Page 7

CHAPTER 7

Zoey

S pending the last week at Matt’s has led me to forget about my own reality, which is that I have one week to pack my apartment up and get ready to move into my brother Henry’s spare room. Now that I’m done with law school and articling, my scholarship is up, which means my funding for housing is up and I need somewhere to live. I don’t have a job lined up yet, so of course my extremely protective eldest brother said I was moving in with him. I know his heart is in the right place, and I love my brother dearly, I’m just not sure I love that at twenty-six my life is moving backwards.

When I first started university, I thought when I finished I’d find a job in a nice downtown firm and begin working my way up. Find an apartment downtown, walking distance from the office and meet some nice guy and settle down. Well, none of that is happening. I’ve now spent eight years of my life working towards a degree I’m not even sure I want anymore. I really don’t know if I want to be a lawyer. It’s not calling to me the same way it did when I was eighteen.

I know one thing that pushed me to the profession was money. Growing up the way we did, barely making ends meet and having to watch my older brothers pick up jobs to help cover the bills because our parents would either spend their money on other things, or be too out of it to even make it to work and end up getting fired, really shaped the way I picked my profession. But now, watching my friends do the things they love and my brothers finding some joy in their jobs, I’m not sure I can push myself to get a job I’m not sure I want.

I haven’t exactly expressed any of this to anyone. When people ask about my job hunt, I keep it vague. It’s going well. I’ve got a few promising options. Whatever it takes to get them off my back. I saved up enough money from working while in school that I’m okay for basic expenses for a bit, but I don’t want to live at Henry’s forever, which means I need to figure out my shit.

Matt and I text during the week, but I’m too busy to pop by, knowing if I do, it won’t be a quick visit, but I’ll end up there for hours. On Thursday, I’m staring at my apartment, overwhelmed by all the stuff that still needs to be put in boxes. Remembering Matt saying his parents wanted to take Jayden on Friday, I text him.

Zoey

Can I call in that favour?

Matt

Shoot

Zoey

I need help packing. I need to be out of my place by noon on Saturday.

Matt

You’re moving??? Yeah, of course. Just let me know what time to be at your place, I’m dropping Jayden off with Mom at 10 a.m.

Zoey

Can you come right after?

Matt

I’ll be there.

I release a breath, relieved I’ll have some help to finish this.

I’m racing around my apartment, throwing things from the kitchen drawers into a box when there’s a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I call, and Matt walks in holding a Timmies bag and tray of coffee.

“Oh, my saviour.” I rush towards him, and he holds out a cup towards me. I take a sip of the sugary goodness. He holds up the bag of food next and follows me into the kitchen. We stand around the island as we both dig into the food.

“Okay, what’s left to do?” he asks.

“My bedroom, bathroom, and a few things in the kitchen. I’ve got most of the kitchen done, so I’ll finish that up.”

He nods. “Sounds good. I’ll start on the other rooms, then.”

Throwing our wrappers in the garbage, we move to our separate rooms and get to work. When I finish in the kitchen, I move into my room and stop dead in my tracks as I see Matt standing in front of my nightstand, holding a boxed toy.

I quickly gather myself before saying, “Oh my God,” and rushing towards him, grabbing the box, and shoving it into the open drawer and shutting it.

He stares at me and then back at the now closed drawer and then back at me.

“I’ll take care of this room,” I say, and he nods, staring at me for a few long drawn out seconds before moving into the bathroom.

Fucking great. My best friend’s brother just got a peek at my very extensive toy collection. I quickly find a box and empty the contents of the nightstand into it before closing it, making sure I clearly label it DO NOT TOUCH, and putting it in the living room with all the other boxes. Matt can’t seem to look at me for the rest of the morning as we work together to finish packing. When I ask him if pizza is good for lunch, he gives me a grunt of acknowledgement and continues packing.

When we sit to eat, he tries to scroll on his phone, and I hate this awkward energy that’s between us now. We’ve never been this way with each other. We’ve been teasing and comfortable, but never awkward. I grab his phone out of his hands, putting it on the counter behind me and out of his reach.

“Hey,” he calls indignantly.

“No phones,” I say.

“Why?”

