“Actually, I told my mom I might crash here tonight.” My cheeks heated with my admission. Maybe I should have talked to Matt about it before warning Mom I might not be home, but I didn’t figure he’d have a problem sharing his bed. If I had my way, I’d be here more often than in my own bed while we were on break. “Is that okay with you?”
“That depends,” Matt teased. He spun around, pulling my back to his chest. I threw my head to the side when he started nibbling on my neck. “Do you plan on crashing on the floor like you did when we were kids?”
“Fuck no,” I responded instantly. I didn’t want to go another night without knowing how it felt to have Matt asleep in my arms. There were so many other things I wanted to experience, too, but I didn’t want to rush things with him. He wasn’t a quick hook-up or someone to fuck around with untilthe onecame along. He was my best friend and he deserved to know how badly Ineededhim in my life.
“Then yeah, you can crash here tonight.” He backed away, turning his head to look over his shoulder as he exited the kitchen. “But you should probably know, there’s a strict no-clothes policy in my bed.”
“I think I can live with that,” I agreed.
Going out was starting to sound like a horrible idea, but it was the smart decision. If we stayed here, my resolve to take things slow would detonate.
“Good, then get changed into real clothes and we’ll head out,” I told him. Matt looked down at his attire as if he was trying to figure out why sweats and a ratty t-shirt weren’t acceptable. The boy was a mess. “If you want me to be seen in public with you, at least put on a shirt that’s not stained and ratty.”
“But I like this shirt,” he protested. I was well aware that it was his favorite shirt, and it was perfectly acceptable for lounging at the house, but that was it. He’d had it since freshman year, and I wasn’t sure how many more washes it could go through before he pulled out the tattered cloth and wept. I pursed my lips and glared at him. “Fine. You’re no fun.”
“Behave and I’ll show you exactly how much fun I can be,” I teased him. So far, we’d done little more than making out while pretending to watch TV. Neither of us seemed to be in a hurry, but I knew he wanted more. Tonight, I wanted to feel his lips around my cock as I fucked his face. I knew the type of shit he watched when he thought I was sleeping, and Matt liked it a little bit rough. We’d see if the reality lived up to his fantasies. “Now, change or I’m leaving without you.”
Matt crossed the space between us in three long strides. He slid a hand under my shirt. I groaned when he flicked his thumb over my nipple. He leaned in close enough our lips were almost touching but not quite. “You have no clue how much it turns me on when you get all pushy and demanding.”
“I’m pretty sure I have an idea,” I responded breathlessly. I cupped a hand over his erection, giving it a quick squeeze. He whimpered when I released him. “Go. I mean it, Matty.”
* * *
The mall was pure chaos,not that I expected anything less. From what Kim had said, it got worse every day as the holiday approached, as if shoppers were shocked to realize they were running out of time. The good news was it was busy enough no one noticed when I slid my hand into Matt’s, lacing our fingers together. We didn’t live in a conservative area, but it was still strange to be so out in public with a man I’d been wandering these corridors with for years.
“Do you know what you’re going to get for your mom?” I asked as we waited in line at the coffee kiosk. I waved Matt off when his hand moved toward his back pocket. His mom insisted that he not get a job while he was at school so he could focus on his studies, and I didn’t want him burning through the little bit of cash he always managed to have on him. Now that we were dating or whatever, it was my prerogative to spoil the hell out of him.
“A week or two on a tropical island?” So that was a no. We went through this every year. His mom always insisted she didn’t want him spending his money on her, and in turn, he believed her. But she busted her ass for him, and she deserved to be pampered from time to time. “Don’t look at me in that tone of voice.”
“That doesn’t even make sense.” I chuckled and shook my head. “You can’t not get her a Christmas present, Matty.”
“But she won’t tell me what she wants,” he protested.
“We’ll figure out something she’ll love.” While he ordered, I pulled out my phone and texted my own mom for some ideas. Although she had expensive taste, she was always good about making suggestions Kim would appreciate.
Matt reached for his wallet again and I leveled him with a glare. Today was my idea, and as the asker of the date, he couldn’t bitch about me paying for him. Oh, he tried, but after a short stare-down, while the barista pretended we weren’t making him uncomfortable, I won. Obviously.
We slid to the opposite end of the counter and waited for our drinks. I grabbed the wrong one first. Matt’s drink was so sweet, I swore I could feel the sugar drilling holes in my teeth.
“How is your mom doing, anyway?” It was strange that I hadn't run into her since we'd been home, but I knew she was picking up extra hours. I wished there was something I could do to help Matt, so his mom wasn't constantly overwhelmed. But like my mom said, they were some of the proudest people I'd ever met and didn't accept help easily.
Stubborn was more like it.
Matt shrugged. “She's good. I think she's seeing someone and doesn't want to tell me.”
“Why do you say that?” With a hand pressed to Matt’s back, I guided him around a pack of teens who were giggling and moving slower than snails.
“She gets a ride into work most days and, a couple of times, she's been the one texting me to let me know she wouldn't be home at night. She says she's crashing at a friend’s house, but come on, did she really expect me to believe that?”
“Maybe she is,” I suggested. “And if sheisdating, would it make a difference?”
“I guess not but why wouldn't she tell me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Have you met you? It's been just the two of you your entire life, and ever since high school, you've been the one looking out for her. You’re protective of her—not that that’s a bad thing, but she might not want you glaring into the new guy’s soul. Maybe things are new, and she doesn't want to rush into anything before she knows if it's going to last.”
“That's stupid,” Matt scoffed. “I've been telling her ever since I could remember that she needs to find someone. I never wanted her to put her life on hold for me.”
“And yet she did, because she's your mom and she loves you.”
