Page 76 of The Golden Scoop

“Yeah, I guess,” I admit. “Unfortunately, I’ve learned lies can cause real harm, but telling the truth doesn’t guarantee people are going to believe you. Or stay.”

Matt shifts slightly, our knees now touching under the covers.

“I’d keep you around.”

“Don’t even get me started.” I scoff. “Men are worse.”

That earns a small reaction from him, his eyebrow raised.

“Worse?”

“More convincing,” I explain. “Better at saying what you want to hear without feeling remorse later on.”

Matt hums. “And you think I’m doing that?”

His words are careful. After these past few weeks, I don’t believe that he’s doing that with me. But I know he could if push came to shove.

“I think you’re probably very good at it,” I tell him honestly, hoping I didn’t offend him.

His tongue flicks out, briefly wetting his lips. A beat goes by in silence, and I brace, ready for confrontation.

“I probably am,” he says.

What?

“But not with you.”

My breath catches slightly, enough for him to notice. Immediately, I’m disarmed. This is probably the first time a man hasn’t jumped into defensiveness around me.

“You don’t make it easy,” he adds, softer. “You question everything. You push back. You don’t let me hide.”

There’s a small pause.

“I don’t think I could lie to you properly even if I tried,” he continues. He’s being so honest, all the charm gone, replaced by something real. “And I don’t want to.”

Something in my chest shifts, and I don’t respond right away. I have to sort through my thoughts.

Matt’s not trying to convince me. He’s not even asking me to trust him. He’s just showing up with honesty. He’s been doing that every single time we’re together. I’ve never had that with a man… it’s new and dangerous.

He exhales softly, like he’s about to say something he didn’t plan to. My eyes shoot up to meet his.

“I think,” he begins, cautiously, “you’re used to people leaving before you get a chance to decide if they should stay.”

Not entirely right, but also not wrong either. Usually when I turn up my ‘Emma-ness’ they’re gone in under two weeks.

“I’m not trying to be one of those people.”

My mind’s racing, having no clue how we’ve gotten to this position, being so open with each other, saying things that are making my heart do somersaults.

For a whole minute, I study him. I look for traces of deception, or a clue that lets me in on the joke. There’s none. This is Matt Hunt. And for some reason, I like him.

“You’re really bad at staying away, you know that?” I murmur, softer than I mean to.

He huffs a quiet laugh.

“Say the word and I’ll take the couch,” Matt whispers, almost a dare.

My eyes drop to his lips. I don’t know if it’s the rush of being listened to without judgment running through my veins, but I shake my head and close the distance between us instead.