“Matty!” I holler, my rough voice barking through the empty shop, then pull him up for a wet, sloppy kiss.
* * *
A few days later, Matty and I make plans to hang again. There’s no excuse this time, no fake boyfriend scheme or tattoo appointment or anything like that.
He’s just coming by the shop after close so we can pick up dinner and chill at my place.
I clean up the shop, hauling my bucket full of cleaning supplies from room to room while I sanitize everything. For a couple days, I’ve been giving myself a pep talk. I’m going to tell Matty how I feel, let him know there’s something real going on here.
Fuck, I feel like I’m in junior high, all nervous to ask some guy to be my boyfriend.
But it does make me nervous. I’m scared I can’t be the kind of guy he deserves. And I’m nervous as hell because I know exactly what happens when I start to trust someone.
It’s like a switch. One minute, I have someone good in my life, someone who will look out for me. The next, everything falls apart again. I’m abandoned and alone and out on my ass with no one but myself to turn to.
I shake away those thoughts the best I can when I hear a knock on the door. I hurry up front to let Matty in, locking the door behind as I spin him and press him to the wall with a kiss.
“Hmmm,” he hums against my mouth. “Happy to see me?”
I push my hair back. “Can you tell?”
He laughs and grabs my hand. “In that case, let’s get out of here. The sooner we’re back at your place, the happier I’ll be.”
I grab him by the hips and haul him close, devouring him in the middle of the shop. For a minute, I lose myself in that heat. Matty drags his hard erection against mine, and I bury my fingers into the soft give of his ass.
Fuck, we’re hot together.
I lift him with a half-spin and then finally pull my lips away. “Truck’s out the back.”
Matty helps me flip the lights off and give the shop one more glance before we head to the alley, which empties into a tiny, poorly lit lot. Our fingers lace together, and I squeeze his hand while he tells me about his day and the progress he’s been making on the animation.
When we get to my truck, though, my heart stops. There are two guys waiting there, leaning against the back of it. They’re both taller than me with easily fifty pounds more than I carry on my lanky frame.
They look pissed.
I hold Matty’s hand tight and nod my head back casually. It’s best to just breeze through shit like this whenever possible, but when they don’t move, my stomach lurches.
This is bad fucking news.
“Something I can help you with?” I ask.
Matty’s silent beside me, and every single thought in my head screams about him. I have to keep him safe, whatever this is, but I don’t dare to look at him.
My eyes are laser focused on these men, each one standing and tightening their hands into fists.
“Just enjoying the evening,” the taller man says.
I stop and glance between them. “If you don’t mind, that’s my truck.”
The shorter guy steps forward and, without another word, shoves me hard on the chest. My hand rips out of Matty’s as we both stumble back. He lets out a startled yelp, and I look his way, raising a hand to tell him to stay back.
I’ll take a thousand fists in the gut if it means Matty can get away.
“What the fuck,” I groan, gritting my teeth as I look up to the men. Adrenaline spikes through my veins, and my muscles clench.
I’m not strong, but I know how to fucking fight.
“This isn’t fun for us,” one man grunts.
