Page 39 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

Chapter Twenty-Four

MATTHIAS

“One more thing,” I call my assistant, Beau, back into my office. He finished dropping off the files he prepped for tomorrow’s meetings.

“Yeah?”

“When you leave today, can you stick your head in and let me know?”

“Is there a problem?” His body stiffens, and I realize how my question could be interpreted. Beau has never been anything but wonderful to me. He keeps me out of the office gossip, too, which on its own is worthy of a raise.

“No problem. I’m supposed to meet my friends tonight and want to be sure I leave on time.”

“In that case, sure. Is four-forty-five okay?”

“Perfect.” It’s a bit early, but that’ll give me a stopping point to wrap up before I head out for the day. I’m still waiting to hear back about my interview. If I thought prepping my application was hard, the uncertainty is excruciating .

Of course, word got around the local area about the position.

A local company that’s been after me for years called a few times, hoping I might consider taking a senior position with them instead.

They’re hedging their bets that I might not get this job and look to leave, but the offer is tempting.

A senior position with better hours and management responsibilities.

It would mean seeing fewer clients, but it would also give me more control.

Plus, it would mean more time to focus on my relationship with Frank.

He never complains, but I know he’d like for us to have more time together.

Between his school work and my job, coordinating evenings and weekends can be difficult.

Sure, we’re often both at my house, but that’s not the same as spending quality time together.

I’m texting back and forth with my friends about tonight’s meet-up. Thursdays don’t require a lot of coordination, but it does mean our group chat gets a bit of a buzz.

Tyler

Who thinks Matthias is going to be on time tonight?

Very funny. It’s tempting to send a message letting them all know I have client meetings until close to the end of the day, then show up early simply to piss everyone off. Is it cheating if I bet on myself?

I’ll be on time

Nathan

I’ll put 5 on him being there at 6

Tyler

6:15

Aaron

7

Remind me to punch Aaron the next time I see him. Plus, he’s been the one showing up late recently.

Just for that, I’m betting that Aaron’s the late one tonight

Nathan

Matthias has been on time lately. I think it’s Frank’s influence.

Aaron

Should we send him a thank you card? Box of candy?

Very funny

It’s true, though. Frank’s a good influence on me.

I work less, but I’m somehow doing okay.

I always thought if I took my foot off the gas, even for a second, that the whole thing would come crumbling down around me.

Instead, I’m more efficient at work and home.

Even if I haven’t found the perfect balance yet, at least I’m trying.

That’s more than I can say I’ve ever done before.

Aaron

Seriously. I like him. He’s good for you.

Nathan

Agreed.

I’m about to respond when my phone rings.

“Hey, Firecracker, everything okay?”

“Fine, I wanted to make sure it’s okay if I study at your place tonight. I know it’s Thursday and you’re out with your friends.”

“I told you, you’re welcome to any time.

” If I could, I’d move him in tomorrow. He’s agreed to move in with me, but it’s still a few more weeks until moving day.

Of course, that means I should probably tell him how I feel about him sooner rather than later.

As usual, we’re doing this whole thing backwards.

“I wanted to check. I’ve got a paper due next week and really need the quiet to get it done.

If I finish most of it tonight, then we’ll have the whole weekend together.

” Excitement fills his voice. I know Frank well enough to know that it won’t be done after tonight, but I’m sure we can still carve out time for something fun.

It’s not like I’ll take the whole weekend off anyway. There’s always work to be done.

“Sounds perfect. Oh, could you please send me a link to that ice sculpture event you were talking about?” Taking him to that would make a nice weekend reward after a long week. Especially if he gets the essay done.

“Really? You’d be interested?”

“Absolutely.” It’s a good excuse to cuddle up together to stay warm.

“I’m sending it to you right now.” My phone buzzes in my hand, and I briefly glance to see that the link came through.

“Perfect. Have a good night at school and be safe. I’ll see you when I get home.” Home . Our home. Or at least I hope it can be someday soon. I need to get the courage up to tell him. “Call if you need anything.”

Pulling up my messages, I text my friends again.

I’m in love with him.

“I win!” Nathan announces, punching his fist into the air.

I can’t help but smile as he slides into the booth next to me.

