With a quick kiss I say, “Thank you for being patient and understanding.”We lie there in silence with him beside me, holding my hands.
Later, lying in bed alone, I feel awful about Matt, then Nick calls, and God help me, I was happy to hear from him.
It all comes to ahead a week later when I’m getting ready for my date with Matt and I open my door to both of them standing there looking like they’re ready to lock horns and rip each other to shreds.
What the hell is going on?I’ve been feeling nauseated and tired the entire day.I don’t want to navigate this land mine.“Guys, please—”
“What is he doing here, Cat?”
“I don’t know, Matt.”
“Why the hell do you keep showing up here uninvited?”he says to Nick.
“I don’t answer to you.If you want to take this outside and get some things straight, I’m more than willing.It would be a pleasure.”
Matt moves toward Nick, and I think I’m going to throw up.I rush between them with my back to Matt and put my hand up against Nick’s chest, trying to defuse this as fast as I can.My heart is beating double time, and in an instance all it would take is the raise of a hand for someone to be seriously hurt.“Nick, please go.I’ll call you later.”
Nick’s eyes land on me for the first time and some of the anger in his voice fades.“Are you all right?I know we talked today, but I wanted to make sure you were good.”
“I’m fine.I’ll talk to you later.”He backs away, and I run my fingers through my hair and turn around to Matt’s angry stare.“Matt—”
“No!You talked to himtoday, and he shows up here again uninvited?”
“Matt—”
“Are you talking to him every day?What the hell is going on, Cat, for him to feel so comfortable that he can show up at your door any time he feels like it?And I don’t see you putting up much of a protest.”
“What do you want me to say, Matt?”
“I want the truth—you can start with that.”
“I think you should step inside so we can talk.”He steps inside, and I look behind me in the direction Nick went, closing the door.
We sit on the couch, and I start talking, telling him the truth without telling him about the pregnancy.I explain about passing out, going to the hospital, and staying at Nick’s house so he could keep an eye on me.
“Why didn’t you tell me all this?”
I shrug my shoulders, not knowing what to say and not wanting to say too much.
“If you were with me in here,” he says, brushing the back of his fingers over my heart.“And in here,” he says again, brushing a strand of my hair back from my face.“You would have told me.I’m willing to try and work on this, but I think we both know what’s going to happen.”
I clear my throat for real this time, and it’s not because of my nausea.I don’t want to cry.“Matt, you’re a great guy, and an even better friend.You need a girl with a less complicated life.It wouldn’t be right for me to be in a relationship with you and not give you my all, and right now I can’t.Not right now, anyway.”
“The timing is never right with us.Maybe one day it will be.”
“Maybe,” I say, my voice wavering.
“Can I ask you for one last thing before I leave?”
“Of course.”
“One last kiss.”
“You didn’t even have to ask.”I lean into him, opening my mouth against his, brushing my tongue across the seam of his lips.He opens his mouth and gently sucks my tongue into his mouth, making me moan, and when he tilts his head, deepening the kiss, I let him.
We sit with our foreheads pressed together, and he says, “It always comes down to one last kiss for us, doesn’t it?”
I swipe my thumb across his lips and smile.“Yes, but I can honestly say your kisses make my toes curl.”
