Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
MATT
M y arm is falling asleep, but I can’t bring myself to move out of Zoey’s hold or push her away.
She’s finally relaxed against me, and I wouldn’t take her peace away from her for anything. Especially not after she had a mini existential crisis that left me with the furious urge to help her reclaim her life.
By the time her hot tears had dried on my fingers, my mind was made up. This won’t be your average fake dating situation. From now on, I’m going to make it my mission to turn every moment we share into an opportunity for her to experience the things she seems to have been missing out on.
“He’s really trying to woo her,” Zoey says, her attention riveted on the screen. “A private jet to go to an opera show? Who does that?”
I chuckle. “Has nobody ever been romantic with you?”
Jesus Christ . One day. One day, and we’ve already broken the rule about staying out of each other’s personal lives. I can’t help it. The questions burn my tongue.
“I don’t do romance,” she mutters, her body instinctively curling in on itself.
She’s so predictable.
“Nonsense.” I flick at a strand of hair that’s slipped from behind her ear and is tickling my chin. “Everybody craves romance. You’ve just never met anyone who knew exactly the kind you needed.”
She lifts her head, her face so close that the sweetness of her breath is like a ghost of a touch hovering over my lips.
My gaze trips to her mouth, and for a second, I imagine what it’d be like to kiss her again.
Soft and slow this time. Tasting her with care and dedication, until the motion becomes muscle memory.
“You’re a natural at this,” she whispers as her eyes follow the same downward path as mine.
“At what?” I whisper back.
“Making it look like you want me.”
I frown. “It’s not—”
My thoughts are cut short when a familiar silhouette appears behind Zoey, a daisy backpack on her shoulders.
“What—”
I scramble up, putting distance between Zoey and me. When she stomps close enough that I can make out her red-rimmed eyes, I rush to Daphne. In three strides, I’m next to her. “What are you doing here? Are you okay?”
Lola runs up behind her and comes to a sharp stop when she reaches us, heaving breaths. “Sorry, give me a second.”
I look frantically between the two of them. “Daph, what’s going on?”
“I wanted you,” she sniffles, her voice cracking. “I wanted to see you, but Lola said it wasn’t a good idea because of the noise. But I didn’t want to stay home. I wanted to see you .”
Fuck.
I bring her into my chest and hold her tightly, brushing her hair back. “You’re okay. I’m here.”
She buries her face deeper, looping her arms around my waist.
“Didn’t you get my texts?” Lola pants.
“What? No.” I fish out my phone with one hand, the other still cradling Daph snug against me. Already, her overstimulated body softens in my arms.
Sure enough, my screen is filled with close to a dozen messages from Lola.
Lola
Daphne wants to see you. Is the movie almost over?
I don’t know if it’s a good idea, but she’s being really insistent.
I think she’s about to have a meltdown. Can you pick up?
We’re on our way. Hope you see these before we arrive.
Just parked. Can you let me know where you guys are?
I scrub a hand over my face, panic settling deep into my bones. “Lols, I’m so sorry. My phone must have been on silent.”
She peers over my shoulder. “It’s okay. We’re fine. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.” She nods to Daph, who’s still clinging to me. “She’s okay.”
I release a breath that shatters into the air. Yeah, she’s okay.
But.
She needed me and I wasn’t there.
That’s what happens when I get sucked in.
One night. That’s all it took for my focus to slip.
Fuck .
Daphne is my priority. She always will be. What if she’d been hurt and I had no idea because I was too busy pretending to be infatuated with someone I barely know?
I won’t make the same mistake twice. I have to show up when my sister needs me. I’ll just have to make time for Zoey when—
Shit . Zoey.
Hands braced on my sister’s arms, I crouch down and meet her eyes. “Wait for me at the car with Lola. I’ll be there in two minutes.”
“Sorry,” Lola whispers, glancing nervously behind me.
“It’s okay, Lols. You did good bringing her here.”
I wait until Lola and Daphne are several yards away before I jog over to Zoey. “I’m sorry. I have to go. Something came up.”
Her brows shoot up so high they nearly disappear into her hairline. “What do you mean you have to go? What about the movie?”
I drop my head and sigh. “I have to take care of something. I’m sorry to leave you like this, but I don’t have a choice.”
She peers around the park. “You’re… not driving me home?”
A few people nearby turn in our direction at the sound of her voice.
Stomach twisting, I dig my keys out of my pocket and hold them out. “I promise you, I’d never do this to you if it weren’t important.”
After what she shared with me tonight… shit, I’m such a jerk.
We may have broken a rule, delving into details of her life, but I can’t let her into mine. Not when it comes to Daphne. My priority is taking care of her, and tonight, I utterly failed in that department.
Zoey yanks the keys from my grasp, making sure her fingers don’t touch mine. She looks away, her face unreadable.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” I rub my beard. “I’ll swing by and pick up my truck.”
She doesn’t answer, keeping her focus locked on the movie instead.
My lungs deflate. Time to go, then. “I’m really sorry. Enjoy the rest of the movie,” I say as I back away.
No answer.
“You guys have a deal. She won’t back down,” Lola says when we step into my house. “She needs you way more than you need her.”
“Thanks for taking care of Daphne tonight,” I say, ignoring the Band-Aid she’s trying to slap on my guilt. “I’m gonna finish the movie with her if you want to stay.”
Lola shakes her head. “I have to go home. Freddy’s waiting for me.”
I shudder. I can’t believe she’s looking after that satanic monstrosity while my parents are away.
