“Matt,” I whisper.
He stills, then straightens slightly. “Come here,” he says, voice gravelly, pulling me in.
I slide my arms around his back, pressing my ear to his chest.
“You okay?” he asks.
I shake my head against him, my eyes brimming with tears. “Not really,” I choke out.
His palm rubs slow circles into my back, and he kisses the top of my head. “I’m here for you, babe. Always.”
I tighten my grip.
Why?
Why is he still here? Why does he keep showing up and letting me back in after all these years? After all the breakups. After all the times I said I only wanted to be friends with benefits.
When I act like it doesn’t bother me that he’s slept with every other woman in New York. When I tell him Iwanthim to see other people.
When in reality, that’s not what I want at all.
Not even a little.
God, I don’t deserve him. The comment section was right.
He could do so much better.
“I know,” I say quietly. “I know.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MATT
Ten Weeks Until the Guardianship Hearing
My gaze driftsto Jordan sitting across from me. Laptop open. Blue-light glasses on. Completely absorbed in her work.
She looks pretty.
Shealwayslooks pretty. And living with her this past week has only made that clearer.
She hasn’t said much about her family since that night. Just a quiet shake of her head when I ask if she wants to talk about it. If she’s talked to anyone at all. I don’t push. I never have with her. Wouldn’t get me anywhere, anyway.
We both work a lot, so we haven’t had nearly as much time together as I expected now that we’re under the same roof. A few hours in the evenings and passing moments in the mornings. Some days I’m gone before I even see her.
Lately, my thoughts circle three things on repeat: work, Jordan, and Cole.
And for the last hour? It’s been Cole.
We’re on our way to Chicago for our first weekend with him, and—fuck, I’m nervous. Not about spending time with him. That part’seasy. What’s tying my chest in knots is thinking about what it means now.
I’m practically auditioning for guardianship. I’m not just his godfather anymore. I no longer get to befun Uncle Matt, the one he sees for a few weeks over summer breaks and holidays.
My role is shifting into something it was never supposed to be. Something bigger.
I’ll always be Uncle Matt to Cole. That title just means something different now.
I let out a heavy breath, like that’ll somehow sort the chaos in my head.
