12. Matt
Chapter 12
Matt
B eing with her feels like old times, and even though I thought it might be uncomfortable, it’s not. We were friends first, even if it was twenty years ago, and for the years we were a couple, it was magnetic. We were always so in tune with each other, and I believe that’s the basis of our friendship now. We picked right up where we left off. Sure, it took a couple of longing looks and erratic heartbeats, but Kylie Johnson always had my heart. Either wrapped in a yellow ribbon with friendship or tied tight in a romantic red bow.
Hearing her tell me she broke up with Patrick was as surprising as it wasn’t. I don’t know the guy, but from what I heard, they didn’t make sense. She’s carefree, a bit wild, and needs someone who can ground her but can also match that crazy. Hearing her say she did it because she’s putting herself first made me feel good for her. Even though I’m hoping my return to Starlight Bay is part of the reason.
Would I want to try again? Should I wait to try again? I carry so much more responsibility than when we were just two innocent kids. Between Liam and the winery, it’s a lot. Plus, I’m still adjusting to putting down roots again in Starlight Bay.
After we cleaned up the best we could, we walked the small circle around the river, watching the ducks swim along with us. We talked about the town, how things have changed, how they've stayed the same. We talked about the school and the teachers who are still there. It was easy; it was fun. It was like it was always meant to be.
And the entire time, the way Kylie wove Liam into every part of the conversation was huge. He wasn’t an afterthought, not in the way adults sometimes humor kids just to keep them quiet. She asked his opinion, listened when he spoke, and answered him like what he said truly mattered. There was no eye-rolling, no brush off that said, That’s cute, but let the grown-ups talk now. She saw him and he knew it. I could see it in the way his face lit up. She made him feel wanted.
It was more than his mother ever gave him. She never listened, not really. And for a long time, I let that slide. I told myself she was busy, always running to the next meeting or thinking of her next call, and it didn’t matter because he was still too young to notice. But watching him today, seeing how naturally the two of them fit into each other's space, made me realize I should have ended that marriage long before I did. It was broken from the start, and if I had stayed it would have only taught Liam how to disappear or, worse, how to find a loveless marriage for himself.
Since we only got a few licks of our ice cream in before we were wearing it, we ran into Pies ’r Us, the local pizzeria, for lunch. Liam was starving, and we reversed the whole idea of lunch and dessert. It’s all part of the Kylie charm. She’s fun and changes like the breeze, and it definitely keeps things exciting. Liam is every bit as taken with her as I was.
As I am .
We grab a table and Kylie excuses herself to the bathroom.
I nudge him but he resists. “Slide in, pal.”
“No, I want to sit next to Kylie.” I raise a brow and take the opposite seat. We look over the menu, deciding on the toppings we want when I see Kylie's sister walk in.
“Hey, Sadie.” I wave. She smiles back and comes right to our table.
She glances at her watch then narrows her stare at Liam with a smirk dancing across her face. “How did you manage to get out of school so early to get ice cream?”
Liam’s eyes are wide. “Ice cream? Wh-what do you mean?”
“Well a little birdie sent me a text with a picture.” She pulls out her phone and flips it around, showing him. “You’re eating ice cream and wearing that shirt.”
I laugh as he looks down at his shirt, trying to come up with a reason.
“I think she’s teasing you, pal,” I say, trying to ease his tension.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Love has skipped more than his share of school days. I won’t tell.” She winks at him and he relaxes.
“Dad and Kylie picked me up early to surprise me!” Liam says proudly. Sadie looks at me with a knowing grin.
“Oh? Your dad and Kylie, together, huh?” I school my expression but stare her down as she acts like this is all news to her, and slides in next to me on the bench seat.
Liam bounces in his seat and tells the story. “Yeah, it was so much fun. They came to the school, then we went for ice cream and watched the ducks swim in the pond.” He takes a breath. “And then her and my dad were fighting with ice cream, not really fighting, but you know, play fighting, and now she’s in the bathroom washing off the ice cream she had up her nose.”
“Sounds like you were all having a great time together.” She elbows me and I ignore it. “You look like you still have some ice cream on your hands. Why don’t you go wash them?”
