Chapter Seven
Sage swung open the door to Chandra. “You’re early.”
Chandra sashayed in with a six-pack of beer in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
“It was a light day at work. I ran while I had the chance.” She continued to the kitchen and put the beer and wine in the fridge.
“I got the beer for Matt and the wine for me. You’re strictly on water, right? ”
She shrugged. “I’ve been sneaking a cup of coffee in the morning.”
“Where’s Matt?”
“He went for a jog.”
Chandra gagged. “He’s become a jogger?”
Sage nodded. “I know, right? He’s all into fitness now. He eats so much meat. I swear, he’s eaten an entire cow in the last couple of days.”
“I guess that explains his….” She lifted her arms and then spread them to indicate Matt’s shoulders and then flexed in a bodybuilder pose.
Sage laughed. “Yeah.”
“How’s it been living with him? Are you tripping over his socks and underwear?”
“He’s not filthy at all. Or, if he is, he’s containing it to the guestroom.
” She was not going to tell Chandra about sharing a bed with Matt.
If she did, she’d never be able to convince her friend that there was nothing going on between them.
“He’s been amazing. He’s done all the cooking and the cleaning.
He even offered to do my hair.” But then he’d fled the house like it was on fire.
Chandra’s eyebrows rose. “Really? Damn. I need to borrow him. You know I love my men, but damn, they’re messy.” She leaned against the countertop. “Any word from Preston?”
Sage shook her head. Shamefully, she hadn’t given Preston much thought.
“You know how he is. He’s probably back on the road.
” She shrugged. Preston tended to forget her while he travelled for work.
Even when they were engaged, he wouldn’t call when he was on the road. She’d always had to call or text him.
They heard the front door open and close.
“That’ll be Matt,” Sage said. They met him in the den.
She’d expected him to show up sweaty, red-faced, and out of breath.
Instead, he looked like a model who’d stood in front of a wind machine whilst being gently sprayed with a mist to give his skin a glow.
“Sage said you went for a jog. You look like you took a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood and maybe lay in the sun for a few minutes.”
Matt ran his fingers through his curls. “You’re early,” he said.
“Yep. Seems to be the general consensus. Good thing. I can help Sage with her hair.”
“I’m helping Sage with her hair,” Matt protested.
“My arms still work,” Sage said dryly.
“You do one side, and I’ll do the other,” Chandra said. “We’ll have a hair off.”
She shook her head before Matt could reply. “Nope. I’ll do it myself first.”
He scratched his chin, drawing Sage’s attention to his five o’clock shadow, even though it was only three-thirty.
She frowned, sure that he had been clean shaven when she’d been washing her hair.
Matt caught her expression. He tilted his head to the side before dropping his hand.
“I need to shower,” he announced. “I do the grease.” He hit his shoulder with his thumb and then pointed at Chandra. “You braid. Back in ten.”
Sage stared after him. And not just because his ass looked spectacular in his sweats. Really. It should be illegal for him to be out in public in those pants.
Chandra snapped her fingers in front of her nose. “Two days and you’re already ready to join his fan club?”
“That’s not it.” She waved a hand. “Something’s not right with him.”
“Hmm. Did you ever find out why he disappeared?”
“No. When I brought it up, he got upset, so I let it go.”
“Maybe I should give it a try?”
“I don’t think he’s ready to discuss it.”
“Well, it can’t hurt to ask.”
***
Matt drew to a halt as he entered the bedroom to find Chandra waiting on the bed for him.
Fortunately, he’d wrapped a towel around his waist before exiting the bathroom.
She eyed him up and down, but though she liked to flirt with him, it wouldn’t go any further.
He wasn’t her type. She liked her men bald and dark and bearded—basically the opposite of him but the perfect description of her husband.
“How long are planning on staying?”
“As long as Sage wants me here.”
She sighed and shook her head. “I’ve been trying to save her from you since college, but you just don’t quit, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you think I call you slut? It’s to remind her of what you are.”
Matt stiffened. “I’m not a slut and I never was.”
“She could fall for you so easily. I admit, I was wrong about Preston. I thought you’d wreck their happy relationship, then leave her with nothing. Now, I think I was wrong about you, too. You really love her, don’t you?”
