"Good. Because I'm about to make it worse. Will you go on a date with me?" Matt said.
In shock, Bailey couldn't answer. He was happy and about to say yes, but Matt was turning away.
"I guess that's a no. Sorry."
This time Bailey didn't let Matt get too far away. He found him in the kitchen getting a snack for Joey. "I wish you would stop walking away just because I'm slow to answer. Give a guy a minute," he said to Matt. "I would love to go out with you any time, anywhere, as long as we can get a babysitter for Joey."
Matt smiled and looked kind of sheepish. "Sorry. I should have let you answer. You just have me all tied up in knots. I feel like I'm going crazy wondering if you're into me, and how much."
With his heart beating out of control and a lump in his throat, Bailey went over to him. He took Matt's beautiful face in his hands and kissed him then he told him, "Trust that I'm into you more than I can say."
Matt said they should go out on Gwen's night off so she could babysit. Bailey wasn't sure if she would want to, but Matt was sure she would. Since Bailey planned to ask her, he also had to tell her that he was going on a date with her brother. The nextday, while Matt took Joey to watch some surfers, Bailey went to visit Gwen at the bar.
She was about to take her break and she wanted a sorbet so they grabbed some and walked the pier together. "I assume you talked to Matt about that rumor," Bailey said.
"Finally. I wasn't going to tell him about it, just let it die down," Gwen said.
"I thought that was just me," Bailey said.
"No, we're both cowards," she told him.
"I knew I was but I'm surprised about you," Bailey told her. "But I guess that's not an easy thing to bring up with your brother."
"Yeah. He's had a hard time with people letting him down and assuming things about him, trying to take advantage of him. I was hoping this whole thing would blow over without him knowing anything about it," Gwen said.
"Me too. He was mad at me for talking to you about it and not him," Bailey said.
"Yeah, I got an earful about that too," she said.
"We did make up, and now Matt and I are going on a date," Bailey told her and she looked surprised.
"I knew something was brewing between you two," she said and she didn't look thrilled.
"You didn't approve of him working for me and now this. Maybe you really don't like me," Bailey said though he didn't really think that was it. Probably.
"No, but this is the kind of thing I worry about," she said. "I knew Matt would get too attached to you, and Joey too. He's too softhearted. You're exactly the kind of guy he would get all wrapped up in."
"So you don't think we should be dating."
"Is it dating or one date?" she questioned him.
Bailey almost said he didn't know but then he told her, "I'll go on as many dates with Matt as I can get."
Gwen laughed. "Ugh, you're too much alike, all earnest and pure of heart. If you weren't leaving, I'd say you were perfect for each other."
Now Bailey almost told her that Matt could come with them, but he didn't want to get ahead of himself. Maybe Matt didn't want that.
"You two could be in for some serious heartbreak," Gwen predicted.
"Do you mean me and Joey?" Bailey asked.
"I meant you and Matt, but I guess Joey's heart might get broken too," Gwen said.
"So you want to babysit him?" Bailey asked.
"That's what this is about? I thought you wanted my blessing," she said.
"I wanted both your blessing and babysitting," Bailey said. "I didn't get your blessing and I understand if I don't get the babysitting either."
