“We know everything,” Ryan said with a wink. “It’s a skill. And now I’m going to go and see the birthday boy.”
“Oh, and we’re starting a summer series of drag story hours from the start of May,” Rory said as Ryan pulled him away. “You should both bring Jack again. He’d love it! The dates are on Instagram.”
“Sounds great,” I said, hoping I’d remember it after the chaos of the party. The two of them went out into the back garden and I took a moment to breathe while Matty grabbed a platter of cupcakes, each decorated with chocolate bones and dinosaur skulls, off the counter. I was so glad he’d agreed to order all the food rather than try and do it ourselves because I did not have the skill or patience to cater for the fifty or so people that were here.
“How’re you doing?” Matty asked. “Surviving okay?”
“Doing well,” I said with a nod. “Is Jack having fun? I think getting Sally was a great decision. She’s amazing!”
“It was. He’s practically hanging on her every word. I think he’ll be gutted when it’s time for her to leave.”
“I’m sure she’ll have a fun way to say she needs to go home, and we’ll do the cake just before that. Oh, your friends all brought presents, so I told them to take them outside.”
“Yeah, I saw. I got them to put them on the table and Jack can open them later or over the next few days,” Matty said. “I have no idea what they’ve got him, but I’m sure we’ll find out.”
There was an edge of concern to his tone, like he wasn’t sure whether he trusted them or not. I didn’t know any of them well enough to judge, but as long as none of them had brought glitter,then we’d be fine. Anything with glitter would be swiftly and quietly disposed of while Jack wasn’t looking.
Unless the giftee was willing to come round and clean the house afterwards.
“It was nice of them to come, though. They seem very excited,” I said, moving closer to Matty so I could follow him out into the garden. But instead of moving, he put his hand on my waist and kissed me softly.
“Sorry,” he said quietly. “I just had to do that. It’s been too long since I got to kiss you.”
I swallowed, everything I wanted to say getting stuck in my throat. “What if someone sees?”
He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. But how could he be so casual about it? If anyone saw, they’d likely blame me for seducing him and my reputation would be ruined in seconds, not to mention my career. I hadn’t truly realised how much that worried me until now.
My fear warred with my desire to be loved, to have the relationship and family I longed for. And while I knew which side I wanted to win, I didn’t know if it would.
Matty pressed the tray of cupcakes into my hands and smiled at me, clearly not realising anything was wrong. “You take these out. I’m going to get the other vegetable platter out the fridge.”
“Okay,” I said, trying to shake the cloud of doubts settling over me. “I’ll see you in a second.”
I walked through into the utility room and out into the sunshine, nearly crashing straight into Hannah, who was coming the other way. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed her.
“Sorry,” I said with a half smile as I ducked around her. “Matty’s in the kitchen if you’re looking for him.”
I didn’t stop to listen to her response.
I was just thankful she hadn’t walked in ten seconds earlier.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Matty
“So,Matthew, just how long have you been shagging your nanny?” Hannah asked crisply from the other side of the fridge door, her question sending an icy bolt of panic straight down my spine. Thankfully, I was looking into the fridge, so I had two seconds to try and school my expression before I had to look at her.
How the hell had she known? Had she seen me kiss Harper?
No, she’d come in after he’d left. Hadn’t she?
Maybe she’d walked in, seen us, and then left again so she could confront me away from Harper. If that was the case, I appreciated her diplomacy, but I wasn’t going to admit to anything unless I had to.
Deep down, I knew I shouldn’t have kissed Harper but I didn’t regret my actions. Not yet, anyway.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, closing the fridge door with a platter of chopped vegetables in hand. It seemed like an odd choice of food for a kid’s birthday, but as Harper pointed out, it was mostly for the adults. Why thefuck I was thinking about catering choices at that moment, I didn’t know. Maybe my brain had short-circuited with Hannah’s question and it was stuck on what was right in front of me.
“Don’t you dare lie to me,” Hannah said. She was stood by the kitchen island, her expression asking if we were really going to do this. “We promised to be honest with each other.”
