“Definitely.”
She puffed up her cheeks and then blew out an exhausted exhale. “I didn’t mean to fall for him, you know?”
I nodded. Yeah, I knew exactly how she was feeling. I’d never meant to fall for Matt either. My staring at him at Empire High was what first got me in trouble with Isabella. And not keeping my hands to myself had resulted in her torturing me. Loving Matt had set all these catastrophic things in motion. So yeah, I knew what she meant.
“It’s really okay,” I said. I meant it when I said it. But as soon as the words fell from my mouth I bit the inside of my cheek. Why was my heart still racing so fast?
Homecoming - Chapter 17
Tuesday
Matt
Kennedy was supposed to meet me here fifteen minutes ago. I stared at the menu as Tanner’s questions rolled around in my head.
Could I really propose to someone that wasn’t Brooklyn?
Marry someone that wasn’t Brooklyn?
Have a family with someone that wasn’t Brooklyn?
Have a life without her?
I was still nursing the drink I’d grabbed from the bar. And it was like the wait staff knew not to approach me. They probably assumed I was in a terrible mood because I was being stood up.
They were right. I was in a terrible mood. But not because I’d been stood up. Even though this was Kennedy’s idea, I only half expected her to show. I was in a bad mood because Tanner’s questions had really gotten stuck in my head.
“Matt.”
I stood up too fast, almost knocking over my drink. “Hey.” I smiled at Kennedy and tried to give her a hug. She dodged a little but somehow still got captured in my arms. Her arms stayed firmly at her sides as we finished the world’s most awkward hug.
But right before I pulled back, her arms finally wrapped around me. “I’m sorry, Matt. I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t reply. I just held her.
Yes, Tanner’s questions were still stuck in my head. But this right here? I loved this. I loved having someone that relied on me. It had been a really long time since someone had needed me.
She took a step back and wiped beneath her eyes.
“You look beautiful tonight,” I said. She did. She was wearing a tight black dress and thigh-high black boots. Like she was purposely trying to drive me insane.
“Thanks, Matt.”
I pulled out her chair for her and she sat down.
I quickly sat down too. And then we just stared at each other.
“I’m really surprised you showed up,” Kennedy said.
I laughed. “You’re the one that was late.”
“I know.” She wrapped her arms around herself, as if she was literally holding herself together. “I just…I knew it was going to hurt when I walked in here and you were a no-show.”
I just stared at her. “Kennedy, nothing would have made me miss this dinner.”
She twisted her mouth to the side. “I just figured after that phone call…”
“What phone call?”