I give her a quick hug. “Thank you again.”
She pats my sides. “Don’t sweat it.”
Once she’s gone, Daphne and I settle on the couch with our popcorn and hit play.
“Better?” I ask
Snuggled in with her favorite heavy blanket, she pops a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “Yes.”
I sink deeper into the cushions. “Good.”
The pressure in my chest eases a notch, but there’s a hitch there, a kernel of discomfort that won’t go away. It only flares more painfully when thoughts of Zoey all alone in the park plague me.
I dig my phone from my pocket and send her a text.
Matt
Are you still at the park?
My nerves wear thin as the minutes crawl by, and when my phone finally vibrates, I startle, and the device clatters to the floor.
“Are you okay?” Daphne asks, peering at me out of the corner of her eye.
“All good,” I say as I retrieve it. “Watch the movie.”
Zoey
Just got home.
A knot loosens in my chest. She’s home safe. She’s replying to me. There might be hope.
Matt
I didn’t mean to leave like I did. I’m sorry again. I had to take care of something.
Three dots in a bubble dance on the screen before her message appears.
Zoey
You don’t owe me anything. We have a business deal and that’s all. Though I would have appreciated a little help putting all the stuff back in your truck.
“Fuck.” I didn’t even think about the piles of blankets and the basket I prepared.
Daph gives me a side-eye.
“Sorry.”
“Five dollars in the swear jar. And you’re distracting me. Are you watching the movie or not?”
“Yes, yes, sorry,” I say. “Give me a minute to wrap up something on my phone and then I’ll put it away.”
Matt
Tell me how I can make it up to you. I feel awful. You said nobody had ever made a romantic gesture, and now I made things ten times worse.
This time, she responds instantly.
Zoey
Don’t waste my time like that again.
Yeah, she’s furious. And honestly? If I were in her shoes, I’d be livid too. I scrub my beard, thinking.
I owe her an explanation, but without dragging Daphne into it, that’ll be tricky.
My fingers hover above the keyboard. I type out a sentence. Delete. Start again. Delete.
With a sharp exhale, I drag a hand down my face and stare up at the ceiling. Everything I’ve been juggling seems like it’s about to fall to the ground. I’m out of my depth—with my sister, with Zoey.
With all of it.
Finally, I type. And hit send.
Matt
I can’t guarantee that. My parents are out of town this month, and I’m taking care of my sister while they’re away. She wasn’t supposed to come tonight, but she did.
Can I stop by tomorrow morning and bring you breakfast? I want a chance to apologize in person.
Please?
My pulse climbs, thick and tight in my throat, as I wait for her reply. I typed the word autistic next to sister half a dozen times but deleted every one of them.
I glance at Daphne, half expecting her to hit me with another snarky comment, but she’s too into the movie to bother with me, absorbed in a way only she can achieve.
The tightness in my chest loosens at the sight. Never again will I expose her to someone who doesn’t accept her for who she is. Zoey’s only passing through our lives. Daphne doesn’t need to know her.
But now you’re hiding her.
I close my eyes, rubbing my temples.
I’m not hiding her. I’m shielding her until I’m sure she won’t be made to feel less than she is.
I’ll never be ashamed of Daphne. She’s perfect the way she is. And I’m proud of her and how far she’s come, even if the world doesn’t always make it easy for her.
The issue is me. My own trauma. Selfishly, I don’t want to find myself in a place where someone I’m close to makes snarky or disgusting comments about people on the spectrum. I get enough of that with our mother as it is.
And what if Zoey uses my sister for her own gains? What if she thinks she can buy herself some sort of sympathy with the rest of the town if she’s seen with her?
No. That’s a clear line I’m drawing. In any other situation, with strangers, anyone else , I wouldn’t care one bit. I would proudly declare that Daph is autistic only so I can revel in the discomfort they feel when faced with their stupidity.
But I don’t know if I can trust Zoey yet, and there’s no way I’ll put myself or Daph through that.
For now, ignorance is my best friend, especially if I want to see this deal to the end.
Because if Zoey knew that Daphne is autistic and she said anything that would even remotely piss me off, I’d be out before she finished the thought.
I’m still trying to figure out how to make the next few weeks go smoothly. I’ve got enough to worry about without allowing someone else to meddle and screw it all up.
I stare at my phone. Nothing.
Come on, Zoey. Please don’t leave me hanging here.
When the screen lights up, a relieved sigh escapes me.
Zoey
You’re a good brother. I hope she’s okay. Forget about breakfast. I’m sure your plate is full enough without having to worry about me.
The last of the lump in my throat dissolves.
Matt
Good night, Zoey. I’ll see you at Cooper’s tomorrow. Wear casual clothes for setup, but bring something to change into for the evening.
For once, nobody will tease you for wearing something nice.
When she reacts to the text with a heart, I toss my phone onto the cushion.
“Got room for one more?” I scoot toward Daphne, who only has her head peeking out from beneath the blanket.
“No. I don’t want your beard scratching my face.”
Chuckling, I fold my arms behind my head and stretch my legs out on the sectional. “Fine. I’ll make myself comfortable here, then.”
“Shh.”
I snort, and when she shushes me again, I fall silent. Rather than paying attention to the movie, I watch the way the light from the TV dances on her face as she laughs along with the characters and frowns when dramatic music comes on.
Eventually, my gaze shifts to the screen, my thoughts drifting to Zoey.
I will make it up to her. I don’t know how or when, but I will. And hopefully, it’ll be enough to make her forget what a supreme asshole I was tonight.