Chapter 19 Letty
LETTY
“Are you sure they’re going to like me?” I ask Matthew as we’re walking around the back of Jude and Ronnie’s place.
It’s the Sunday after speaking to the attorney about my inheritance, and I sat on it for a few days, mulling over what to do and how to do it.
In the meantime, Matthew looked everything over and allowed me time to process, as long as it wasn’t in a different house.
Which then led me to the next subject I talked to him about earlier today.
The girls and I sat down yesterday when I stopped by to grab more clothes.
They are piling up at Matthew’s, yet he didn’t seem to mind.
Mischa and Liv had the same thought in mind when it came to the rent increase.
While at first, we were all okay with dealing with the three-hundred-dollar monthly hike, now that everyone seems to be doing their own thing on the weekends, it doesn’t make much sense for us to stay together anymore.
My stomach sank to my toes, and while I have money put away that I can use for a place of my own, I was really hoping to go part-time at work, focus on school, and use my inheritance as a cushion.
It sucked seeing our group come to a close in the form of living together, even if I’m more of an outsider for trying to keep to myself.
“Kitten, you’ve met Crew, and you’ve met a few of the others as well around town.
Plus, I love you, so they’ll love you,” Matthew tries to reassure me.
While he’s carrying the platter of macaroni and cheese, I have absolutely nothing to do with my hands, meaning I’ve got my thumb at my mouth, trying to refrain from biting my nail.
It’s a horrible habit I’ve developed, one I’m trying to kick, but sometimes, my nerves get the best of me.
“If for any reason you feel uncomfortable, we’ll leave.
I doubt that will happen, though, as soon as you meet the girls. You’ll see.”
There’s no time like the present. The minute Matthew opens the side gate, we’re bombarded with open arms.
“Hey, Letty, I’m Ronnie. Come with me, and I’ll introduce you to everyone else.” She loops her arm through mine, guiding me through the throng of guys who are near a table, some standing and some sitting. “You can meet the rest of them later. We girls are inside.”
“Oh, okay. It’s nice to meet you. Matthew has talked about his friends for a long time, and Jude has helped out a lot. I’m really thankful, and I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to finally meet you all.”
“No apologies necessary. I only met them when I did because they came into the bar I worked at, and even then, it wasn’t all of them.
Much like you, we ended up meeting at one of these gatherings, and I’m pretty sure all the other girls did, too.
Well, maybe not Lennie, she was the first girl brought into the group, so it wasn’t as big as say you or me meeting them,” Ronnie explains as we enter through the kitchen.
“I can imagine. From what Matthew tells me, everyone is settled down, minus Crew.” I don’t add anything more to the story, even though Matthew has mentioned he thinks a woman is involved at his office, and it’s riling him up.
“For sure. Ahem, ladies, allow me to introduce you to Letty. Letty, from left to right, you have Macie, whose man is Tysen, and she’s clearly pregnant.
They work together at Vaughn Air Elite. Then you have Rory, Jude’s sister and my live-in best friend.
She’s in high school and is damn smart.” Rory laughs at Ronnie’s remark.
“You’re biased. It’s great to meet you.” Rory comes up, gives me a quick hug, and then returns to where two babies are playing on the floor.
“Hey, Letty, welcome to the chaos.” Macie does the same as Rory.
“From there, you have Lennie, Asher’s wife. Those are her two darling girls, who are enamored with Rory. Kennedy and her daughter Briar, Trent is her husband, with their bun in the oven.” We’re not even all the way through yet.
“Do you like sweet treats? I love them, but Auntie Ronnie is more of a salt lover.” Briar comes right up to me, grabs my hand, and takes me to the dessert table.
“Don’t mind Briar, she’s all about desserts. She’ll leave you be in no time, especially once Sebastian finishes setting up his guitar,” Kennedy says with a shrug of her shoulders.
“Shoot, I need to go take care of these,” Lennie says, pointing down to her breasts. It’s then I realize she must be pumping. “I promise I’ll be right back, and we’ll chat some more.”
“Go, go. No need to worry about me,” I say once we’re at the table with an array of treats.
“These look delicious. And to answer your question, yes, I love desserts of any kind. I even make a few that Uncle Matthew likes, especially chocolate chip cookies.” I don’t take on that he’s refusing to let me send any to Colt or Locke.
I’ll have to eventually do it when he’s in court one day and doesn’t know I’m baking.
“Did you bring any?” Briar asks with hopefulness.
“Not this time. I did bring macaroni and cheese. Though, it might not be very safe with it being outside with all the men.”
