Page 39 of Mr. Red

She blinks several times at me with her mouth open, trying to think of something to say.

“Yeah, Lana. You can’t believe this guy is that great for her if he can’t pick up the phone.”

“Exactly. Thank you, Paige!”

Lana looks around, avoiding us.

Paige giggles. “You guys, I’m so hungry! Let’s go get some pizza. Scarlett, you need to forget about Matt. Let’s get you some sausage in your mouth; that’ll help.”

“I don’t eat sausage!” I laugh. “Macaroni and cheese with pizza sounds amazing, though!”

“I can’t believe you denied the other sausage! Liam was cute.”

“He was alright.”

“Since I’ve met you, I’ve had way too much macaroni and cheese in my life. That’s like all you eat.” She pauses. “Anyway, don’t worry about Matt. It’s going to be alright with or without him. You know why?”

I look down at my feet and cross my arms. “Why?”

“Because you have us.” Paige pulls us by our necks into a hug. “In particular, you haveme. So stop worrying about ape man.”

Paige pulling me in is making me realize how nauseous I am. I almost stumble once she lets go. Might have had too much alcohol tonight. I’m thankful I didn’t make any bad decisions. We pile into a cab where I focus on the air conditioning blowing my hair instead of throwing up in the backseat.

Twenty minutes later, our driver pulls up to my little cottage. A familiar car is parked across from my place, but it’s far from my mind. Lana and Paige are smiling weirdly.

“You guys coming?” I steady myself on the hood onceI get out of the car.

“I think we’re going to leave. You have fun! Tell him what an ass he was and then have angry sex.” Paige smiles while her eyebrows move up and down.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, looking around.

“That sausage you wanted is at your door.” She points.

Matt’s here.

Chapter 24

Matt

I’ve had the week from hell. I didn’t want to call Scarlett due to the circumstances; I wasn’t sure whether I should involve her or not.

I was already on my way back to Washington when I got her voicemail. I was planning on seeing her tomorrow, but the message left me thinking I should’ve reached out to her sooner. I need to make things right between us. She was obviously a little mad. Here I am waiting at her house, straight from the airport.

She starts walking up the pathway. Her hair is blowing away from her face. Her dress looks hot as fuck. Her eyes are glowing. She’s a fucking siren.

She’s also a little pale and shaky.

“What are you doing here, Matt?” she asks with a scowl.

“You sounded mad. Thought I could cheer you up.” I smirk with my hands in my pockets.

“Youare the reason I’m mad! Don’t even think about giving me you’re cute little grin.”

“You like my grin?” I keep it in place.

She stares at me, crosses her arms over her chest, and hunches over.

“I know, I know. I didn’t call. I can explain.” I try to show her I mean no harm by showing her my palmstoward my head. “You don’t look too well.” I frown. “You okay?”