Page 20 of Healing Conviction

“Why the heck do you think that?”

“You don’t know all of it. But I almost got him killed, Matt. There’s no way he wants me. I’m adistraction. This is seriously a business trip. Nothing more.”

Matt’s lips pursed. “You see a lot, Nora. You know people better than anyone, and you read them like a book. But you’re wrong about this.”

“I don’t know…”

He chuckled and set down his glass. “How much you wanna bet?”

“Abet? Withme? You know I always win.”

“Not this time, you won’t. So what’ll it be? You can even set the stakes.”

His easy smile had her more relaxed by the second, thankful he wasn’t angry. It really was a shame she couldn’t commit. He’d be such a good boyfriend.

She snapped her fingers. “How ‘bout this? If Drake and I get together, you ask Melly out.”

“Melly, huh?” He nodded slowly before grinning wider. “Okay… and if y’all don’t?”

Nora lifted a shoulder. “You ask her out anyway.”

Matt tipped his head back and laughed. “You drive a hard bargain.”

She’d sort of broken up with him, and here he was, smiling and having a good time. Happiness was his default setting. True happiness. Not the kind she painted on like another step in her makeup routine, hoping no one saw through the bright colors to the black void underneath.

The shiny emotion dimmed for a moment as he swallowed, apprehension taking its place. “Do you, um. Do you really think she’d go for me?”

Nora nodded so hard her neck cracked. “Absolutely, dude. While you’ve been busy seeing Drake allegedly look at me some type of way, I’ve been seeing Melly do the same for you. Seriously, you should def ask her out.”

He sighed and rolled the bottom of his empty glass from side to side. The silence made her squirm and she couldn’t keep quiet. “Um… is it weird we’re talking about this?”

“Nah. Different. But not weird.” He sat up in his chair with a mischievous glint in his dark brown eyes. “So the bet is that whether or not you and Draco get together… I ask Melly out?” Nora nodded. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

“But for the record, you and Draco are gonna wind up together.” He pointed at her like a stern father. “And if he treats you wrong, I’ll take him down. I don’t care if he’s got sixty pounds on me. I’m scrappy when it comes to my friends.”

My friends.Was it really this easy?

“So…” she ventured. “That’s it?”

“What’s it?”

“You know… we’re just… done? Just like that? No yelling? No cursing? No throwing me out of the restaurant?”

Matt reared back as if she slapped him. “The hell, Nora? What makes you think I’d do that?”

Because that’s how men are.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it instead. He was right. Her reaction and the way she’d been dreading the meal, expecting him to blow up on her, wasn’t fair. It would’ve been totally out of character based off of everything she knew about him.

Oh gods, I thought I’d gotten over my past.

“I-I don’t know, Matt. I’m sorry. I didn’t really assume. I just expected it, I guess. People don’t usually handle being told ‘no’ very well.”

The soft, understanding smile was back. It bewildered her to no end, but it was comforting all the same. “I can be an adult about this not working out. It sucks, because you’re great. But I can move on and hope the best for you.”

She blinked rapidly, wondering when the apparition was going to disappear. “Is this real life right now?”

A slow laugh rumbled out of him. “We’re good, I swear. Just relax. You’re acting like you’re about to flee the table.”