“Really?” Lara was delighted.
“Really, and he was so shocked he was speechless.”
“Then did he sweep you into his arms and kiss you?”
“No. It took him a couple of days to realise he felt the same way.”
Lara shook her head and tutted. “Men.”
Georgie laughed. “You’ve got that right. Come on, let’s go check on them. I’m worried your dad might be upset.”
“Why? He loves you both.”
“Because he’s a man.”
Lara thought about it a moment and then nodded. “Good point.”
They headed back to the kitchen.
Chapter 15
“Let’s walk,” Darcy said, moving away from the house without waiting for an answer.
Matt cringed. He couldn’t read Darcy’s expression, didn’t know if he was angry or upset. He had to make this right. “I’m sorry.”
Darcy turned and raised an eyebrow. “You’re sorry about dating Georgie?”
No, he’d never be sorry for that. He shook his head.
“Good. What I want to know is, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Matt stared at him, surprised. Of all the reactions he’d envisioned, it hadn’t included this. “I didn’t know how you’d react. You’ve always been protective of her.”
“Won’t you treat her well?”
“Of course I will.”
“Then what?”
Matt was silent while he sorted out his emotions. “Because I’m not good enough for her.”
Darcy stepped back, eyes wide. “Why would you think that?”
Matt shrugged as all of his insecurities from his childhood battered him. Of being other, being poor and dumb.
“You’re my best friend,” Darcy said. “Do you think I’m that bad a judge of character?”
“You don’t have a lot of options out here,” Matt said, trying to make a joke, but it fell flat.
Darcy stared at him in the take-no-shit expression his father had sometimes worn. “You kept me sane,” Darcy said. “When you started working at the Ridge I was on the verge of a breakdown.”
Matt frowned. “What?” He didn’t remember that.
“Sofia was pregnant, Mum was still lost in her grief over Charlie, we barely saw Dad, and I was trying to finish school and keep the family together. You helped remind Mum there was a world out there, and you helped with all the chores. It was a relief.”
Matt stared at him. “I had no idea.”
“Life got easier when you arrived, not just with the station work, but at home. I could talk to you without worrying about saying the wrong thing.”
