He hesitated a moment, then shook his head.
“I love her, Kit, and I’m going to marry her.” Matt took a seat beside him, an arm going around his shoulders. “But that doesn’t mean I love you any less.”
“I remember what that feels like,” he said with a deep sigh, his voice flat.
Christ, it always goes back to her, doesn’t it?
“You can feel it again, and with someone who truly deserves you.” Forcing Kit to look at him, Matt held onto his chin. “Courtney never did.”
A tremor passed through his body, and he closed his eyes, lashes pressed tightly against his skin. He stayed like that for a moment, then opened them again. The pain Matt saw in their liquid depths was as fresh and raw and visceral as the day Kit stood on his porch all those years ago.
“Let her go.”
Kit snickered.
“I won’t pretend to know what betrayal like that feels like, but I know what it did to you—what it’s still doing to you.” Matt pulled Kit against his shoulder, and with sincerity, he said, “See a therapist if that’s what it takes. You’ve already wasted sixteen years dwelling on someone who didn’t deserve sixteen seconds in your head. She never deserved your heart. But I guarantee you there’s somebody out there who does.”
Kit shrugged.
And his tone softened. “Let her go.”
“I love you, Matt, and I’m happy for you and Gina. Truly, I am. But I’m gonna miss the way things were before.” He threw his head back on the sofa, and shaking it, he croaked out a laugh. “God, now I’m stuck sharing a bus with Sloan.”
“It’s a top-class ride, though.”
Kit elbowed him in the ribs. “Yeah, and at least he doesn’t snore.”
“I don’t either.”
“Yeah, bro, you do.” He picked up his headphones. “Now, go home to your girl.”
And clasping his shoulders, Matt stood. “I’ll always be here for you. You know that, right?”
I love you, Kit.
Putting his headphones back on, he nodded. “I know.”
He was done decking the halls, feasting on seven fishes at the Rossi’s house, singing fa la la la la and “Happy Birthday” at Linnea’s, and overdosing onpanettone, marshmallow frosting, and hot cocoa.
Fun is fun, but two events on Christmas Eve were more than enough.
At least Gina got them out of going to Midnight Mass.
Matt wanted to get to the good part.
A Christmas tree stood in the corner by the fireplace. After his grandmother died, he never bothered with one, didn’t see the point, but Gina insisted, and he couldn’t say no to her. So, on Black Friday, they went to the tree lot on First Avenue, thenspent the rest of the day picking out shiny baubles and lights before going back home to decorate it.
Matt had one more sparkly thing to add. He tied it to a ribbon and hung it from the lowest bough where Gina would be sure to see it.
Then, he opened a bottle of Spumante and waited.
She came down the stairs wearing red Lululemon and an oversized cardigan sweater with one of those sexy little bra tops underneath. No makeup. Dark chocolate waves in a pile on her head. And she looked fucking gorgeous.
He handed her a glass of the sparkling Italian wine, and she cuddled with him in front of the fire. “This is perfect.Salute.”
“To us.” Matt clinked his glass with hers. “Merry Christmas, bunny.”
“I hope we didn’t look rude leaving Linn’s.”
