“Matt isn’t actually dating Poppy,” Tanner said. “I can’t believe you guys would actually believe that.” He said it like he hadn’t just kissed me earlier to congratulate me on the same thing. Him knowing first was really getting to his head. “Poppy promised not to kidnap Scarlett if Matt pretends to date her. Just until Richard lets her take over the family business. Apparently Matt’s expertise in the realm of finance is of the utmost importance to Richard.”
“You’re going to help them launder money?” Mason asked.
I shook my head. “I’d never do that. I’m just…”
“Keeping Scarlett safe,” James said. He leaned forward in his chair, his elbows balancing on his knees. “I’m not asking you to do that, Matt.”
“You didn’t have to.” I shrugged. “We’re family.”
“Is that why you’re always trying to sleep with Penny?” Rob asked.
Fuck.“About that. James open your present.”
James pulled out the framed picture of me, Mason, Rob, and him from high school. He looked up at me.
“You have the life I wanted,” I said. “The wife. The family. I’ve been jealous of you for years. Penny’s always kind of reminded me of Brooklyn. And yeah, I may have had a little crush on her. Or a big one. Whatever, it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to destroy your life. I know you didn’t destroy mine. And I really want toput this all behind us. I want us to go back to being as happy as we all were in that picture.”
“Thanks,” James said. “That means a lot. Even though I was probably high out of my mind in this picture,” he said with a laugh.
“So not exactly like that picture,” I said.
“And we’re absolutely sure that Matt isn’t high right now?” Rob asked.
I laughed. “I swear I’m not.”
James looked up from the photo. “So…no more flirting with Penny?”
“Yeah. I really am sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re not actually dating Poppy.”
“Could you imagine?” Mason said. “I feel like we only just got rid of Wizzy.”
We all laughed.
“But you really don’t have to go through with that charade,” James said. “I can figure something out…”
“I know you can. But you don’t have to,” I said. “That’s the whole point. I’ve got your back, man,”
“This is wonderful,” Tanner said. “Here, Matt, you should celebrate with some green juice.” He handed me a to-go cupfilled with Nigel’s secret hangover elixir. “You did have a lot to drink tonight. Just for preventative measures.”
“Where did you even get this?” I asked.
“I slipped out real quick while you guys were talking.”
Had he? Whatever.If he’d made this, it meant Nigel’s skeet wasn’t in it. I’d never drink one of these Nigel made ever again. I took a huge sip.
“What’s up, Mason?” Rob asked. “You look…weird.”
Mason laughed. “Nothing. I just…never really thought about how much Penny reminds me of Brooklyn. In just like…the way she always has all our backs. And her sense of humor. And a little how she looks too.”
We were all quiet.
“Well, James did propose to Brooklyn all those years ago…” Rob said.
James laughed. “Don’t bring that up. Not one of my finest friendship moments. And just for the record, you both married girls from Delaware too.”
“Huh,” Rob said. “I never really thought about it like that either.”