“Because you’re making this awkward and we’ve never been awkward.”

He grips the back of his neck, a tinge of pink hitting his cheeks. I’ve never been one to shy away from topics, so I decide to lean right into it.

“Ask me,” I say.

His head shoots up, and his mouth opens slightly before he closes it. “What?”

“Do you have questions?”

“Zo—” he starts.

“Matt, please, just ask me.”

“Okay. Fine. Why so many?”

“Variety. Plus, they’re great teammates,” I say with a smirk.

“Teammates,” he draws out the word.

I study him, not sure if he doesn’t get my meaning or if he’s sitting there picturing them being teammates. “Yup.”

“And the new one in the box, was that for a specific someone?” he asks, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. He wants to know if I bought that toy with the purposes of using it with the dad from the rink. His eyes search out an answer, and I let him sit in the silence, watching him squirm as though not getting an answer was more painful than asking the question.

When I feel he’s squirmed enough, I finally answer. “No, I didn’t buy it with anyone in particular in mind. When I end a relationship, I like to get a new one. That’s been sitting, packaged, in my drawer for a while.”

That answer seems to please him as he nods.

Taking mercy on him, I move the conversation away from my collection of sex toys and onto more mundane things. He seems to relax into the conversation, and the weirdness between us fades.

When we finish lunch, Matt helps me load boxes into both of our cars. Henry is out of town for work right now and can’t help me move, Maggie is working on a major fundraiser for her job and couldn’t get the time to help, and I didn’t want to bug the rest of my brothers, so I’m doing this move solo, except the newly recruited help from Matt. I text him Henry’s address, and we make our way to his place.

Henry lives in a very family-friendly part of the city. Him and Maggie bought a house with enough space for the two of them, plus room to host. Even though they’ve decided against kids, I know they plan on being the fun aunt and uncle who have sleepovers and host family dinners.

Pulling into the driveway, I take in the two storey house and the groomed front lawn. This house is very different from the run-down one I grew up in. The grass is green, the front porch is clean, the paint on the front door isn’t peeling, and an inviting fall-themed welcome sign leans beside the front door. The curtains on the front windows are open, and you can see that Maggie has already gone all out in her fall decorations inside.

I take a deep breath, settling myself. At least it’s not my parents’ place, I tell myself. I may be moving in with my brother, but I’m not moving back to that run-down home that didn’t always have heat and very often felt cold the second my parents walked in the front door.

A knock on my window startles me, and I clutch my chest as I look over to see Matt standing beside my door.

“You okay?” he asks.

I nod and reach for the door handle, pushing it open. “You nearly gave me a heart attack,” I say, leaning against the car.

He chuckles. It’s light and airy, the perfect sound to remind me I’m not moving one hundred percent backwards. “Sorry, Zo. You got the keys so we can start getting you moved in?”

I reach into my purse and hold up the spare key Henry gave all of us the minute he bought this house. He wanted us to all know that no matter what happened in life we have a safe place we can go.

“Right here. Let’s start with your car,” I say.

He nods and makes his way back to his car while I unlock the front door. The second the door opens, the smell of fresh-baked cookies hits me. I move immediately into the kitchen and see a covered plate on the counter with a note.

Zoey,

I’m sorry I couldn’t help you move today, but I wanted to welcome you home. I’ll be home in time for dinner. Can’t wait to see you.

Maggie

It’s very like Maggie to make sure I feel welcome here. Henry was always so cautious about dating, because he had a lot of damage from dealing with our parents and having to raise his five younger siblings. He wanted someone who would be able to accept the responsibility he put on himself to make sure the six of us stayed close so he could be there for us even as we became adults. I was only twelve the first time Henry brought Maggie around. They were just friends at the time, but it was nice to have another woman around. Maggie was the one to talk me through my first period. She gave Henry a list of items to get at the store and told me how to use all the products and then sat with me on my bed and watched Disney movies, shunning Henry to go hang out with the guys while she chilled with me.

