Chapter 24
LIZ
Though he tried to hide it, Liz immediately noticed her husband’s pupils dilate and his jaw tighten the second she mentioned that his brother showed up. She frowned. She would have sworn that telling him that Ben found her there would be a relief. That she wasn’t alone. But then remembered the thick tension between the brothers back in her hospital room. Surely what she was about to tell him would help.
She held up her hands, instinctively. “I didn’t ask him to come, he was there to question Megan’s medical bill.”
Matt waited. She quickly scanned for breathing patterns and facial expressions of anger, but only noted his broad chest kick and tighten. She was highly cognizant and weary of his strongly held-back emotions.
She continued regardless, “I told him about our visit to Dr. Tai,” she paused, “and that I’d come back to see him…on my own…for answers.” She glanced up and swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue when he spiked it up a notch with his hard glare.
Why was he being like this?
“Anyway, he convinced me that I should go home and talk to you about any of my doubts.” Which she was now doubting. “Even if they have to do with you, that we should talk them through.”
Matt glanced around them, as if unsure what he should say or do.
“Are you mad?”
“You mentioned something about a memory?” her husband reminded, barely looking at her.
“It wasn’t really a memory, it was just something that Ben said that…or warned rather.”
Matt’s brow lifted slightly.
“He said, ‘nothing good comes of keeping secrets’, and I…I know I’ve heard it before. Fromhim.Only, it was important when he said it and…there was tension…” Liz turned her head down, the memory so unclear. It was just something she knew she’d heard him say before. And the first time he’d said it, it had made Liz terrified, or maybe angry? She couldn’t decide, but there were strong feelings behind it. She looked up at her very still and silent husband.
“Matt?”
“Your first memory…was of my brother?” His eyes narrowed.
Liz held up her hands for the second time during that conversation, and placed them on his chest. “It’s nothing like that.” Liz wasn’t even sure why she had to say that, but it seemed appropriate judging by the hurt look on his face. “He just said something I may have heard him say before, I’m sure it was just déjà vu or something.” She shrugged, “Anyway, he didn’t remember, so it probably didn’t happen.” Liz didn’t understand her need to convince Matt that it was no big deal and that it was probably not a real memory. But she knew it was. And based on the response she got from both of them, she was determined to find out what was behind that piece of advice the older brother had given her. On more than one occasion.
Matt seemed to snap out of his daze and took a breath. “Did he say anything else?” His tone more conversational now.
She wasn’t convinced.
And she wasn’t having any more of this. Not today. Not when things had been going so well and she’d started feeling more at home with him. She shook her head in response. “I’m sorry, I should have come to you with my doubts.”
Matt blinked. “I…um…I can’t blame you.” He watched the ocean waves for a moment. He obviously found comfort there, because when he looked back at her, kindness and sincerity gleamed in his eyes. “You’re lost now. You have questions and I...haven’t been very good at answering them. I guess I just don’t know how to convince someone that they belong with me.” He smiled weakly.
Liz blushed as he pushed away the strands of hair from her face and tucked them behind her ear.
“Are you always this understanding?”
Matt looked up from her and cocked his head to the side. “Not always.” He looked at her again and smiled, his eyes reflecting the orange rays from the sun that had nearly set behind her. “Let’s go home.”
* * *
“Morning,” she practically sang out as Matt walked into the kitchen the next morning. She moved around the spacious area between their island and the sink in her short white bathrobe. She’d typically get fully dressed before coming downstairs, but since she had no plans, what would be the point? That and she’d admittedly started to feel more at home since her breakthrough with Matt. She preferred honesty and wanted to keep it that way going forward. “You were up early.”
He wore gray sweat shorts and a white fitted t-shirt. She immediately noticed the sweat stains and bare glossy features. His eyes were a shinier green and overall, he looked much more…toned.
“I went for a run,” he said breathlessly. He wasn’t panting, but his chest still heaved slightly. He brushed past her and her cheeks flamed.
“You should ask me to go with you next time.”
He poured his coffee carefully and yet nearly spilled some as he choked a laugh. “Oh, Lizzy. You don’t run.”
