“Well, I can admit I never Googled you. I was always worried I’d see some news article that said you'd married a supermodel or something.” I laugh. He doesn’t.
“About that…”wait, what?
I whisper, “Are you married to a supermodel?” Now he does laugh.
“No, sweetheart. That’s not where I was going with that.” He pulls me into him, tighter, forcing my arms up and around his neck, then he lifts me to sit on his lap. “I was going to tell you that I actually haven’t been with anyone since we broke up. Well, as in a relationship. I haven’t been in a relationship with anyone for the last, you know, 17 years.” He shrugs, but I’m so astonished I can barely move. I just stare at him.
“Like haven’t been with anyone in a serious relationship, like not even sexually?” I don’t know if I could believe he hasn’t been with anyone, period.
“No, I-I’ve had sex, I just haven’t been in any relationships.” He laughs a little, “You’re the first woman I’ve even brought here.” He motions with his hand around his room.
“Really?” I ask, with a corny smile on my face. He blushes.
“Yes, really.”
I lean forward and kiss him. One ofour kisses. The kind that could go on for hours, that lives in my head for days, but I pull away before we get too caught up. I have to ask. “Is this why you were so determined to tell everyone we were together?” He looks down, almost ashamed.
“I mean, that’s part of it. I just really…” He stops, then regains his composure, “Yes, I want everyone to know you’re with me. Yes, it’s been awhile since I’ve done the relationship thing, and I’m still trying to figure it all out. Yes, I am going to get it wrong. Like I did at your house the other day or like when I planned the trip without talking to you. And again, like I did tonight. I’m sorry, Brit. You’re the only thing I’ve ever done right, so if you need there to not be a label, we will not have a label. But to me, we are together. I am committed to you. I probably always have been. I’m happy to wait for you to catchup. I mean, hopefully, you will catch up,” he sighs out, then looks at me.
“I think I could be convinced to have a label. Now. Iwasn’twhen you started telling people, but Idoappreciate you explaining where you’re coming from. Next time, can you not steamroll me, though? That’s something my ex-husband did to me and it drives me crazy, and it hurts my feelings.”
“I promise I won’t. I care about you so much, Brit. I don’t think you have a clue, do you?” He searches my face for the answer, holding my chin in his hand to look at me.
“I’m starting to understand,” I say back to him quietly.
“Okay, so does this mean I can call you my girlfriend?” I blush and nod. While I may not be hundred percent ready for this next step, I know Matthias is and I want to give him this chance. He’s deserving of this chance. “Great. What can I get mygirlfriendfor dinner? Do you want Chinese, Greek, Kebab?” I go to open my mouth, but he stops me, “Wait, wait, I know. You want Kung Pao chicken with pan-fried noodles from the place on First Street,” he pauses. “Did I get it right?”
I can’t help but smile. “You got it so right, babe.”How does he still remember that?He just stands up, holding me in his arms, and starts walking towards the main living area. “I can walk, you can put me down.”
He places a kiss on my forehead, and says, “I know, but just let me take care of you, okay? Also, I’m dropping you off on the couch while I go order. You need to pick out what we’re watching.” He walks us around to the front of his oversized leather sectional, sets me down in the corner, and hands me an Apple TV remote.
“What are you in the mood for?” I call out to him, but I think he walked into the kitchen.
“Whatever you want, babe!” he yells back. Okay then, Queen Charlotte it is. I open his Netflix, but stop. In his ‘ContinueWatching,’When Harry Met Sallyis sitting there, like a movie recommending a person. Like a sign from the Nora Ephron movie gods, I’ve made the right choice.
“Are you sure you can’t stay?” Matthias asks me as I put my dress back on. He comes up behind me, refastening the dress, then gently massages my neck.Oh my god, how can I say no to this man when he touches me like this?
“It’s not fair to ask me when you’re massaging me like that.”
He chuckles, “Oh, I know.”
“I have to go home. The girls are there. So is Jess, and Damian, too.” His hand tenses before he stops entirely. I turn to face him, his expression slightly hardened. “Does it bother you that Damian is staying at my house?”
“Yes,” he says nonchalantly, just matter of fact. I get it. I guess I’d feel the same.
“Okay, but you do understand that he and I share children? And they’re entitled to see their father, and that will never change, right?” I hope my tone doesn’t come out as bitchy. I try to say it gently, but firmly.
“I understand why that’s important to you, yes.”
“Great, because yeah, my own father was a complete waste of human space, but Damian isn’t. He’s a good dad, and the girls deserve a present parent like him in their life.”
Matthias rubs my back in understanding. “I get it, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it, okay?” That’s fair. If the tables were turned, I’d feel the exact same way.
“Okay,” I say, then slip my heels back on. Matthias throws on the t-shirt I was just wearing and a pair of driving mocs. And God, he could wear a garbage bag and still be gorgeous. I can’tstop smiling at him when he slides back up to me. He pulls me into an embrace and drops his forehead to mine.
“I wish we could always be like this,” his whisper comes out softly.I wish that, too. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I’m not sure. I might try and take Jess to Colton’s for late lunch or dinner. I don’t know yet.”
