Page 13 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

“What’d you do after work?” He’s been cagey about telling me. Wine doesn’t work that fast, but I’m hoping maybe it’ll lower his inhibitions.

He bites his bottom lip, and I’m tempted to reach over and stop him before he draws blood. “Promise you won’t laugh?”

“I swear.” I stick my hand up in the air. I’m pretty good at schooling my facial reactions. It comes with a job where people tell me all sorts of things about how they get and spend money. I hope that’s enough practice for whatever he’s about to admit.

“I’m taking night classes at the community college.” His tone is so ashamed that I run the words back through my head again to ensure I heard him correctly.

“Why would I laugh about that?”

“Cause I’m probably going to fuck it up. Again .” He gulps down what’s left of his wine, face scrunching up as he swallows it.

“I highly doubt that.” I’m trying to unpack the various statements he’s making. It’s obvious there’s a lot of baggage around the topic. “Why would I think you’ll fu—mess it up? ”

“I failed out the first time.” I wait to see if he’s going to continue the story. “It was a couple of years ago, back when I was at a university in Alabama. Once I got sick, I couldn’t hold things together, and I had to drop out and come home.”

“That’s not the same as failing out.” I knew many people who failed out in the first few years of school.

Most came from business families and thought their name would be enough to get them through the rigorous work.

Too much partying and not enough time in the library eventually caught up to them.

I might not know the whole story, but I know enough about Frank to know that there was more to it.

“You were ill and struggling. That’s a totally different situation.

” Hell, one time, the flu knocked me down for a week, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever catch up.

“Yeah, my family didn’t see it that way.” The pain of the experience is clear on his face. I wish I could reach out and pull him into a hug. He needs it, but I’m not sure what the rules are here. “Either way, this time is going to be different.” He sticks his jaw out in a move that’s adorable.

FRANK

“This time I’m in school because I really want to be.

Not because it’s what people do after high school.

” Two years off was enough to convince me that I really wanted a degree.

One that would let me pursue the career I wanted.

That might have changed a few times, but now that I’d had time to really look around and see a range of options, it was also easier to pick something. “I think I can do it.”

I’m not sure why I’m spilling my guts to Matthias. No one knows I’m going to school except Sam and Benji. Not even the other members of the crew.

He’s been ridiculously generous, letting me use his house.

It’s more comfortable than the diner and cheaper.

I feel bad eating his food and now drinking his wine.

Not enough to stop, but still bad. I’m not sure he can comprehend how much it means to me.

For the first time in maybe ever, I have a place to go where I can be myself for a few hours each night.

Relax and tackle my list without being completely on guard.

Though, admittedly. I’ve been a little… lax on the studying.

In my defense, I don’t remember the last time I got a real TV to myself.

At home, the only TV is in the living room.

That one comes with helpful commentary from my parents and a lot of oversight.

In my room, I’m stuck watching on either my shitty laptop or my phone.

No matter what people say, it’s not the same on a tiny screen.

“I know you can.” His words warm my heart—and my face—but he doesn’t mean them. He can’t. He doesn’t know me well enough or know all the ways I’ve fucked up over the years. It’s a long list. Trust me.

This is the first night Matthias has said more than two sentences to me. Sure, I’ve imagined a lot of conversations with him, but those don’t count. Not really.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.” I start to add that I don’t have to answer it, but between the way my tongue loosens around him and the wine, I’m sure I’ll answer whatever he asks.

Matthias stares at me, mouth open, like he can’t remember what he was going to say. “Can I watch an episode of your show with you?”

“Uh, sure.” That’s not what I was expecting. I thought he’d ask me something personal, but watching TV in silence is a lot easier. Even if I wish we could sit close to one another, cuddling instead of on opposite ends of the couch.

I didn’t have the best time when I was at university, in part because I was literally trying to die for a portion of it, but one of my favorite things was crowding in someone’s dorm room to watch a movie, everyone piling on the bed and cuddling up.

It was never sexual, but it was nice to have someone touching me.

Holding me. It’s been too long since I had something like that.

“What is this?” Matthias asks as we sit down, both with full wine glasses.

He insisted on topping us up before we moved.

I hesitated a little since I need to drive home, but he assured me that if I didn’t feel up to it, I could crash in his guest room.

Even if I’m not tipsy, it’s tempting since his guest room is nicer than my real room.

Better mattress, a TV, and plenty of room to stretch out. Plus, it’s close to him.

“It’s a family sitcom. A bunch of siblings that don’t really get along but still hang out.

” Matthias’s nose wrinkles a bit. Yeah, I didn’t expect this to be his kind of thing.

I poked around a bit on his streaming accounts to see what he’s into.

It’s mostly movies with lots of action and a bit of horror and drama mixed in.

As far as I can tell, he’s not working his way through any TV show.

Which makes sense. He’s busy working every night.

It’s not like that leaves a lot of time for him to binge-watch anything.

My personal work ethic could use a lesson.

That’s probably the reason he’s successful.

No wasted weekends spent lying on the couch, watching twenty hours of TV.

“Sounds lovely.”

“Do you have siblings?” I don’t mean for the question to slip out, but I’m dying to know more about the man who’s been so kind to me.

“Nah, I’m an only child. I always wanted some, though.”

“Funny, I always wanted to be an only child.” It’s probably one of those the grass is greener things. Though I’m pretty sure my brother and parents wish he was the only child. It’d make things a lot easier on them.

Between always being a little bit different, coming out to them as pansexual, and then dropping out of school, they’ve had their hands full with me for years.

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I love my parents, but sometimes I wish there was someone else to take some of their attention.

” He takes a few long sips of his wine. “Though, my friends now are kind of like brothers. Ones I didn’t grow up sharing a room and toys with.

Probably one of the reasons we get along so well. ”

I start to tell him about my brother, the golden child, but shut my mouth quickly. He’s not interested in hearing my sob story. He probably wants his TV back for the night. The last thing I want is to scare him off with my family drama.

Instead, I let the show drown out my thoughts as I desperately avoid putting my head on his shoulder. It’s right fucking there and big enough to make a delightful pillow. That’d send him running for the hills. And, for at least the next twenty-one minutes, I want to keep him right here, next to me.