Maggie’s been a constant in our lives since then. I was so ecstatic when they started dating three years later. I’m not sure who was happier when he finally proposed, Maggie or me. I finally got the sister I always wanted, and Maggie was getting to spend the rest of her life with my brother. Maggie is more than a big sister, though. She took on a motherly role I never got from my own mother. She became a trusted friend who I could tell those secrets to that I couldn’t tell Liv, like the brief stint in eighth grade when I had a crush on Matt.

Liv is and always will be my best friend, and I love her dearly and she is my sister in every way but blood. Watching her get to grow up with Gianna and have a sister she could connect with always left me wanting that for myself. I’m grateful for my friends and how they’ve always had my back and become the sisters I didn’t have as a kid. They’ve made all these years fun and exciting and less lonely than they were before our group.

“Zo,” Matt’s voice pulls me out of my head as I stare at a cookie in my hand. He leans over as he takes a bite of it, and I glare at him.

“What the hell, Matt?” I huff.

“You weren’t answering me, and I know the best way to get a response is to take your food,” he says with a grin.

“Maggie made those for me,” I say indignantly.

“And I’m a growing boy moving boxes. I needed the fuel.” He smirks, and I punch him in the arm.

“Growing my ass. You’re twenty-nine. The only thing you’ll be growing is a dad bod.”

He raises a brow before taking another bite of my cookie, causing me to huff again. “I thought you guys were into the whole dad bod thing? Weren’t you girls just talking about the hot single dad you were reading about?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course, you were eavesdropping. And for your information, it’s not the body we love about the single dad’s in our books, there’s so much more to it. And some of them are well toned athletes or cowboys, and some of them are office guys, they don’t all fall under one type. We were just swooning over the single dad who knows how to take care of his kids and his girl.” I plop the final bite in my mouth. “We look at more than a man’s body, Matthew.”

I turn, leaving him, and head into the entryway and grab a box before making my way up the stairs and to my new room. Thank God it’s on the opposite side of the house as Henry and Maggie, because I don’t want to hear any of their extracurriculars.

I drop the box on the floor at the end of the bed and notice the new desk Henry set up for me. I rented my place furnished for the most part, so all of that stuff stayed behind. I run my hand over the top as I walk past it, noticing a comfy chair in the corner next to an empty bookshelf. I squeal as I run towards it. A note sits on the top shelf, and I snag it as I settle in the chair.

Hey Kiddo,

I know moving in here was not your ideal situation, but I want you to know you’re always welcome here. I’ve set up a new desk and a reading corner for you. We’ll have a movie night when I get home.

I love you.

Henry

I smile at the note. Henry has always known how independent I’ve wanted to be, but always remained that safe place to fall.

“Nice,” Matt says, and I look up to see him now leaning against the doorframe.

I take stock of the room in its entirety and agree. This room is nice. It’s my perfect little oasis in this house while I get back on my feet. “It is.”

I look back at him and he’s got an unreadable expression. His eyes trail over me, and goosebumps erupt in their wake. No. This cannot be happening. I’ve grown up. I’m not a kid anymore. I know Matthew Carter is not a good idea. I cannot let myself react this way to having his eyes on me. His sole focus.

I clear my throat and put the note back before pushing up from the chair. “We should probably get the rest of the boxes,” I say.

He runs his hand through his hair and nods. “Yeah.”

He follows me out to the cars, and the entire time, I feel his eyes on me. After a few more trips, we get my boxes moved into the bedroom, and he follows me to the kitchen.

I hand him a cookie with a smile. “For your help today.”

He takes it. “No need to reward me, Zo. You’re the one who’s been doing me endless favours recently. I’m not sure what I would have done without you at family dinner or if you hadn’t come to meet me at the rink.”

I run my teeth over my bottom lip. Matt’s eyes are glued to the movement. “Happy to help,” I say, swallowing as heat rises through my body. I really need to start dating again and get laid if a single look from Matt has my throat going dry.

“So, I’ll see you at the game tomorrow,” I say, and his eyes snap to mine as he reaches up and squeezes the back of his neck.

“Yeah, I’ll be there. I was going to see if Liv could watch Jayden, too, otherwise I’ll watch.”

I sigh, because I know what I’m about to do is not the smartest decision, but I’m going to do it anyway. “I’ll watch him,” I offer.

He breaks into a grin. “Really?” he asks hopefully.