“Yes.” He would never deny loving Sage.
“You have my blessing.”
He rolled his eyes and rummaged through his bag for clothing. “Thanks,” he said, dryly. “That’s all I was waiting for—your permission.”
Chandra laughed. “I know. But I have a question. Why the ghost act?”
He yanked a clean shirt from his bag and pulled it over his head. “No big mystery. I’ve been on the road. My dad’s death brought up a lot of unresolved feelings I had since my mom passed. I needed some time to get my head together.”
“And you couldn’t call, couldn’t text, drop by, or anything? Not even Sage.”
He shrugged. “I was in places with poor cell reception.”
She stood up and propped her hands on her hips. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay, well, maybe it’s partially true, but you’re hiding something.”
He sighed. “Chandra, I’d like to put on some pants.”
She smirked. “I’m not stopping you…. ‘Course, you could just tell me what I want to know, and I’ll leave you alone.”
Growling, he grabbed his briefs and jeans and retreated to the bathroom. He slammed the door behind himself.
Chandra pounded on the door. “I’ll see you in the den. Unlike Sage, I’m not patient and I’m not going to give up.”
***
Sage hid her smile behind her napkin at the bemused expression on Chandra’s face during dinner as they watched Matt consume three New York strip steaks, each an inch thick. The vegetables on his plate went untouched. “Are you on a low carb diet?” Chandra asked.
“No.”
“I almost forgot. I bought beer and wine,” she said, hopping up from the dinner table.
Matt wrinkled his nose. “I’m fine with my water.”
“But you love beer,” Sage blurted. “You said one day you planned to create your own IPA if you ever had the funds.”
He stared down at his plate. “Given that my father was an alcoholic, I decided to quit drinking.” Sage didn’t fault his logic, but she questioned his veracity. Why was he avoiding her gaze?
Chandra plopped back into her seat with a bottle of wine and a glass. “Well, I hope you don’t mind if I have a glass. It’s been a long week.”
“I’m fine with it.” Sage cut into her steak. Tasty though it was, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to finish it.
Chandra filled her glass and swirled the liquid around the bowl. “I gave Matt permission to date you.”
Sage coughed and then took a sip of her water. “When did you become my father?”
“Since we became roommates in college.” She shrugged and sipped her wine, her expression entirely unrepentant. “Someone had to do it.” She gestured at Matt. “I thought you’d be easy prey for a player.”
“I was engaged. I wasn’t going to break my promise to Preston.”
She scoffed. “Preston is neglectful. It wouldn’t have taken an Adonis like Matt to steal you away. And I didn’t want you to do something you’d regret.”
“Like what?”
“Dump Preston for Matt.”
Sage sighed. “I appreciate your concern…I think. But you were worried about nothing. Matt and I are just friends. He flirts with me, but he flirts with everyone.”
“I do not,” Matt said simultaneously as Chandra said, “He does not.”
She frowned. “I’ve seen him do it. I’ve seen him flirt with you!”
“I think you’re confusing flirting and friendly,” Chandra said.
“Whatever.” She shook her head. “It doesn't matter. Matt isn’t interested in me in that way.”
“The fuck, I’m not.”
Sage blinked and stared at him, waiting for him to smile. To say it was a joke, that he was kidding. Matt stared right back at her. “W-what? I mean…what?”
“Why do you think I flirt with you? I’ve wanted you since the moment we met. You mean to tell me that you didn’t think I was serious all this time?”
“Well, of course not! I was engaged…and…and you were dating.” She pointed at Chandra.
“And Chandra said you were a slut. Naturally, I assumed….” She thought back on years of their interactions in a new light, her jaw dropping more with each recollection.
All the times when he’d said something or did something that made her feel special and she’d had to tell herself that it was just talk.
That it didn’t mean anything. Or that he didn’t mean it the way it sounded.
Chandra, for her part, was no help at all, bursting out laughing and almost spilling her wine.
Sage glared at her. “Isn’t it time for you to go home?”
Still chortling, she stood and emptied her glass. “I’ll just pack up the rest of my dinner and leave the two of you to sort this out.”