“I’ll go get it! The men should never be trusted with food, my dad especially.” Briar takes off, and I’m assuming it’s Sebastian who’s following right along behind her.
“Be careful and use two hands,” Kennedy says to their retreating backs.
“I’m Winnie, Johnny’s my husband, and Sebastian is our nephew, but he’s ours all the same.
I’ve had him all along, and when I came back, he took to Johnny faster than I ever thought possible.
But that’s a story for another time. Lyric is up next.
” Winnie comes over to the table, pops a piece of candy in her mouth, and returns to her seat on the couch.
“Hi, that’s me. The big Viking dude, Jagger, is mine. We’re the best friends-to-lovers, girl-moves-away, dad-causes-her-to-lose-touch, girl-comes-home, still-loves-the-big-oaf, and-they-finally-get-back-together love story, Lyric says without taking a breath.
“Did someone just recite a bunch of tropes in their falling in love story?” Lennie comes returns to the group, and all of us laugh.
“Are you a reader?” I ask.
“Girl, yes. What about you?” she replies.
“If audiobooks count, then absolutely.” I take the vacated seat where Briar once sat before.
“We should start a book club. I mean, once a month might be a bit much considering we all have busy lives,” Macie suggests.
“Can we add some romantasy to the mix?” This comes from who I assume is Shae, who has yet to introduce herself. “Oh, sorry. I’m Shae. The conversation kind of got away from me.”
“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m good with romantasy.
” Honestly, as long as there’s a happily ever after at some point, that’s all that matters.
“I just listened to this one book where she finds out her fiancé is cheating on her, moves across the pond with the help of the hero’s family in order for them to get their castle back in Scotland, and falls in love in the process.
The story is so good, but the narrator’s Scottish brogue is absolutely superior.
” Everyone’s eyes turn to me, and it’s then I realize I’ve really gotten into the storytelling part.
“Okay, that will be the first book.” Lennie fans herself.
“I’m adding Letty to the group chat now.” Ronnie goes about doing so, and I feel a ping of vibration in my back pocket.
“Alright, I have to ask. How are you handling Matthew and this big group of problem solvers the men are?” Kennedy asks, coming back in from outside with no kids in tow and the food we brought in her hands.
“Are they doing anything out of the ordinary right now?” Lennie asks.
“Um, no. Unless you count Matthew spilling the tea that Letty is moving in with him since her lease is going up.” I’d roll my eyes at him gossiping like a teenage girl on her first date.
Except I know he’s happy that I’m finally able to breathe a bit when it comes to bills and will get back into school.
What I didn’t count on is that he’s making sure I’m moved in by the end of next week.
“He’s so proud of himself. It’s okay, though, because I made him wait for the answer for a few days.
He really has fixed a lot of my problems that happened in my past, with, of course, the help of Jude and everyone else.
But yes, I’m moving in with him. I tried to offer to pay rent, but he wouldn’t let me.
I did get him to concede, but still, he gave me hell.
I’ll keep working for Ophelia part-time, cleaning the penthouse and cooking.
My roommates are also going their separate ways, which came as a shock, but our rent went up exponentially.
Mischa has a boyfriend, Liv is going home to her parents, and well, things with Matthew and me are obviously serious,” I round out the story.
“That sounds like my brother, Jude,” Rory states.
“Well, I’m glad. Whatever works for you. Plus, Matthew’s cooking is terrible, or so I hear. Tysen told me he burnt a pot of boiling water,” Macie says on a chuckle.
“I can confirm that he’s forgetful. I asked him to make some toast, and that was almost too much.
I had to remind him that the numbers correspond to the minutes in real time.
” This time, the whole group laughs at Matthew’s expense.
I should feel guilty for throwing him under the bus, but it’s nothing he hasn’t stated before to others, either.
The guys walk in one by one, a few carrying in what I’m assuming is the pulled pork we’ll be eating with all the other sides that are gathered on the counters. Matthew notices me immediately and veers toward me, ignoring everyone else in his path in order to get to me.
He holds his hand out for me to take, and when I do, he lifts me up for him to sit down, then pulls me in his lap. “You good, kitten?” he whispers in my ear, and I shiver.
“Yes.” I clear my throat when it comes out as more of a moan than I intended to.
“Then we’re staying, I take it?” He knew all along I’d like the people he surrounds himself with.
“I’m not leaving. We’re talking about starting a book club.” I settle back on his chest, closing my eyes for a moment, and listen to the noise around me. This is what it’s like to have friends, and I know the more I’m around them, the more these people will become like the family I’ve never had.