped he wouldn’t because his father wouldn’t hesitate to call the cops on him. He’d use everything in his arsenal to get Sullivan in trouble just because he was standing up for Matty.
“He’s my son.”
“And he’s my boyfriend.”
Matty stared. He was what ? What was Sullivan talking about?
Maybe Sullivan had hoped that the words would be enough to get Matty’s father to back off. He didn’t know better, but Matty did. His father always had something to say about Matty and his choices, and this wouldn’t be any different.
“I should have known Matty was one of those people,” Matty’s father said with a sneer.
Matty had heard those words often when he was a teenager. His father always had something to say about women, people of color, or anyone on the LGBTQ spectrum. Matty had never told his parents that he was gay, and he hadn’t planned to. He didn’t mind that Sullivan had basically outed him, though. He hadn’t told Sullivan that he was in the closet because he wasn’t. His parents were the only people in his life who hadn’t known, and that was because they weren’t important anymore.
Still, what had Sullivan been thinking, telling Matty’s parents that he was Matty’s boyfriend? He was putting himself in the middle of this without a real reason because he and Matty definitely weren’t together.
“One of those people?” Sullivan asked in a deceptively soft voice. Matty didn’t know him well, but even he could tell that Sullivan was goading his father. He wanted Matty’s father to say something wrong or to do something stupid.
“One of those gays ,” Matty’s father spat out.
Sullivan wrinkled his nose, and when Matty’s father opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out. He looked confused for a moment, then glared at Sullivan. He tried speaking again, but no sound came out.
It was peaceful. Matty’s father could scowl all he wanted, but he wouldn’t be saying anything else. Matty’s mother looked like she wanted to speak in his place, and she’d already experienced what Sullivan would do if she did, and she was smart enough not to want it again. After all, neither of them knew how long the spell would last if Sullivan decided to leave it on them.
Fake dating a mage was great.
Sullivan turned to Matty. “Everything okay?”
There was genuine worry in his expression, as if he cared about Matty. Maybe he did. They’d spoken for the first time this morning, but they’d spent four hours in the car getting to know each other. Matty had also been watching Sullivan every time he came into pack territory, and he hadn’t yet found something he disliked about the man.
He didn’t dislike what had just happened. He wanted to be protected. He wanted someone to take care of him and to tell his parents to fuck off so that he wouldn’t have to. He’d been strong for years, and he still had to be, but at the same time, he also wanted to be able to rely on someone who would fight for him if he couldn’t.
He was still pressed close to Sullivan, so he didn’t have to go far to hook a hand behind Sullivan’s neck. Sullivan made a surprised sound when Matty pulled him closer to press their lips together. His hands landed on Matty’s hips, and he used his hold to drag Matty close. Their bodies pressed together as closely as their lips were, and Matty sighed in pleasure and relief.
It was ridiculous, but this felt like coming home—a real home, not the house in front of which they were standing. He’d lived here, but it had never been his home. It had just been four walls that protected him from the rain. There had never been any love here.
But it would be so easy to love Sullivan.
Someone made a sound, and Matty leaned back, blinking. Sullivan watched him like he was something to be cherished, which made Matty feel warm all over. He turned to see his mother staring at him, her hand pressed against her mouth as if she’d just seen something scandalous. His father’s face was so red that Matty wondered if it might explode. Was that something Sullivan could do? He was tempted to ask, but he didn’t really care.
He didn’t want his parents to die. They didn’t matter to him anymore, and he couldn’t care less what happened to them. Still, it was fun to see their reactions.
“I’m ready,” Sabrina said as she bounced down the stairs. She blinked at them, her gaze moving from Matty, who was still pressed against Sullivan, to their parents, who were staring and scowling. “Did I miss something?”
“Nothing you need to know about. Anyway, have I introduced Sullivan to you?”
“Yes.” Sabrina looked even more confused. “You said he was a friend.”
“I was wrong about that. He’s my boyfriend.”
Sabrina squealed and quickly hugged Matty. “Really? That’s so cute.”
Matty glanced at Sullivan, half worried the man would have something to say about them suddenly being boyfriends, even though he was the one who’d started it. It was possible he’d only said that to rile up Matty’s parents. Luckily, he was smiling at Matty and Sabrina, looking both amused and fond. If he hadn’t wanted to end up with an instant boyfriend, he shouldn’t have introduced himself to Matty’s parents that way.
“Ready to go?” Sullivan asked gently.
“I took everything I need.”
Sullivan nodded and reached out to grab two of her bags. He hesitated, then leaned down and kissed Matty’s forehead. “I’m taking these to the car. I don’t know if you want to say goodbye, but if they do or say anything they shouldn’t to you or your sister, just scream for me.”
“I’ll be fine,” he promised.
Sullivan didn’t doubt him or insist that he could help. He nodded and turned toward the car.
“Is there anything you want to say to them?” Matty asked Sabrina, tilting his chin toward their parents. “Dad won’t be able to answer, but Mom can.”
Sabrina’s expression hardened. She stared at their parents for a moment before shaking her head. “I have nothing to say to these people.”
“Let’s go, then.”
Matty remembered the day he’d been kicked out. He’d waited on the sidewalk for an hour, hoping his parents would allow him back in. He hadn’t known anything else. He hadn’t had other family or adults he could reach out to, and he had no idea where to go.
But Sabrina did, and maybe she was stronger than Matty. She never looked back, not even when Sullivan opened the back door, and she slid into the car. Matty moved toward the driver’s door, but Sullivan beat him there. “I’ll drive if you’re okay with that. I’m sure you and your sister have plenty of things to focus on that aren’t the road.”
“I lucked out when it comes to boyfriends,” Matty said with a smile.
Sullivan’s answering smile was everything. “So did I.”