Chapter 53
Scarlett
My phone startles me awake.
Who the hell is up at this hour? It should be a crime to call someone before the sun is up. My eyes adjust to my surroundings.
Oh, the sun is up. What time is it?
I glance down at my phone. “Dad” lights up on the screen. He’s like Matt and is up before the crack of dawn. He’s probably calling about our weekly dinner.
My dad knows me well and will be able to read me like a book. He worries about way too many things. I blame the news. He constantly watches it; wanting to know what’s going on in the world all the time. It just makes him paranoid and protective over me.
“Hey, dad!” I try to sound bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but my voice has a rasp. I sound like I’ve drunk a fish tank of alcohol—which would be accurate.
“Hey, Letti. I know it’s early,” he starts. “Sounds like you haven’t woken up yet. I’m disrupting your morning so I’ll get right to the point. We still on for dinner Thursday?”
“Oh, that sounds great, dad. Let me just check with Matt to make sure he doesn’t have any plans.” My eyes widen the moment the sentence leaves my mouth.
“Excuse me? Who’s Matt and why do you need to check with him to have dinner with your old man? ”
I did not just do that.
I miss the days where I used to be cool and collected until a sexy stranger rolled into my life.
Why is my brain not cooperating and full of slush?
I’m not ready to tell my dad about Matt.
I need to figure things out with the gym first. Now he’s going to want to meet him and I’m going to say “yes, of course,” and it’s going to make the night awkward. Perfect.
“He’s just someone I’ve been seeing. Of course I’ll be there. The usual restaurant?”
“How long have you been seeing him?”
“Don’t worry, dad.”
“Oh no you don’t. I want to meet him. Bring him to dinner.”
Yep, knew this was coming.
“Oh-kay. Let me make sure he has no plans.” I bite my lip.
“Good. Looking forward to seeing you. Text me if you need a different day.”
There’s not much I can say to fix the situation.
I could lie and say we aren’t serious, but we are.
I could say there’s no need to meet him, but if I go on one date with a guy, my dad is ready to do a background check and call his parents for character analysis. His way of staying involved in my life.
“Okay, dad. Love you, bye!”
“Love you. Bye, Letti.”
Alright, now to ask Matt. He’s already awake and doing whatever early risers do in the morning. I’m an hour ahead of our normal schedule, so I guess I’ll get some new insight into what his routine is. It smells like toast and something sweet.
First things first: coffee needs to be drunk .
I walk out to the kitchen where my friends are dispersed around the living room...awake. There’s eggs, toast, and pancakes on their plates. They usually sleep like the dead until the afternoon after drinking, but Matt’s cooking probably woke them up.
All the drinks from last night have been picked up. I’m guessing Matt helped clean before breakfast.
“Hey, guys!”
“Scarlett, you weren’t kidding about this man’s cooking. The smell woke me up, luckily. He’s definitely a keeper.” Jason waves his fork at me.
The girls grin like cats with a bird stuffed in their mouth.
“Hey, Scar!” Paige greets with her mouth half full.
“Look at you guys, getting up early.” I wait for my coffee to brew.
“Sure, sure. You know...” Paige looks down at her wrist like a watch is there—there isn’t. “We’d better be going. Lots to do. All of us!” Paige nudges the others. They go and clean their plates off at the sink.
“Thanks for breakfast, Matt!” Lana tells him.
“Matt, if you ever feel the need to wake up and cook at my house, you’re always welcome!” Jason invites. We giggle, but I don’t think Jason is joking.
“Yes, thank you Matt, but we really must be going!” Paige rallies all of them out the door. “Bye, Scar! See you later!”
“Bye, guys! See you soon!”
Matt is working on his laptop at the breakfast bar. I go over to him and kiss him on the cheek. “Good morning. It was nice of you to make breakfast for everyone. You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve cooked you know.”
He smiles without revealing any teeth. “Yes, I remember. The cardboard and fake meat,” his voice dripping in sarcasm. “Sounds appetizing, but I made some real food.”
I shove him in a playful manner. “Hey! My breakfast is spectacular.”
He laughs and shakes his head.
I sit on the couch with my coffee and turn on the fireplace Matt got me. Matt leaves me alone until I’ve had a complete cup; it’s more for his safety than anything.
After I’m done with my cup, I go to brew another one and turn to him. “I got a call this morning that woke me up. It turned out to be my dad.”
“Ah. That’s why you’re up so early.”
“He wants to have dinner with you.” My leg bounces while I wait to grab my second cup of coffee.
“You see, I have dinner with him once a week. On Thursdays, usually. You know the meeting I told you I have? It’s with my dad.
It’s when we see each other. I mentioned you this morning, and now he can’t wait to see who his only daughter is dating. ”
I brace for some resistance. Maybe he’ll give some excuse for not wanting to meet my family. Instead, he looks relaxed.
“No problem. Parents love me.” He sits up straighter, puffing out his chest, and then pauses. “Well, they probably do. I’m not worried.”
My jaw drops. “Wait, you’ve never met anyone’s parents before?”
“I haven’t ever been serious with anyone.” He shrugs.
“Oh-kay. We’re going to need to do a rehearsal dinner. Lana could fill in for my dad.” I grab my phone, ready to tell Lana to come back.
“This isn’t a wedding. I meet with grown-ups every day. I can handle a parent,” he deadpans.
“You can’t pull your macho man stuff with my dad like you probably do with everyone you work with. You have to be down to earth and charming.”
“You’re saying I’m not charming?” He raises an eyebrow.
“You do remember how we met?”
“I know how to be charming. Look at me, undeniably handsome.”
I cover my face and shake my head. “Handsome does not automatically mean charming.” I look back up at him. “Also, just want to point out my dad isn’t a woman. He won’t be swept off his feet by your muscles and amazing smile.”
“You’re kidding? I had no idea your dad doesn’t have a vagina. Weird.”
“I hope you know you aren’t as funny as you think you are.”
“Stop worrying. It’s going to be fine.”
He starts to walk away, but there’s no way this is the end of the conversation. “Matt, you haven’t ever done the ‘meet the parents’ thing, and my dad is probably going to grill you. He’s always skeptical about new guys in my life. Maybe we should just tell him you’re busy and can’t come.”
“Woah, hold on,” he says, turning to me. “You don’t want me to meet your dad?” He points his thumbs at his chest with his mouth agape. “You’ve met my parents, but me meeting your dad is crazy? This is happening. I’m an adult who can talk to another adult just fine.”
I used to think bossy Matt was super sexy. Right now he’s far from cute and giving me major anxiety.
Why do I do these things to myself?
I couldn’t keep my mouth shut this morning, could I? Thank you, brain, thank you very much.
“I really think you should practice.”
“Not happening, sweetheart.” He gives me a kiss on the top of my head. “Now, when are we having dinner with your dad?”