Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
“Nothing, Legs.”
Liar.
How could he explain it in a way that made sense? The sex was always insanely phenomenal between them, and this morning was no different. But his head wasn’t in the right space to take things that far.
The list.
He knew it wasn’t anything to worry about. Oliver was adorably blunt and without filter when it came to his feelings and desires. Still, it pressed all of his buttons. Especially after that talk with his sister.
Even after six intensely blissful months, there were still limits to what Oliver was willing to share about his life. It was starting to fuck with his head. Matthew had taken that leap, but he was still falling alone. Waiting for Oliver to catch up to him.
He heard a chuckle and glanced over at his boyfriend, who was up and trying to get himself back into his sweatpants. “This is all your fault. I’m starving and I don’t have the energy to get dressed so I can make us some breakfast.”
Matthew sat up slowly, forcing himself to smile. “Don’t worry about me. I, uh, actually have to go meet Tanaka about a job. I told you I finally wore him down, right? No more tech support now, just defense classes and security work from now on. Three cheers for nepotism.”
Oliver paused in the act of pulling on his shirt, his expression confused. “You told me. But I thought you were taking today off.”
Because he always did. He dropped everything as soon as Oliver had an opening in his schedule, which, between his family obligations and the new musical his dance company was involved in, wasn’t all that often.
He felt like an asshole, but he was genuinely shaken up and feeling vulnerable. He needed to get his head on straight before he ended up having a conversation he wasn’t ready to have. “I’m sorry, Legs. It won’t be for long, though. A few hours at most. And you know I’d love it if you were here when I get back. But be warned, Kate has a few breakup rituals she’ll need to perform today.”
Oliver was carefully straightening his shirt, but he looked up at that. “What kind of rituals?”
Matthew slid his arms around Oliver’s waist and pressed a kiss to his temple. “Nothing too frightening. She puts on reality shows so she can yell at the screen. She orders fattening food and then complains about it while she’s gorging. If she’s really upset, she’ll pull out one of her old videogames and spend hours slashing everything that moves with her sword.”
Oliver chuckled softly. “I guess that’s one way to work through your anger.”
“She claims its cheaper than therapy and just as effective.”
Matthew started to step away but Oliver held on, ducking his head to meet his gaze. “Is everything okay?”
You arse.
He cupped Oliver’s ass gently. “I didn’t take care of you, did I? I went all caveman and then I didn’t give you what you needed. Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
Matthew felt his heart squeeze at the hopeful glint in Oliver’s eyes when he took his hand. “We’re going to shower, and after I’ve shown you how amazing you are, I’m going to feed you breakfast like I planned.”
“But don’t you need to go?”
“I can be a little late. Nepotism, remember?”
Oliver smiled, and the beauty of it almost felled him where he stood. There wasn’t room for all the love he had inside him for this one, frustrating man.
He just wished he knew how to finally earn his trust.
Chapter Two
And the day keeps getting better, Matthew thought as he stood in front of a chuckling Tanaka and his cousin, Brady—who was looking a lot underdressed, not at all amused and large enough to take him down as he sat glaring from the wide couch in his living room.
He shouldn’t have come. More than that, he shouldn’t have told them why he’d come.
“So you lied about me needing you to work, but you felt guilty enough about that lie to actually show up, just in case you could squeeze some truth out of the situation?” Ken finished while braiding his hair, leaving the long, dark rope to drape over one shoulder. “Do I have that right?”
“I—” There was no way to put a positive spin on what he’d admitted after seeing the two men in nothing but a sheet and pair of briefs respectively. “I should have called first. I wasn’t thinking.”
Brady met Ken’s gaze and his expression softened. “We’ve already gone from the family fixers to professional matchmakers. Are we offering couple’s therapy to our latest employee now?”
Matthew stiffened, his jaw clenched. “I don’t need any help there, thanks.”
“Oh, I know,” Brady held up his hand, his lips curving in amusement. “Rory and Hugo’s brother brag about their matchmaking skills every time Oliver shows up to a Finn Again.”