Chapter 8
Eight
Matt
When we arrive at the hotel in “Downtown” Solberg, I park under an old basswood to protect my car from the hot June sun.
The air is sweet from the fields and woods around town, with a cold undercurrent from the river that winds past the hotel.
Leaning against the door, I stretch out my stiff leg.
My heart swells as I bask in the familiar comfort of the brick buildings and cute shops lining Main Street.
Being here feels too easy, too normal. Especially with Eris in tow, who doesn’t fit into my mental image of home.
We get a few looks from people driving by, which is to be expected anytime there’s a stranger in Solberg.
At this point, I may as well be one myself, and Eris sticks out like a sore thumb.
Zis baby pink sundress (paired with combat boots) leaves the weird tattoos and hairy chest on full display as we grab our bags from the car.
And yet, I feel no dissonance.
It’s so peaceful and right and everything I missed.
The townies passing by probably assume we’re with the college when they ignore us.
Things between Eris and I have gotten almost comfortable after six hours sharing everything about ourselves.
So comfortable that I forget that I’m supposed to be dreading this.
As strong, familiar arms wrap around my waist and whirl me in circles without warning, I remember that this weekend won’t be as easy as the car ride here.
When Matt sets me down amidst our laughter, Eris’s face is tense, unreadable. Ze stares up at Matt, who is all goofy excitement and unabashed joy in contrast. Is Eris acting the part of a jealous partner? Or is ze actually upset? Maybe ze’s anxious?
“What the hell is this, Bloke?” With a scoff, Matt snatches a pair of black heels out of my hand. I was in the middle of stuffing them back into Eris’s tote bag when he picked me up. “You’re not wearing these are you?”
“So what if they are?” Eris asks, voice sharp.
Glancing at me in panic, Matt stiffens, his boyish enthusiasm draining away. “Because you’re gonna be limping for weeks!” He elbows me with a more forced attempt at cheer. “Remember prom, dude? I had to carry you home, and those were flats!”
“What Blake wears or doesn’t wear is none of your business.” Eris’s scarred eyebrow raises at me, and my insides squirm. Maybe I should have told Eris about my knee.
“Kinda is, though.” Matt shifts back and forth, the way he does when his conflict-avoidant ass wants to run away from a tense conversation. “I’m not letting them reinjure their knee at the wedding I invited them to.”
With a confused frown, Eris cocks zis head. “That’s a weird way to phrase it. It’s your wedding, isn’t it?”
I still can’t tell if Eris is acting the part or just being a dick, but I’m over it. Eris is here to be an abrasive weirdo, yes, but not to Matt. Ze and I might be friends now, and if we are, I want my friends to get along. “Eris, you said you weren’t gonna be an asshole.”
Ze snorts. “No, you said that. My assholery is part of my charm.”
I scowl, uncaring if Matt thinks it’s weird that we’re not all lovey-dovey. If he calls me out, I’ll come up with something about how not every relationship is the same. “Well, I don’t need you to speak for me. Let me tell Matt off for telling me what to wear.”
Eris gives me a long look, then smirks and ruffles my hair. “Look at you, advocating for yourself. Proud of you, Bambi!”
“Shut up!” I smack zis hand away.
Matt looks back and forth between us, the gap between his teeth visible as he relaxes into his usual charming grin. “Oh my god, ze is perfect for you!”
“Can you not?” I smack him, too. “Anyway, no introduction needed I guess, but Matt, Eris. Eris, Matt.”
“Great to meet you, dude!” Matt waves the heels in greeting, before his smile tightens into a wince. “Wait, can I call you dude? Sorry. I call everyone dude, but I can call you something else if it bothers you. Just let me know, and I’ll get it right. Sorry.”
“Oh god, he is worse than you,” Eris mutters under zis breath.
“Call me whatever. I don’t care. Just chill out.
” Ze snatches zis heels back from Matt, who nods furiously, overeager as always.
“And for the record, these are mine. Not everyone is a corn-fed himbo like you two. I like having a few extra inches.”
“Don’t we all,” I mutter before Eris’s meaning sinks in. “Wait, I’m not a himbo!”
Eris merely smirks at me.
Hips rocking side to side now (a sign that he’s “chilled out”), Matt beams. “Love that! You have great style, by the way. Just really yourself! I think that’s amazing and courageous to march to the beat of your own drum like you do.
Your dress is really cute! I like your tattoos too!
So edgy! How many do you have? What’s your favorite one? Which one hurt the most?”
To my utter delight, Eris’s cheeks flush again. Zis mouth hangs open as Matt rambles, blurting out questions and compliments like confetti.
“Matt, take a breath,” I tease. “Can we check in before you interrogate zim?”
Matt reddens. “Sorry. Got carried away.” He fishes in his pocket and passes me a room key. “Here. Sorry, you’re right next door to my parents. So, good luck!” He makes finger guns at us with a click of his tongue.
“Oh god,” I groan.
“Amazing!” Eris snatches the room key from me. “Bambi, I’m gonna pull a noise complaint or two out of you this weekend.”
“Eris!” It’s my turn to blush furiously as Matt and Eris both crack up. “What the fuck? Why are you like this?”
“On that note, my parents still don’t know you’re coming.
” Matt tries and fails to hide his glee.
Even if he bends to his parents will, he still finds ways to push back against them.
Just in little ones that he could play off as ignorance.
“So, like, have fun? No need to hold anything back, if you know what I mean.” He winks with another click of his tongue.
“Anyway, I’m probably running late to the rehearsal, so I’ll see you two at the groom’s dinner thing later!
If you beat us there, please record my mom’s reaction! ”
As soon as Matt is out of earshot, Eris leans toward me. “Gotta be honest, I was hardcore judging you for being so hung up on your ex—”
“I’m not hung up on him.”
Eris ignores me, hefting zis bag over zis shoulder. “But I get it now. I would probably never let that man go either. He’s so…nice. I hate that word, but that’s what he is.”
I shut the hatchback of my station wagon with a sigh. “Don’t forget, you’re the upgrade.”
We both wave as Matt drives past us out of the parking lot, heading to Sigurdsson’s campus where the wedding will be tomorrow afternoon. He bumps the curb, too busy cheesing at us and waving wildly to pay attention to where he’s going.
“Yeah, but I’m not that,” Eris mutters. “He’s so hot and awkward, I just feel compelled to protect him and keep him safe from the world.”
“I dunno, you’re pretty great, Bud,” I tease, putting my hand on the small of zis back as we head toward the front of the hotel. A hint of fluster tinges Eris’s tattooed cheeks, and I can’t help but smile. “You have great style.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“So courageous,” I murmur in zis ear. “So cute and edgy.”
“Bambi, I will shut you up if you keep this up.” Eris glares at me, zis face flushed dark red. My cheeks burn at the warning in zis eyes, but my grin only widens. “I regret telling you anything.”