And shit, it’s alreadynine. I’m late picking up Mickey again. That’s three days in a row. At least, today he’s with Cami and Bree, and they’ve been married for a decade and won’t glare at me if they have to hold off on other activities for a few minutes.
On that note, I pick up Matt’s call because he must be calling to apologize, and I have a big heart.
“Hey, little bro,” Matt greets me.
I scowl at the car speaker and start my car. “Not little,” Igrumble.
He laughs like he was expecting that. “So, you’re back home?” he asks suspiciously and without context.
“On the way,” I say vaguely.
“Mm-hmm.”
I narrow my eyes at the road. “Okay, so go on with your apology. I’m waiting,” I prompt.
“What apology?”
“You were so rude to Mickey and me yesterday, just because I was a few minutes late. As if life as a single dad isn’t hard enough,” I complain.
Matt sighs. “You were supposed to pick him up at eight thirty, and you didn’t reach here before ten. And you’re definitely not raising him alone,” Matt says completely unapologetically.
My mouth hangs open.
“And we weren’t rude to you. Oliver was tired after taking Mickey for a run, so he wanted to sleep. Just because he didn’t feed you doesn’t mean we were rude. You know Oliverdoesn’trun,” Matt stresses.
Well, that’s true. Oliver hated exercising. I was amazed by how he’s able to stay fit with all the delicious food he makes, and with the lack of running, climbing, or gymming. But the guy basically eats nothing and chooses to walk everywhere, like a heroine from a Jane Austen novel. “Tell him the salad he packed for me was delicious as always,” I say because I have manners.
“You’re so spoiled,” Matt grumbles.
He’s not wrong.
“Do I even want to know where you’re right now?” he asks, hesitant.
“No?”
Matt sighs. “Nick. You said you were dating Elliot, so you wouldn’t have to continue your psychopath stalker routine. Now,that’sa sentence I never thought I’d say.”
“Yeah, yeah. My life is too interesting. And yes, that’s why I’m dating him or was dating him. I don’t know where we areat the moment,” I confess.
“Well, I was surprised that he agreed to the first date, so this checks out,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Hey.”
“C’mon,youwere surprised too. You were sure he was going to say no,” he insists.
“I mean, yeah, but you don’t have to be mean about it.”
Matt snorts. “If you think that’s mean, you probably shouldn’t be dating Elliot.”
Fair.
“Well, I’m not.” He made sure of it by not replying to the text. The guy is clearly avoiding me. It does set me back a step in my investigation, but I guess I can fit in a few stalking sessions even with my current schedule.
“Ugh, okay, I hate that I’m offering this, but he’s coming over for dinner Saturday. Maybe I can ask him why he’s not interested. I can’t make any promises, though, the guy scares me,” Matt says.
Wait a minute. Elliot is going to Matt’s? A place I can run into him accidentally?Huh. It’s nice of Matt to offer to have a full conversation with Elliot, but from experience, I know it’s impossible, borderline dangerous. You need a professional interrogator for that. Matt needs saving, and I’ll never shrug off my responsibility.
“Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” Matt warns.
