Page 15 of Written in the Stars
And every time she pops into my mind, it feels as though I’ve seen her before. But when?
I need to say something. Maybe he can help me make sense of all of it. “Hey, Matt?”
He looks up at me, “Hmm?”
“Pizza’s here!” a boisterous Valerie screams from inside. Pizza? I thought she said everyone was helping her get dinner situated? I mean, I knew she was just saying that to get me to be alone with Kim, but damn.
Matt and I walk to the door, opening it so that we can get back inside, and as he steps in first, he turns to me and says, “Were you about to say something?”
I walk next to him as we walk through the hallway and back into the living room. Valerie places three boxes of pizza on a table and everyone crowds around, ready to dig in.
Now is not the place or time for me to tell him about the gorgeous mystery woman. It’s going to have to wait.
“Oh, it was nothing. I’m ready to eat.”
He smiles at me. “Yeah, me too. Plus, after dinner,” he whispers, and then looks around, making sure no one is paying us any mind, adding, “I’m going to pop the question.”
I nod in approval. He’s really going to do it.
As everyone dives into their slices of pizza, I sit next to Matt on the stool he brought in from the kitchen and start eating as well. Everyone is joking and in a great mood and I know things will only get better for them once they see he’s proposing. I bet Valerie will be in tears.
During the whole time I’m eating my pepperoni slice, I can sense Kim eyeing me. Should I say something to her after we eat? Is she going to take it personally or think I’m an asshole? She’s not an ugly woman. Quite the opposite, actually. Her deep blue eyes and long, flowing blonde locks would drive any man wild. She’s a little blunt, sure, but that wouldn’t be a reason for me to not get to know her. Maybe she’s just nervous. Sometimes people blurt out things they normally would keep to themselves when they’re nervous about something.
I just don’t know if I should say anything to her or leave the whole thing alone. Maybe I’ll just have Matt tell Valerie I’m not looking for a relationship right now or even dating. Maybe I’ll just pretend the whole thing didn’t happen. I just don’t want to offend her.
Maybe.
And right as I’m about to take another bite of my food, Kim rises from her seat, paper plate in hand, and walks over to me. She places the empty plate into the trash and then comes to stand at my side.
If this isn’t weird enough, she places a hand on my back and leans down to whisper in my ear. “Want to get out of here? I’ve got a room at my Mama’s house not too far from here where we can really get to know one another better.”
Do I want to get out of here? Absolutely. But not with her.
She straightens up, and before she can say anything else to me, I excuse myself and make a beeline for the patio, grabbing Matt’s arm as I do.
“Hey, we’ll be right back,” he says to the crowd as we make our way out of the room.
I close the patio door behind us once we’re back outside and then turn to face him. “You’ve got to do something. She wants us to really get to know one another by going to her room at her Mom’s house.”
He bursts into a chuckle, but stops as soon as he sees my facial expression. I’m not finding any of this funny. “Sorry, bro.”
I roll my eyes, and as soon as I do, the two of us both start cracking up like nothing just happened.
* * *
“Hey, guys,” Matt says once we’ve all finished eating. The used plates, cups, and napkins have been thrown away, and now, I think this is it. “May I please have everyone’s attention?”
I really think this is it. I think he’s getting ready to propose.
I look about the room and find Valerie laughing next to Kim. I wonder if it’s at my expense, but at this moment, I don’t really care. Maybe that’s an excuse for me not to have to say anything to her at all. Good.
I avert my gaze back to Matt, who has finally grabbed Valerie and Kim’s attention as well.
He takes a step forward. “I just want to thank you all for coming—especially since it was such short notice—for Valerie’s birthday.” He looks directly at Valerie then and walks up to her, standing right in front of where she’s sitting. He grabs her hand and then says, “This woman means so much to me, and I just want her to feel exceptionally special today.”
Valerie smiles. “Awww, thank you, boo-boo bear.”
Everyone laughs at her term of endearment for Matt.