Yep. On. Fucking. Time. With a little help from Beau, who not only stopped by my office but also insisted on escorting me out to the parking lot.

He’ll be getting a nice treat from me tomorrow to say thanks.

There’s a bakery nearby that makes his favorite cream cheese Danishes.

“Yeah, yeah,” Tyler says. “I’ll get the first round.” He waves down one of the waitresses and orders a pitcher of his favorite beer for us. Guess that means I’m drinking something dark tonight. Not my favorite, but hey, free beer.

“I told you Frank is good for you,” Nathan says, leaning back in his seat, gloating.

“You only like him because you won the bet tonight.”

“I do owe him thanks for that, but also because you’re less tense overall. It’s like he was the thing you were waiting for.” It’s Nathan’s words, but Aaron nods along.

“Yeah, how did you… know?” I’ve never said the words I love you to a partner. Family and friends, sure, but not to someone special.

“Know what?” Nathan asks.

“That you were… in love?” The words are hard to get out, but as soon as they are, I know the answer. It’s the kind of question no one can answer for you. I’m sure, though. Frank’s it.

“You’re in love?” Tyler says.

At the same time, Aaron says, “About time you figured it out.”

“Woah! Where were these responses when I texted this to you?” I’d half expected them to blow up my phone earlier, but instead, I got nothing but silence.

“What are you talking about?” Aaron asks. “If you’d texted us that, we definitely would have said something.”

Now that I think about it, that’s true. I got nothing back from them, which should have set off alarm bells in my head.

I pull out my phone and check the group chat. Nothing. The last message is about them liking Frank.

If I didn’t text them, who’d I text?

FRANK

Matthias

I’m in love with him.

I didn’t take a single note in class. I thought about not going at all.

I really didn’t want to. My mind went into free-fall mode the minute I got his message.

I almost called him back, but I already interrupted his workday once.

I didn’t need to do it a second time. Or get in the way of his friend time.

There are a lot of ways to interpret that text, and right now my brain is focused on all the worst ones. The text clearly wasn’t meant for me. Most likely scenarios: he’s talking about me to someone else or he’s talking about someone else.

Only one of those is a happy thought. Things have been going well between us, at least, I thought so. What exactly am I supposed to do with that information?

I don’t know, but what I’m currently doing is making laps around the couch in his living room. If he doesn’t get home soon, there will be a permanent indentation in the carpet. Should I even be here? If he’s about to come home and tell me that he’s in love with someone else, I’d rather not be.

Maybe I can move to Alaska? It’s probably cheaper there. Then I never have to see Matthias or make an idiot of myself in front of him again.

The garage door goes up. Fight or flight? In a complete betrayal, my body chooses to freeze. I stand there, staring at the door, waiting.

“Frank?” Matthias calls. My voice doesn’t work anymore. “Where are—” He stops in his tracks when he sees me. “Firecracker, come here.”

All the muscles in my body come online again, and I run toward him, throwing myself into his arms. I can tell by the look in his eye exactly what that text message was about. He loves me.

Matthias loves me.

“Frank, why didn’t you answer your phone? I’ve been worried.”

Oh, that. “I turned it off.” After re-reading his text message eleven million times, I figured it was better for my mental health to remove the option. “I?—”

“It doesn’t matter.” He peppers me with kisses, all the way from my forehead down my neck to the top of my shirt collar.

Stupid clothes are always in the way. Really, the two of us should always be naked.

Or maybe only while we’re at home. Going out naked doesn’t make much sense.

And—ooh. He scrapes his teeth over my skin, and I nearly forget how we got here in the first place.

“Matthias.” He pauses, face still buried in my neck. “Um, I got a text, and I don’t think it was for me.”

“Firecracker, there are a couple of things you should know.”

So much for the best-case scenario. This is how all terrible conversations start. Well, at least half of them. The rest start with we need to talk .

“Come on.” He leads me into the living room.

If he notices that the rug has a clear track on it, he doesn’t mention it to me.

I take a seat next to him, but he pulls me into his lap.

This is becoming a common thing. I’ve never been the kind of guy who sat on laps.

Even though I’m typically smaller, at least in same-sex relationships, it’s never really been a thing.

Except, Matthias seems to prefer me here.

That’s not a complaint, more of an observation.