“They’d like you,” he said. “I think my sisters would grill you. They’re both in college right now. Amaya is in school for literature. Whitney is studying chemistry. My brother, Zach, is annoying but cool. He teaches high school English and likes to be insufferable about Shakespeare sometimes. He’sinfluencing the youths.”
I grinned. “It sounds like two of you got the artsy brain and two of you got the science-y brain.”
“Yep,” he chuckled. “My mom is the science-y one. She works in forensics. My dadlovesreading. He has way more books than me. Also, he will undoubtedly make you play poker with him if you mention you’re good. He likes card games.”
“Is that where you get your game nerdiness from?”
“It is,” he laughed. “We’re a thousand-piece puzzle over the holidays kind of family.”
That sounded really warm and cozy and like something that would make me secretly cry in the bathroom because I’d always wanted a family like that.
“Come home with me over the holidays,” he said. “I know it’s early. But, you should come with me. And hopefully Evie and Austin can come too. But, at the very least, come with me.”
“Okay,” I breathed out. “I’ll be nervous. Holidays have always been just for work.”
Matthew shook his head. “My mother will scold you if she sees you working on holiday.”
The sticky happy feeling came back to my chest, but it wasn’t as scary this time. “Sounds perfect,” I murmured. “The real question is, do I let your dad win at poker?”
“I’d give him one round.”
We grinned together, and the rest of our dinner conversation flowed. The food was amazing. By the time we polished ourplates and I made him let me do the dishes, I found out he’d even made dessert.
So we settled on the couch together with vanilla ice cream and box-mix brownies, and I swore it was the best thing I’d ever had. But maybe that’s because it was with him.
“I have an idea,” Matthew said.
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
“Yeah. How about we watch a movie? And just have an easy night.”
“You mean you don’t want sex?” I asked.
Matthew bumped my foot with his. “Of course I do, but I think it’d be nice to save it for the morning and just cuddle.”
I licked a bit of chocolate off my lip and took another bite of ice cream. “Okay,” I finally said.
He snorted. “When was the last time someone didn’t just want you for the sex?”
He was teasing, but it hit a little too close to home. I tensed, but then he immediately leaned forward with a frown.
“I’m sorry,” he said gently. “Nick, I didn’t mean to hit a nerve. You know that Evie also just wantsyouright? I mean the sex is amazing. But I want you around always.”
I cleared my throat. “I don’t think I know what I’m doing.”
“That’s okay.” He kissed me on the lips and I sighed, pressing my forehead against his.
“You’re too good to be true,” I mumbled. “Thank you. For everything tonight. I’d like to stay.”
“Good. Stay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Evie
It was going to be a shit show. I already had a feeling in my gut, and when I got that feeling, it was always right.
I didn't know why, not yet, but my intuition was telling me tonight was going to be rough.
