Chapter Forty-Four
Matt
Since El was out of the house with Lo, I took the opportunity upon myself to park in front of the Burkeley mansion and trudge up the front steps. My hand patted my back pocket, making sure the envelope I’d stored there hadn’t disappeared.
Normally, I’d just walk in, but since I was arriving unannounced, I took the more polite route and rang the doorbell.
Elisa appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands with a rag. Judging by her frown and glazed eyes, she looked slightly flustered, shaking it off at the sight of me.
Was this a bad time?
“Matt,” she presented a modest smile, “El’s not currently here.”
“I—I know,” I nodded to the stone front steps beneath my feet. “I’m actually here to see Mac. Is he here?”
“Yeah,” Elisa shifted to the side to allow me in, “he’s in his den.”
Stepping inside, I was overwhelmed with familiarity. No matter how much time passed between visits, the house never changed. It would always be a second home to me.
Mac’s den was in the basement. After slipping my shoes off, I made my way downstairs, cautiously approaching the door that was slightly ajar. I could hear a TV playing, see low lighting.
When Mac wasn’t in business or family mode, he was sometimes found here. This was one of the only rooms in the house that I’d hardly ever been in. We’d been afraid to enter as kids, scared that for some reason, we would get in trouble if we had.
My knuckles subtly tapped against the wooden door.
“Come in.”
He was most likely expecting his wife or one of his daughters. The last person he probably thought he’d see was me.
Sidling up behind him, I made myself known. “Hi.”
Mac spun around in his recliner, frowning. “Matt. Hey, kid. El’s not—”
“I know. I’m,” I gulped, “I’m actually here to talk to you.”
He sat up, pushing the bottom of his recliner down. “Alright. Take a seat.”
Even though I’d known the man my whole life, he was no less intimidating now than he was when I was a kid. That same, confident persona drifted from him, and I was feeling the nerves swarming around me.
We sat face to face, eye to eye. I wondered if he had any idea what I was really here for. All he did was wait calmly for me to speak.
“Mr. Burkeley... I already know your opinion of me,” I started, focusing on remaining firm, steady.
I was trying to mirror his courage. The last thing I wanted was for him to sense the panic sitting beneath my skin.
“But I need you to know that I’m in love with your daughter. And I have been for my entire life.”
Mac laid back against his seat, and I was cursing the low lighting for making it so damn difficult to gauge the emotion lingering behind his eyes.
“I promise I will take care of her in every way possible. And I won’t leave her side unless she orders me away. But I need your approval.”
It had been tearing at me for months, ever since that night we announced our relationship, only to be met with disappointment and a forced handshake.
And even though El hadn’t confessed to me, I knew it bothered her too. That tore at me even more. She had no idea that I was here, but she was what gave me the strength to walk in here today.
If he didn’t give me his approval right here, right now, would I go on without it? Yeah. I would. Because my love for El knew no limits.
But did I long desperately for his approval? Sure did.
“My opinion matters this much to you?” he asked.
“Yes. I’ve looked up to you for my whole life. And you’re her father. I need to know that if the day comes, you’d welcome me into your family.”
That one made his head tip. “Matt, you’re already part of our family.”
I sighed, “You know what I mean.”
One lamp illuminated light in the corner, and the TV cast a shadow across his face. In the dim lighting, I could make out his facial features.
A divot between his brows. His mouth in a flat line.
In this moment, he reminded me of El. The way she always displayed those features when she was deep in thought.
Fuck, I’d do anything to read his mind right now.
My panic was blazing, and it was taking a conscious effort not to let it show on my face.
“Matt,” he sighed, “the only reason why I was ever against you two being together was because you reminded me of myself.”
Well, I sure as hell wasn’t expecting that.
I scratched my head. “O-okay, how so?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard some of the stories over the years.
I was a troublemaker growing up. Talked to a lot of girls.
Got into a lot of fights. I had a violent streak, and eventually, I straightened out.
But I hated all those parts of me. I,” he shook his head at himself, “caused a lot of problems and hurt a lot of people.”
Sounds familiar.
Things started clicking in my head. All the times I’d caught similar reactions from us, habits, likes, dislikes. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who had seen them.
“But you seem to be getting better. And I know you love my daughter and will take care of her.” He sighed, dropping his hands into his lap.
“Not to mention, she just stomped out of here a few hours ago saying she loved you and pretty much told me to get my shit together, so,” Mac paused, leaving me to feel my thumping heart as I sat forward in my seat, “you have my blessing.”
I was so happy, I could cry. My smile was explosive, and my words leaked with utter euphoria. “Thank you,” I stood.
He matched me, offering a smile of his own to accompany a handshake.
“There’s one other thing,” I said, reaching for my back pocket.
“You better not be pulling out an engagement ring right now.”
I chuckled. “No, not that. Yet.” Peering up, I caught the playful eye roll he gave before holding out the envelope.
“What’s this?” he took it.
“The money I owe you.”
Matt stared at me with a blank expression, lost. “What money?”
All the weight I’d been feeling washed away, and I felt more comfortable in Mac’s presence than ever before.
“You bailed me out, remember?”
He scoffed through disbelief. He didn’t think I was being serious. “Matt... you didn’t have to pay me back. I don’t want your money.”
I shook my head rapidly. “Take it. I promised I’d pay you back.” When he held the envelope up, gesturing for me to take it, I threw my hands up and took a step back, shaking my head through the whole thing. “I’m insisting.”
The way he was looking at me right now was legendary. Pride ran through him, and it made me feel so fucking good.
“Wow, kid,” he said. “I’m thoroughly impressed.”
“Thanks,” I smiled.