They waited an interminable amount of time while Chandra leisurely wrapped the remains of her steak and potatoes in foil. But when she was finally ready, Sage stopped her. “Are you okay to drive?”
“Off that small sip? I’m full of bread and steak. I’ll be fine. I’ll text you when I get home.”
As she appeared steady, Sage decided to trust her friend. “Okay. Text me the moment you turn off your engine, okay? One car accident is enough for our group.”
“Yes. Look who’s being all parental now.” She glanced between her and Matt and smiled. “I don’t know why I didn’t see this sooner. This could be a good thing.” She waved her fingers “Toodles.”
After the front door closed behind her, she dared her first glance at Matt. He’d stopped eating, his knife and fork, dangling in listless fingers. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
“She’ll be fine.” He inhaled and slowly placed his utensils on his plate. “Really, Sage? I thought I was pretty obvious. Preston clocked me in a second. I thought you knew.”
Her mouth dropped open, but she quickly shook off her shock enough to ask. “Me? You wanted me?”
“Yes, you. Definitely, you. Only you. Why not you?”
“As I said, I was engaged. I wasn’t available.”
“No offense, but I didn’t give a damn about Preston.
Why would I? I’d never met him.” He stood and flattened his hands on the table, leaning toward her.
“But even if I had, that wouldn’t have stopped me from trying to steal you from him.
” He paused. “But it’s better this way. The two of you had your chance and you decided that it didn’t work.
Now you know. And you won’t have to wonder. ”
“If you felt that way, then why didn’t you come when I called off the wedding?”
Matt dropped back into his seat. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Because…I…. It was too soon. I didn’t want to be your rebound.” He yanked at the curls on his crown, his expression pained and dejected. “Hell, it still might be too soon.”
Though she believed him, she thought there was more that he wasn’t saying.
“I…don’t know. I’m still coming to grips with this.
” She didn’t think he was in a good place to start a relationship.
He was hiding something. She suspected his secrets and odd behavior all stemmed from the same incident that had caused him to disappear.
Until he was able to discuss whatever it was, any idea of relationship between them could only be suppositional.
Then she emitted a self-deprecating laugh. “I’ve been talking like you wanted something real and serious when you could be just thinking of a friends-with-benefits type of deal.”
“No, I want everything. I want forever, the house, the…kids…. I….” His eyes shimmered suspiciously. “I just—” He stood abruptly and spun away from her. “I may be too fucked up for you.”
Seeing him so distressed wrapped a tight metal band around her chest. She rose and threw her arms around his waist. “Matt, I wish you would talk to me. You can tell me anything.” He inhaled and the feel of his hard abs momentarily distracted her.
He patted her hands then turned in her embrace. He hugged her back and rested his cheek on top of her head. “I’m going to tell you, but I need a little more time.” He kissed her temple.
She stroked his back, admiring the muscles there as well.
His heartbeat thrummed under her ear. “Okay, but I think it’s best that we remain only friends until you do.
And then, if you’re still interested…we’ll see.
” It would require some adjustment on her part as she’d purposely avoided thinking of him as anything but a friend.
And they’d have to work out the living arrangements.
He was essentially homeless and jobless.
“I’m not going to change my mind. The knowledge that there’s even a chance for us, is more hope than I’ve ever had.” His arms tightened around her. “I only hope that what I have to say doesn’t scare you off.”
“It won’t,” she said adamantly. She patted his back. A frown wrinkled her brow. He’d been attracted to her since college? “Matt, are you sure? Maybe you’re mistaking friendship for—”
Matt shifted his hips, rubbing a rigid bar against her belly. She gasped as he groaned. He leaned back and looked down at her. “Very sure.” A slow, devilish smile curled his lips. “I don’t suppose you’ll want me to keep sleeping in your bed?”
Sage’s face heated with embarrassment. Fortunately, her dark skin tone concealed her blush. She cleared her throat. “You’ve been so…. As long as things…. I trust you, Matt.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “I was sure that you’d kick me out of your bed.”
“I trust you,” she repeated. “I know you’re not the type of guy to go where he’s not welcome.”