“Yeah.”

He pulls me into a hug. “Thanks, Zo.”

I pat him on the back and step out of his arms. “Of course.” I look at the clock on the stove and say, “You should probably head to your parents’ if you’re hoping to beat rush hour.”

He follows my gaze. “Shoot, yeah.” He kisses my cheek before heading for the front door. “Have a good night, Zo.”

“You, too,” I call just before he closes the door behind him.

I lean against the counter and take another cookie as I try to figure out why I’ve put myself in the position to be babysitting for Matt once again.

Walking up to the rink, I’m excited to see the girls. Between avoiding them so I didn’t spill the beans about Matt’s secret baby and us all being actually busy, I’ve missed them. If you had told me two years ago I was excited to go to a rec hockey game, I would have told you you’re out of your mind, but ever since Liv moved in with Josh and started coming, it’s become a new regular activity for us. Now that our other friend Hannah is married to Matt and Josh’s friend Grayson, who plays on the same team, it’s just another reason for us to all meet here.

As I step onto the sidewalk outside the building, I spot Matt making his way to me. He’s got Jayden strapped to his chest, his hockey bag over one shoulder and his sticks in his hand. The first word that comes to mind as I watch him get closer is hot . This man looks hot with a baby strapped to his chest as he makes his way to play a very physical and often violent sport. I quickly look around to see if anyone caught me gapping at him, and I’m lucky this time. Thankfully, Matt was too busy talking to Jayden who’s making noises at him to pay attention to me.

When Matt gets close enough that Jayden spots me, a smile spreads across his face and I instinctively reach forward and pinch his chubby cheeks.

“Well hello there, my little man,” I say.

He smiles even more, some drool escaping the corner of his mouth, and I can’t help but smile even bigger. He babbles, and I release his cheek.

“Aren’t we just the talker tonight?”

“So, no love for me, just the baby?” Matt pokes, and I look up at him.

“You’re not as cute as the baby.”

He holds a hand to his chest and feigns pain. “Oh, Zo, you wound me.”

I throw my head back with a laugh. “Matt, you and I both know you’ve got enough ego that you’re not wounded.”

That makes him laugh.

“It’s not ego, it’s confidence,” he says.

I roll my eyes. “You keep telling yourself that. Now let’s get this adorable little munchkin in where it’s warm,” I say, bopping Jayden on the nose.

Matt and I walk into the lobby, and I spot our group chatting when all of a sudden the entire lobby gets quiet and they’re staring at us, except Liv and Josh, who look like they’ve been hiding secrets.

“What the hell?” Hannah practically yells, and I jump in place.

“Oh, man, what did you do?” Grayson asks, humour filling his voice.

We make our way closer to the group, and their eyes only seem to get wider as they get a better look at the baby strapped to Matt’s chest.

Liz, one of my best friends and someone who’s great at reading people, narrows her eyes at me. “Zo, why are you not the least bit surprised about the baby strapped to Matt’s chest?”

Okay, I did not think I’d be the first one under fire. I’m not the one with a baby strapped to them. I’m not the one dropping some surprise bomb on all our friends right now.

I shuffle from foot to foot and look at Matt. He shrugs, knowing no matter what, it’s all going to come out one way or another. They’ll just continue to hound us for details until we give them. I’ve also noticed he has no shame when it comes to claiming Jayden as his. He’s definitely expressed how upset he is that he didn’t know about him before, but that was entirely out of his control. It’s not like he just abandoned his son.

“I’m kinda the one who found Jayden when he was dropped off at Matt’s,” I say.

“What do you mean you found him?” Bailey asks. Bailey joined our group after she started dating Caleb, Matt and Josh’s friend. She was a single mom when she first met Caleb. Her daughter Charlie is running around with some other kids who are here with parents for games.

“I crashed on Matt’s couch and when I woke up the next morning to head home, I opened the door and found Jayden in his car seat,” I say.

Matt and I do a quick retelling of the story, and when Jayden manages to grab a fistful of my hair, I take him from Matt, securing the carrier on me now.

The guys eventually leave us and head to the dressing room while the girls and I head to the bleachers to watch the game.