Chapter 18
It was a rainy day. That wasn't too bad for Bailey since he had to work anyway, but Joey was on the porch with his toys, pouting at the rain and watching the waves crash.
He would have gone out there even in the rain, even with the bigger waves, but he had to content himself with pretending to spot pirate ships.
Going to get some water, Bailey noticed that Matt looked antsy as he straightened in the living room. "What's wrong?"
"I ran out of thing to do," he said with a huff.
"You're just too good at your job," Bailey told him with a smile, but Matt was frowning.
"I want to be useful. Earn what you're paying me."
"You don't have to be doing something every second. You can just keep Joey company," Bailey told him, but Matt's frown only deepened.
"So you don't need me to do anything useful? Is that because you only hired me as a charity case because you knew I needed money for school?" Matt asked.
"No. I do need you so I can focus on work. And you got this house into shape," Bailey told him. "You have been a big help."
"I'm the help. An employee. Nothing more?" Matt asked.
Bailey felt like he didn't know what this conversation was about.
He thought it was about Matt's job but now it was becoming personal.
He got flustered, not sure what he could say without scaring him off, and suddenly Matt was walking away.
As he went out to sit with Joey, Bailey heard Matt ask, "Do you want to read something together? "
Bailey could hardly go after him now, and what would he say? He was sure he wanted too much from Matt, so much he was afraid to think it. Saying it seemed impossible, but he could at least tell Matt that he cared about him.
Back at his desk, Bailey wondered if he should text Matt, but even then he had trouble putting into words what he felt.
If he was completely honest, it seemed like he was going too far, but holding back and saying something bland and reassuring seemed pointless.
Was he really this bad at expressing himself?
Then Matt came in and stood in the doorway to the office. He looked unsure then he sighed. "I'm really sorry about before. I didn't mean to pressure you like that."
"No, it's OK," Bailey told him, he was going to say more, but Matt cut in.
"Good. Because I'm about to make it worse. Will you go on a date with me?" Matt said.
In shock, Bailey couldn't answer. He was happy and about to say yes, but Matt was turning away.
"I guess that's a no. Sorry."
This time Bailey didn't let Matt get too far away.
He found him in the kitchen getting a snack for Joey.
"I wish you would stop walking away just because I'm slow to answer.
Give a guy a minute," he said to Matt. "I would love to go out with you any time, anywhere, as long as we can get a babysitter for Joey. "
Matt smiled and looked kind of sheepish. "Sorry. I should have let you answer. You just have me all tied up in knots. I feel like I'm going crazy wondering if you're into me, and how much."
With his heart beating out of control and a lump in his throat, Bailey went over to him. He took Matt's beautiful face in his hands and kissed him then he told him, "Trust that I'm into you more than I can say."
Matt said they should go out on Gwen's night off so she could babysit.
Bailey wasn't sure if she would want to, but Matt was sure she would.
Since Bailey planned to ask her, he also had to tell her that he was going on a date with her brother.
The next day, while Matt took Joey to watch some surfers, Bailey went to visit Gwen at the bar.
She was about to take her break and she wanted a sorbet so they grabbed some and walked the pier together. "I assume you talked to Matt about that rumor," Bailey said.
"Finally. I wasn't going to tell him about it, just let it die down," Gwen said.
"I thought that was just me," Bailey said.
"No, we're both cowards," she told him.
"I knew I was but I'm surprised about you," Bailey told her. "But I guess that's not an easy thing to bring up with your brother."
"Yeah. He's had a hard time with people letting him down and assuming things about him, trying to take advantage of him. I was hoping this whole thing would blow over without him knowing anything about it," Gwen said.
"Me too. He was mad at me for talking to you about it and not him," Bailey said.
"Yeah, I got an earful about that too," she said.
"We did make up, and now Matt and I are going on a date," Bailey told her and she looked surprised.
"I knew something was brewing between you two," she said and she didn't look thrilled.
"You didn't approve of him working for me and now this. Maybe you really don't like me," Bailey said though he didn't really think that was it. Probably.
"No, but this is the kind of thing I worry about," she said. "I knew Matt would get too attached to you, and Joey too. He's too softhearted. You're exactly the kind of guy he would get all wrapped up in."
"So you don't think we should be dating."
"Is it dating or one date?" she questioned him.
Bailey almost said he didn't know but then he told her, "I'll go on as many dates with Matt as I can get."
Gwen laughed. "Ugh, you're too much alike, all earnest and pure of heart. If you weren't leaving, I'd say you were perfect for each other."
Now Bailey almost told her that Matt could come with them, but he didn't want to get ahead of himself. Maybe Matt didn't want that.
"You two could be in for some serious heartbreak," Gwen predicted.
"Do you mean me and Joey?" Bailey asked.
"I meant you and Matt, but I guess Joey's heart might get broken too," Gwen said.
"So you want to babysit him?" Bailey asked.
"That's what this is about? I thought you wanted my blessing," she said.
"I wanted both your blessing and babysitting," Bailey said. "I didn't get your blessing and I understand if I don't get the babysitting either."
"You get both," Gwen told him. "I like you, and I like you for Matt. I just worry."
"OK. I worry too," he admitted. It was easy to want someone like Matt, but to be wanted in return and to make it real, to make it last... It was asking a lot, but Bailey had to go for it. Matt was just too wonderful to resist.