My head whipped around to stare at him. She didn’t; her grandmother did. Mom was the manager.Why does it matter?
“Why are you pushing this?”
Matt turned into the hospital lot.
“Just trying to understand why you think you can’t have both.”
But why?
Matt wasn’t interested in anything long-term, and even if he was, he could have any girl he wanted. He wouldn’t want me. Men like Matt needed to be needed. I didn’t need him, plus I came with not one, but three obnoxiously over-protective brothers and my father was his boss.
Sure, Matt and I had chemistry, but that didn’t mean we had real feelings. Chemistry, no matter how hot it burned, didn’t equal a relationship.
Matt’s hand covered mine and gently nudged my fingers until I stopped picking at my cuticles.
“Madi, what’s eating at you?”
“Just worried about Emily.”
“It’s fine if you don’t want to talk, though I wish you would, but please don’t insult me by lying.”
What?How did he know I was lying? It wasn’t the first time Matt had seen past my protective shell and called me on it.
I stared at his strong, protective hand as his thumb traced circles on the back of my left hand.He’s holding my hand and comforting me. Like a real boyfriend would.
It didn’t matter that he didn’t know why I was upset. He saw a need and filled it, quietly and humbly, rather than assuming I didn’t want comfort.
He sees right through me.
A girl could get addicted to that kind of attention.
I curled my fingers a little tighter around his hand.
“My mind is a mess. I can’t talk until I sort through some of it.”
He nodded in understanding.
We finished the ride in a comfortable silence that I’d never achieved with anyone outside my family.
Matt pulled up to the front door. He put the truck in park, and said, “Shit.”
“What?”
“I can’t just drop you off.” He tapped his phone screen. “Call John Sheppard.”
“I think I’ll be safe at a hospital,” I said, eager to get to the labor and delivery wing.
“Robinson, where are you?” Dad’s voice filled the cab.
“At the entrance. Can you come down?”
“On my way.” Silence followed the click.
I crossed my arms, huffed out an annoyed breath, and waited.
“Madi.” Matt reached over and squeezed my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I get you think this is overkill, but I won’t risk it.”
“Risk what? Getting in trouble?”
