Page 90 of My Undead Heart

“You love it,” I smart. My backside presses into the counter and he hugs me close, sending a tingle of lust down my spine.

“Mia.”

“Yes, Matt?”

“I’m really happy you walked into Zig’s last month.”

I am, too.Those words are more dangerous than they should be and instead of letting them loose, I mash my lips together and nod.

Matt takes a step back and holds my gaze. I almost think he’s going to call me out. Push for more. Ask questions about my feelings, but instead he assaults my lips with his mouth. We ignite and burn, push and pull, and by the time he pulls away from my body we’re both breathing heavily.

“I’ve gotta go to work.” His smile pulls wide with that cocky smirk and only makes me want to drag him back to bed even more.

“Me, too,” I say instead. “Oh, wait. When is this fight?”

“Next Saturday.”

“Wait, what? The one before Halloween?”

He looks up and nods his head. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

Shit, shit, shit. “I ... uh ... I can’t go.”

“But you just said ...”

“I’m sorry. It’s ... That’s the night of Jared and Rae’s big yearly bash. It’s tradition. We have themed costumes and everything.” I try to explain the importance. This is my favorite holiday, and the party is something I look forward to every year. These friends have been by my side for my entire adult life.

Matt’s chin dips and he shoves his hands into the back of his pants. “Oh, yeah. No, that’s cool.”

“I’m sorry, Matt. If it were any other night, I’d totally be down.”

“It’s fine, Mia.” His frown pulls his lips into a straight line and he won’t quite meet my gaze.

“Don’t say it’s fine if it’s not.” I wrap my arms around my waist and it’s a feeble addition to the defensiveness I feel.

“Okay, it’s not.” His brow furrows and he leans against the counter across from me. He reaches out and catches one of my palms in his, stroking his thumb across the back of my hand. If I weren’t riled up, his touch would be a comfort. Instead, it only feels imposing. “This is really important to me, and I’d like you there. But instead you’ll be hanging out with your friends at a Halloween party.”

“It’s not just some random party, Matt. This is something we’ve done every year. Don’t put me in a position where I have to choose you over my friends, because I’m sorry, but it won’t be you.”

His gaze narrows and he tilts his chin. “Why does it have to be a choice? Why can’t you do both?”

I pull my hand out of his and shake my head. “I don’t really think that’d work.”

“If you want it to, it can. Look, I’m not telling you how to live your life. Far from it, but if you want to come to the fight, come. We can go to the Halloween party afterwards. That is, unless I’m not invited, then I guess you go without me.” He shrugs and looks away.

“Matt ...” I hate that we’re having this argument.

He takes a deep breath. “You asked me to be honest. This is me laying it out. Think about it and let me know if I should save you a ticket.” His phone chimes and when he pulls it from his pocket he gives me a tight smile and walks toward the door. “I gotta run. For real.”

I think that’s it. This is the end I always saw coming, but rather than storming off or leaving me with my doubts, Matt comes back to the kitchen, lifts my chin with his fingers, and brushes his lips across mine. “Bye, Mia. Thanks again for last night.”

“Bye, Matt,” I mumble but he’s already out of my apartment, the front door slamming shut with his escape. Am I in the wrong here? Maybe I should try and do the fights and the party? Maybe I’m being selfish and stubborn? But what about Jared and Rae? They don’t deserve to be tossed to the side just because I’m into some guy.

Damn Matt Haywood. Damn him for making me feel things. Fucking feelings, complicating this bet and simple arrangement we’ve got going. I don’t want to give up the things I love. It starts here, but where does it end? Within a few months I’ll be trading my yearly trip to Comic Con in San Diego for a weekend of MMA in Vegas. Sitting on the sidelines while Matt lives in the limelight. No, fucking thank you. Stomping toward my shower, I push all thoughts of Matt out of my head and get ready for a productive day at work.