Page 22

CHAPTER 22

Zoey

H oly shit.

How I manage to make it back to Henry’s without completely freaking out, I have no idea. I still haven’t wrapped my head around the fact that Matthew Carter just asked me out on a date. Like a legit date.

When I get home, Henry makes a comment about me being back, but thankfully doesn’t ask any questions about where I’ve been. As soon as I’m upstairs, I throw myself on my bed, squealing into my pillow before rolling over and composing myself long enough to send Matt a text that I’m home. I’m right back to squealing when he texts me the details for our date on Friday.

I’m not sure how I make it through Monday and Wednesday morning, being so close to him and not completely freaking out about our upcoming date. I spend all week thinking about what the hell I’m going to wear. I finally settle on a black skirt and maroon blouse paired with some knee-high black boots and a black jacket. I keep my hair a more natural wave and don’t do much makeup. This is Matt; he’s seen me when I’ve been sicker than a dog. I don’t want tonight to come across as me trying too hard.

I check myself out in the floor-length mirror in my bedroom, and I look hot, if I do say so myself. This outfit accentuates all my favourite parts of my body, and these boots make my legs look fucking amazing. I check the time, and it’s still a whole forty-five minutes before Matt said he’d pick me up, but I’m so nervous and excited that I couldn’t help getting ready. I settle in the chair in the corner of my room and grab a book, trying to read, but it’s pointless. I keep reading the same page over and over or just staring at it as my mind thinks of all the different ways tonight could go.

Tonight is important. If this goes well, it could be the start of something. If it goes bad, it could ruin everything. It could ruin our friendship, and it could ruin my friendship with Liv.

Ten minutes before he’s supposed to be here, I make my way downstairs. I don’t want him knocking and Henry answering the door, or Maggie, for that matter. She and Henry tell each other everything. So if she answers, Henry would then know Matt was picking me up for a date.

As soon as his headlights hit the front of the house, I’m out the door and Matt’s getting out of the car.

“I was going to come to the door to get you,” he says, raising a brow.

I smile. “I know, but Henry’s home.”

A flash of disappointment fills his face before he nods. “Of course.”

I meet him at the front of the car, and he walks around it with me, opening the passenger door for me.

“You look gorgeous,” he says before leaning in and kissing my cheek.

I take him in, his button-down blue shirt, dark jeans, and dress shoes. He’s shaved the scruff that had been growing since Jayden came into his life. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

I swear I see the tips of his ears turn pink at the compliment, and I do a little mental happy dance.

I slide in, and he closes the door before rounding the car and pulling out of the driveway. I fiddle with my hands in my lap, feeling more nervous than I thought. I don’t know why. It’s not like we haven’t been friends for years and known each other longer, but something about Matt wanting to go on a real date has me worried I’m going to screw this up somehow.

Other than the music Matt has playing, the drive is silent. When we get to the restaurant, I immediately recognize it as one of the top date spots in the city. They’re well rated for their comfortable atmosphere and good food. It’s not fancy, but seems to be a place to help people relax and enjoy their time with the people they’re sharing a meal with. You can’t just walk into this place and get a table. You’ve got to make a reservation and even at that, those can be hard to come by.

I follow Matt inside, and he gives his name to the hostess, who eyes him before offering him a flirty smile and leading us to our table. He pulls out my chair for me, and I take a seat, ducking my head to hide my smile. Matt takes a seat across from me, and we browse the menu. In the past, we’d usually fill this time with conversation, discussing what we’re considering getting. Today is silent, and I hate it. I surprise myself when I practically slam the menu down on the table.

“I hate this,” I say.

He looks at me, shocked. “The restaurant?”

I shake my head. “No. This.” I motion between us. “We’re never like this. We talk and laugh and have a good time. I hate the quiet.”

He reaches across the table and takes my hand, running his thumb over the back of it. “I do, too. Nothing between us really has to change. We’re going to enjoy a meal together the way we have countless times in the past. I just may hold your hand a little more while we do it.”

“And if this all goes wrong and blows up in our faces? What happens to us? To me and Liv?”

He gives my hand a squeeze. “We’re going to take this one step at a time. Just know that I respect you, and I respect your relationship with Liv. We won’t let anything that happens between us affect your relationship.”

Sincerity is written all over his face. I know he means everything he just said. I squeeze his hand back and relax a little. I pick up the menu again and scan it, my eyes catching on potato skins. I drop the menu enough that my eyes can peer over the top and stare at Matt. He grins at me, and at the same time we say, “Potato skins.” I can’t help the laugh that leaves me.

We agree to share the potato skins as an appetizer and order a steak and burger and split them. We slip into easy conversation like normal, and a thrill goes through me when Matt takes my hand again, running his thumb slowly over my knuckles and then up the back of my hand.

I completely lose track of time. It isn’t until I watch the table beside us stand and grab their jackets and I realize it’s not the same couple that arrived just after us that I check my phone and see we’ve been sitting here for nearly three and a half hours.

“Holy shit,” I say.

“What? Is everything okay?” Matt’s on high alert, and knowing he’s worried for me makes my heart race a little.

I nod. “Yeah, everything’s fine. It’s just that we’ve been here for three and a half hours. We should probably give them their table back.”

Matt seems to think for a minute before nodding and asking the waitress for our bill. When she comes back, he pays and we gather our stuff, heading out of the restaurant, but instead of heading to the car, Matt stops me. “Walk with me?” he asks.

I intertwine my fingers with his, and he smiles at me before walking down the block. The silence between us as we walk isn’t awkward this time, but more comfortable. Like we just want to spend time with one another and don’t need to talk. I spot a park on the other side of the street and pull Matt with me as I make my way towards it. He follows, and we hurry across the street before I bring us to the swings.

“I loved the swings as a kid,” I say, sitting in one of them. “I always felt so free when I was on one, trying to see how high I could go.”

Matt circles the swing so he’s at my back and grabs the chains, pulling the swing back slightly before giving it a push. I tip my head back and giggle as he pushes me again. The breeze blows through my hair, and I close my eyes, reveling in the feeling. After a few minutes, Matt slows the swing, and I look at him over my shoulder. His eyes hood as he looks down at me, and I suck in a breath.

He leans down and pauses, silently asking my permission, and I nod. When his lips meet mine, my eyes close, and I swear I can see fireworks. The kiss is soft and slow at first, but becomes more exploring, and I lean into Matt. His hand comes to my face, and he strokes my cheek with his thumb. I let him take control. I don’t often let men take control away from me, but with Matt, I feel a sense of safety, like I won’t lose everything if I give him control.

I try to twist to face him more, and the swing rocks. We break apart, both working to catch our breath, and my hand instinctively comes up and touches my mouth.

Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. I just kissed Matthew Carter.

I quickly turn and face forward, my cheeks heating the more I think about it. Matt rounds the swing and stops in front of me, tipping my head back with his fingers under my chin.

“Please don’t tell me you regret letting me kiss you,” he says, his voice laced with so much vulnerability.

I quickly shake my head. “Not at all,” I breathe out.

He grins. “Good, because I’d very much like to do that again.”

I grin back. “Me, too.”

He leans in closer and dusts his lips over mine before stepping back and offering me his hand. I take it, and we walk back towards the car, but I’m not ready for tonight to end. Even if we don’t kiss again, I want to spend more time with him.

When we get to the car and he pulls open the passenger door, I turn and face him. “We still have some movies to finish in our Star Wars marathon. How about we watch some tonight?”

His face lights up, as though he didn’t want to end the night either. “That sounds like a perfect plan.”

I slide into the car, extremely pleased with myself, and Matt drives us back to his place.