Liam looks at his hands and jumps up. “Dad, I’ll be right back!”
I close my eyes and take a breath because I know what’s about to happen. When I open them, she’s staring directly at me. “What are you doing with my sister?”
I let out a laugh, even though I'm suddenly nervous to be talking to Sadie. “She came to the winery for last-minute event details.”
“Yes, I know. I was on my way to help with the event when I got the weirdest text message.” She furrows her brows searching her phone once more. “Ah, here it is. Playing hooky with the Byrne boys. We’ll catch up tonight. I should have known ice cream and pizza on a school day would not have been your idea .”
I shrug. “Listen, it seemed she had something weighing on her mind. I asked a couple questions and she told me about breaking off the engagement. Getting out of there seemed like the best idea, even if she was corrupting my son for the day.”
“And?” she prompts.
“And maybe it was as much for her as it was for me. I enjoy spending time with her again. Coming back here was hard, and since I’ve been gone for so long, I wasn’t sure how anyone was going to accept me. Taking over for Uncle Paul is no small feat. And she’s helped ease that transition.”
Her face softens much like how Kylie’s does when she has lots of thoughts in her head. “I’m sure it was a big life change for you, but just know that everyone here is happy to have you home.” She leans in and repeats, “Everyone.” She sits back again. “I knew she wasn’t happy, and I’m glad she made the decision to end it. There’s only been one man that’s ever made her happy.”
Before I can ask more, Kylie and Liam come charging back to the table.
“Hey, sis. What are you doing here?”
“I should ask you the same thing, sis.” Kylie laughs and lets Liam scooch into the booth, and then she slides in next to him a little too close and pushes him up against the wall.
“Hey!” he exclaims, laughing and pushing back. They have a little rumble in the seat, and my heart constricts at seeing the joy on his face.
“I have a couple of things I want to show you, but I think we’re just about set. We just need to make sure we can get into the place Friday night.”
I interject, “Yes, I’ve already blocked off outside seating for that night so you can work out there. I’d help, but I was told the town likes to pre-game?”
The two women laugh. “They sure do. They fill the town by going to eat at every local restaurant they can. It’s like their big push to support the local businesses, and it becomes a big party. Don’t you remember these wine days?”
“Kind of, but it wasn’t as big then as what people are saying it is now.”
“I think this year is different because Paul isn’t here and they want to come out and support your family even more.”
I swallow hard, and it just makes me realize how much I’ve missed by not coming home. I was stubborn and selfish and allowed my ego to keep me from the best years that I could’ve had here.
Sadie clears her throat and stands. “I’m going to grab my pizza and head home. Kylie, call me when you get home, okay?”
I chuckle at her tone toward her sister. “We’ll eat and then drop you back at your car. Liam has homework that he has to do. I’m not getting in trouble with your teacher.”
“Oh, Dad, Mr. Love will let it slide.”
“Mr. Love let’s everything slide,” Sadie sneers, but her tone doesn’t match the longing in her eyes.
“He’s cool and so fun, and did you know he went to school with my dad and Kylie?”
Sadie smiles. “I did know that because I went to school with them too.”
Liam‘s eyes get wide. “You did?”
I remind him, “Liam, they're sisters, of course they went to school together.”
“You’re her sister?” We all laugh as Liam puts the family tree together. The waitress brings our pizza and Sadie takes her leave.
I lean over the table, dropping my voice. “I didn’t imagine the way her tone changed when she asked about Danny, did I?”
Kylie smiles. “She still likes him even if she swears she hates him.”
“That's very clear. And he’s very attracted to her, that’s for sure.”
Kylie dishes out slices on our plates. “Maybe he can loosen her up a bit after all. Her uptight attitude could use a break.”
“And Danny would definitely be the one to do it. Sort of like somebody else I know.”
She puts her hand over her chest and leans back. It draws my attention to her amazing breasts.
“Mr. Byrne, I hope you’re not accusing me of being impulsive?”
“No, I would never do that, Miss Johnson. Everyone gets ice cream at eleven in the morning and then has lunch afterward.”