“Glad you lovebirds made it,” Avery teases, winking.
“And here I was doubting the rumor mill,” Lo chuckles from her seat across the table, aiming a smirk in my direction. “When did this happen?” she asks, pointing between Matty and I.
“Uhh,” I breathe, suddenly too aware of all the eyes on me. “It’s still pretty new.”
I shift my weight uncomfortably on my stool, bristling under the weight of their attention. It doesn’t help that every couple around this table is a fated mate pairing, leaving me feeling like a square peg in a round hole with my very human boyfriend. But then Matty turns and gives me that look, like I'm the center of his universe, and the world shrinks down to something I can handle.
"We’re just taking things one day at a time," he says, blue eyes twinkling.
“Definitely makes for a better work environment now that they’re not bickering all the time,” Cam chimes in.
"You can say that again," Avery laughs, exchanging a look with her mate. She gestures to the table, filled with drinks in various stages of emptiness. "Another round?"
I should say no, because I can already feel the warmth from the first beer hitting my bloodstream and my defenses. But Matty’s right beside me, solid and steady, and when he nods, I find myself nodding too.
The conversation dips and swells around me, punctuated by bursts of laughter. Matty has a way of making everyone feel like they're in on a joke, and before long, even the rigid posture I didn't realize I was holding loosens. When Lo leans an elbow on the table and zeroes in on me again, resting her chin in her palm, there's no judgment in her eyes, only curiosity.
"So," she says, dragging the word out. "How'd you two end up together, exactly?"
"More like, how long were you sneaking around before we found out?" Avery cuts in, waggling her brows.
I feel a blush creep across my cheeks like a wildfire. Matty, on the other hand, takes it in stride.
"What can I say?” he quips, leaning in a little closer and grinning down at me. “Blair just couldn’t resist my charms.”
"More like you wouldn’t take no for an answer," I counter, snorting a laugh. I swing my gaze back over to Lo, shrugging a shoulder. “Honestly, I’m still trying to figure out how this even happened.”
"I know that feeling,” she muses, leaning back against her mate’s chest with a contented smile. “Sometimes the best things in life are the most unexpected.”
Her words settle something in me, validating the feelings I tried to fight off for too long. Matty must sense the shift, because he scooches in a little closer, the solid line of his body against mine anchoring me to this moment.
Avery leans in conspiratorially, a smirk curling her lips. "C'mon, how long has this been a thing?" she probes.
I look to Matty, hoping he'll field her question, but he turns the tables on me with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Yeah, Blair," he drawls, flashing me a teasing grin. "How longhavewe been a thing?”
“Who says we’re a thing?” I shoot back, unable to fight my own smile.
The table erupts into laughter and I find myself caught up in it, despite how exposed I feel. Maybe because of it.
"Oh, we’redefinitelya thing," Matty growls, pulling me in closer and stealing a kiss.
Someone across the table whistles and I blush fiercely as I push Matty away, smoothing my hair and reaching for my beer.
“I saw you talking to Caleb earlier, is everything copasetic there?” Lo questions, arching a curious brow.
My heart stutters in my chest.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” Matty laughs.
Shit. Guess it’s time to let the cat out of the bag.
I suck in a deep breath, settling my nerves and shoring up my composure. “Caleb was Dylan’s best friend,” I reply calmly.
Matty’s blue eyes pop wide, brows shooting up to his hairline.
“It’s fine,” I quickly tack on, sliding my hand over his atop the table. “He said he was happy for us. That you’re a good guy and Dylan would’ve wanted me to move on.”
