Page 114 of Except You
Matt swallows and nods. “Yeah, hi.”
We all stand in awkward silence as Matt pulls out an envelope from his pocket.
“What’s this?” I ask when he extends it toward me.
“Just a little something for you two.”
I glance at it and then take it and tear it open, seeing a gift card for an Italian restaurant downtown. I glance at the price scrawled on the paper and my eyebrows rise.
“Think you can buy me off?” I ask, and Matt shakes his head, a huff of laughter falling from his lips.
“No, but I wanted to do something.”
Beau takes the gift card from me and then nods. “This is very nice of you, Matt.”
“Yeah, well, it’s the least I could do. For being a fucker and an inconsiderate asshole.”
His gaze pings between us and he sighs. “And I owe you an apology for the shit I said. I won’t say that stuff again. Or I’ll try not to. And if I do, you can kick my ass, okay?” He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “I just don’t want to lose you like I lost Magnus.”
My eyes sting, and I feel a lump in my throat. I swallow it down and my chin hits my chest. “Have you reached out to him?”
He shakes his head. “Not yet. I don’t know what to say. And it’s been so long. I feel like I’ve lost my chance.”
“It’s not, and saying sorry is a start. I think he’s more forgiving than we deserve.”
Matt nods as Doggo comes trotting out, sniffing at Matt’s pants and licking his hand.
“Come here, Doggo,” I say and then glance over at Matt. “Listen, thanks for this, but we need to get back. We have a lot of shit to unpack. My boyfriend has a lot of stuff.”
“Hey,” Beau says with a smirk. “I have a totally normal amount of things.”
I arch an eyebrow at him, and he grins back at me, knowing he totally doesn’t.
Matt shifts his gaze between us and then stuffs his hands in his pockets once more. “Can I…um, can I help?”
The offer is so bizarre and unexpected that I just stare at him. I don’t answer right away, so Beau steps in.
“Yes, and I will put you to work, Matthew,” he says with a waggle of his finger. “It’s going to be back-breaking.”
Just as he says that, Coop strides up the walkway, wearing tight jeans, an unbuttoned shirt, and a dinner jacket.
“Did someone say back-breaking?” Coop asks and then knocks his shoulder into Matt slightly before turning his gaze to him. His eyes rake over Matt’s body and he looks unimpressed.
Matt stands a bit straighter and his brow furrows in response.
“Ah, Coop, you made it. On time,” Beau scoffs.
Coop rolls his eyes, and I bite back a laugh. Coop was supposed to be here hours ago, but went radio silent this morning and didn’t respond to our messages. I just figured he was bailing. Apparently not. He just showed up when he wanted to.
Seems to be what he does.
“I’m always on time,” Coop responds. “Who’s this?”
“This is my brother, Matt.”
Coop eyes him once more and then strides inside. “Nice to meet you. Now chop chop, you three. Time to get to work.”
He snaps his fingers, and I roll my lips between my teeth, waiting for Matt to turn the other way and leave. Coop has no qualms about shoving his gayness in everyone’s face. But instead of leaving like I expect him to, Matt just takes a step forward and nods.