44 - Matthew

Jessica hadn't talked to him since he made it to her housewarming party. He understands that Chloe wanted to cuddle with her godmother for hours, but he couldn't help but wish they had switched places.

Chandra had him in an inescapably linked arm. Plus, Harper was talking to him, and he was trying to be polite.

However, he had his eyes trained on Jessica and their goddaughter. He saw her accidentally giving Chloe her glass of wine and didn't realize it until Chloe took a tiny sip and made a sour face. He struggled not to laugh.

Hanging out with his brothers and a few friends was fun, but he couldn't wait to get Jessica alone. Assuming that the offer to let him couch-surf still stands, he will surely get her alone. He hasn't had the chance to move into his new place yet.

Maybe a lot sooner than he thought because their friends started leaving in pairs, some with kids, then some alone.

Chandra and Harper were the last ones to leave. She made sure he and Harper exchanged numbers. He wasn't sure why, but he was too excited for them to leave so he did as he was told.

Matthew happily marched toward the kitchen, surprised that Jessica was still slouched behind the counter, nursing her glass of wine. He wasn't sure how much wine she had. However, he could tell that she had more than enough because she looked a little flushed.

"Hey." She offered him a goofy little smile. "I'm glad you made it."

He chuckled. "Three hours late but I made it."

"I didn't mind if you're five hours early or didn't make it at all. One way or another, I know you'll be staying on my couch tonight."

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Good to know the offer still stands."

She shrugged cheerfully. "Why wouldn't it be?" Then, her smile faltered, and her gaze dropped to the floor. "Unless of course, you changed your mind and prefer to be on someone else's couch instead."

His brows knotted together. Someone else's?"

Her eyes rounded as if in panic. "It's nothing. Sorry, too much wine. Would you like a glass? I've emptied the bottle, but I can open another one."

He shakes his head. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Everything's super peachy. I'm gonna start cleaning up." She wobbled a bit when she slid herself off the bar stool. "You stay put, okay?"

He followed her to the living room, staying close—not because he could smell her intoxicating floral perfume wafting behind her. Well, maybe, just a little.

Plus, she looks amazing in her Barbie pink body-con dress. It's practically too tempting to keep him away from her.

"Are you sure you're not too tipsy to clean?"

There wasn't anything much to clean, really. He heard Jessica insisted on cleanup, so their friends left a couple of beer bottles on the coffee table and three wine bottles on the counter for her to pick up after the party. Just to make her think she's holding her side of the bargain.

Looks like he's not the only one thinking Jessica isn't great around fragile and breakable stuff.

Jessica made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Nah, it would take more than a bottle of wine to get me drunk."

She lowered herself a little to reach for the bottle of beers on the coffee table and almost fell straight to her face had he not wrapped an arm around her waist and held her steady.

Jessica shifted so she was looking up to his face. "Nope. Too tipsy to clean."

Matthew swathed his other arm around her.

Her beautiful brows knitted together. "That's strange."

"What's strange?" he asks, feeling so intoxicated from her proximity.

"Oh." she slapped her hand over her head like she just realized something. "I know why."

"Why?" He had no idea where the conversation was going, but he missed her too much to turn down a conversation with her.

"I hadn't eaten anything all day," she murmurs more to herself.

Matthew almost gaped. "Jessica Keith, that's so unlike you."

"I know. It's been a very busy day." She groaned and buried her face on his shoulder.

They stood there for a moment. While he held her close. Then...

"Matthew?"

"Yeah?"

She lifted her face off his shoulder and looked at his face. "I think I'm feeling a bit hungry now. Maybe, starving."

Matthew chuckled.

Now, that's the Jessica he knows.

"I have a frozen pizza." Her face brightened up.

"Okay. You sit here for a minute. I'll get you some water." He gently lowered her to the couch and then sat next to her.

However, she clutched his shirt and shook her head. "I can do it. You're the one who should be sitting your ass down."

It cracked him up. "My ass is fine."

She froze for a minute. "Oh, my gosh. Matthew, did you just say 'ass'?"

She laughed so hard that her face turned red. "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd hear you say that."

He laughed along with her, realizing what he just said.

Jessica leaned in closer, her lips almost touching the outer shell of his ear. "Between you and me, I find your ass fine too."

There was a weird fluttering in his chest.

She slapped a hand to her knee and stood up with a chirpy smile. She sashayed back into the kitchen with a little wobble.

Matthew was left dazed on the couch. His ringing phone was the only thing that buzzed him out of his stupor. He answered the call distractedly, scurrying toward the kitchen when he heard the glasses clattering.

When he got to the kitchen, Jessica was holding a pitcher of cold water in her right hand, an empty glass on the left, and another glass squeezed against her chest. She must've caught it from the cupboard.

He rushed to her side and took the empty glasses and the pitcher.

She mouthed 'thank you.' She then turned to the fridge and took out her frozen pizza. She walked around the counter and stood in front of her oven.

She shoves the pizza in the oven, clearly not seeing the big and bold instructions on the box that says, 'remove plastic before placing in oven.'

He darted towards her before she could close the oven. He removed the plastic himself and placed it in. Just then, his business call finally ended.

"I'm sorry. Was that an important call?" Jessica had a worried look on her beautiful face.

"Nah, it was nothing." He ushered her to the barstool and poured her a full glass of water. "Making sure you get fed is important."

She almost choked on her glass of water. She set the glass down and laughed. "Matty, are you turning into a jokester?"

He sat down next to her. They talked about their week (as if they didn't talk over the phone) until the pizza was done.

Jessica wanted to eat in the living room, so he brought the box of pizza, along with tons of water and a squiffy Jessica to the desired area.

She took one bite and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Matthew took a bite of his pizza, thinking it may taste funny.

Jessica shakes her head. "Now I want burritos, too."

He holds a laugh. "Okay. We'll order some." He took out his phone and poured her another glass of water.

She drank the full glass.

Good.

Jessica ate four slices. He had a couple. By the time the burritos were delivered, the pizza box was empty. Matthew half-expected that she might not have room for burritos anymore. But who was he kidding?

He knew she still had room the moment her eyes lit up at the sound of a knock on the door. "Wait here."

She nods excitedly. "Okay. Do you want to watch whatever's on TV?" She propped a pillow on the armrest and rested her head on it.

"Sure. How about a movie?" He hadn't noticed that the TV wasn't on. Or that it was there. That's how entertaining she is.

Jessica gave another nod and covered what looked like a yawn with the back of her hand.

He took their order and refilled the pitcher with cold water from the fridge. He probably just took about three minutes, but when he got back to the living room Jessica was already asleep on the couch.

She had the TV remote in her hand but hadn't pressed the power button at all. Which made him wonder what this woman had been up to all day. First, she hadn't eaten anything. Now, she's exhausted.

He smiles and shakes his head. Then, he started taking off her heels. He carefully lifted her into his arms and headed in the direction of the bedroom. Surprisingly, he knew her place by the million photos she sent him.

He laid her gently on the bed. She rolled to her side, almost falling off the bed had he not quickly placed a pillow as a barrier.

Matthew reached out a hand to toy with an auburn strand of her mussed hair.

She lets out a sigh. Then, started snoring softly. Like a cute little snuffle.

He chuckled.

He watched her sleep, making sure that she wasn't potentially going to end up on the floor. Or at least that's what he tells himself—because if he was going to be honest, he just couldn't help it.

Matthew was completely charmed.

Happy reading!