(52)Jessica

Jessica

I stared at my phone.

Matthew hadn't texted me today, so I've been distracted all morning.

I went to my meeting with Kierra and Jason, guilt gnawing at me. By the end of the meeting, I was trying not to give him the stink eye because he looked like he had nothing to feel guilty about.

I had my suspicions about him even after my boss ushered them to her office to talk about a few things. Taylor Watts can be pretty hands-on when it comes to high-profile weddings. I heard she wanted to convince Kierra that the centerpiece was clashing with the tablecloth.

I drummed my fingers on the table, waiting for a text. I'd be happy with just a 'hey.' Hell, it can be a period for all I care.

My telephone rings, snapping me out of thoughts. I grabbed the phone and greeted Rachel from the reception desk.

"Hey, angel eyes." I chirped.

There was rustling in the background and then came Rachel's voice. "Jess, someone just delivered some brownies. Do you want to have some?"

I grinned. "You were right to call me."

At least I have something else to do while I'm still waiting for his text. I left my office with my phone. I guess I was walking while texting.

Matthew has no idea how much I need a reply right now. And we're still on the second day! I still have to endure at least thirty-three hours without him.

I made it to the reception whole frowning at my phone.

Someone cleared his throat. I looked up and had to do a double-take.

I gaped at the sight of Matthew standing by the reception desk and holding a bouquet of flowers. There was a dopey grin on his face and his eyes warmed when they took me in.

My heart jumped.

I squealed like a schoolgirl, practically sprinted in his direction, threw my arms around his neck, and slid to my tiptoes to kiss him. I'm pretty sure I almost tackled him.

He chuckled, his arms going around my waist.

"I thought you won't be back until tomorrow," I say breathlessly.

"I thought so too," he replies, sounding as breathless as I am.

I looked up at him, still on my tiptoes. "Did you move heaven and earth to be here?"

His dimple poked as he grinned. "You could say that. Or I could say I convinced someone to cover for me, but that would sound less romantic."

I gasp. "You did? What did you do?"

"I just begged my little sister to cover for me."

Knowing Chandra, she probably offered him a deal. She's been trying to get herself noticed by a fellow philanthropist who happens to be her type.

I giggled. "You definitely moved heaven and earth."

Matthew dipped his head low, his mouth covering mine for a lingering kiss.

Although I didn't want to cut the kiss short, I laid a hand over his chest and distanced myself a few inches.

His hand slid over mine.

My boss Taylor, Kierra, and Jason were standing behind him, completely flabbergasted. Rachel piled some files on her desk, a small smile on her face.

Taylor was the first to recover and gave me a meaningful smile. "We didn't mean to interrupt. Looks like you got yourself occupied by your boyfriend."

Boyfriend.

This might sound ridiculous, but I hadn't claimed him as my boyfriend yet. However, I didn't want to correct her. I made a mental note to claim him as my boyfriend within the day. Maybe smack a hand over his arm and say, "Mine!"

Kierra's gaze bounced between me and Matthew.

My stomach twisted into a knot. I had this sickening feeling that Matthew would let go of my hand.

He didn't though.

To my surprise, Kierra smiled. "And here I thought I'd never see Matty with a girlfriend. Is this what couldn't tell me through email?"

I stood frozen in shock.

Matthew was going to tell her?

Kierra approached us both, armed with a hug. "Jason and I are going out for lunch. You guys should come. It'll be a double date!"

Kierra was excited that I didn't have the heart to turn her down. I forced a huge smile and hugged her back. "Sure. That'll be great."

It was the first time that I wasn't hungry for lunch and not actually looking forward to it. A couple of hours later, I was struggling not to project any kind of awkwardness at our table—especially when Matthew firmly instructed the waitress, "No peanuts of any kind or form."

I had knots in my stomach the whole time, but I shoved food in my mouth just in case Matthew sensed something was up with me.

Kierra, Matthew, and I were doing most of the talking while Jason looked so withdrawn, he might as well sit far across the room. He kept typing on his phone and eventually had to answer a call.

There were only the three of us left at our table, but with Jason gone, I felt less awkward.

I nodded distractedly at Kierra as she told the story about how she met Matthew in the playground at the park.

Her phone buzzed on the table. "Sorry. It's the wedding planner." She paused from telling the story and typed on her phone.

I felt Matthew's hand on my knee.

I turn my head to look at him.

"What do you want for dessert?" He asked smilingly.

I scrunched my nose. "I'm craving for donuts from that one place I really like."

"Okay. We'll make a quick stop before heading home." He leaned in and peck on my cheek. "Excuse me for a second. I have to call Chandra and check on her."

I nodded.

Kierra and I are officially alone. Her gaze followed Matthew, a soft smile on her face. "I never seen him this happy."

I stayed quiet. I had no idea what to say.

"I asked him the other day if he was out of town. He said he might get back today because he was going to surprise someone. He didn't want to tell me about the details over email. I guess, that's when I knew there was a woman. Finally."

I felt a smile etched across my face.

Her eyes softened. "I'm happy for the both of you. Looks like he finally found a reason to be home."

"I don't want to disrupt his schedule though." I fiddled with my fork, realizing that I probably already had.

She gave me a motherly smile. "Trust me. You're not disrupting anything. In fact, you're doing all of us a favor. Now everyone would know where to find him."

"He's that elusive, huh?" I looked over to Matthew talking to his little sister on the phone. I wondered if I ever had a hard time getting a hold of him, then came up with nothing. Because he was always there, making himself so available.

Kierra leaned in a little as if she was about to spill a secret. "Mm-hmm. You'll be surprised how many women in this town are dying to get a hold of him."

My brow arched.

"Yep. Even, I wasn't susceptible to his charms."

I stiffened. "Oh?"

"Yeah. But it was a long time ago. Just some silly crush." She waved her hand dismissively.

I forced a smile. "How long ago?"

"Years ago. I was glad I found out he was crushing on someone else before I embarrassed myself."

I felt my brows crease together. Something wasn't adding up. I thought she didn't feel that way about Matthew. "I doubt anyone would have the audacity to not feel the same way about you."

"Well, Matthew did. I was just glad Jason told me about it over the summer before junior year." She sipped on her wine, looking over her shoulder to look at Jason.

"Jason told you that?"

"Yeah," she answered, her eyes still on her fiancé.

It gave me a moment to finally add everything up. Jason was the only person Matthew told about his feelings for Kierra. But he went ahead and lied about Matthew having a crush on someone else.

Kierra shifted her gaze back to me. "There must be some issues at the gallery." Her eyes lit up as if she just realized something. "You should come to his exhibit next week."

I gave her a hesitant look. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Would it be tempting if I tell you it's for a good cause?"

God, this woman and her heart of gold.

"Sure!" I chirped.

"Great. It's his first exhibit, so it'll probably boost his confidence to see a lot of people." She sounded so excited that my heart broke for her.

"Wow, first exhibit?"

She nods. "My parents wanted to help him out, so they funded the whole thing."

A lump formed in my throat.

I stared at Jason, roasting someone on the phone. Slowly, I could see him for what he really was.

A Scheming and manipulative opportunist.

Jason looked back at me.

I struggled not to give him the stink eye.

He walked back to our table and resumed his seat next to Kierra. He whispered something in her ear. If I had to guess, it wasn't something from love notes because her brows knotted with worry.

I can't believe he was crushing Kierra with his sour mood.

I sighed in relief when I felt Matthew's hand over my shoulder. He lifted his chair closer to mine and then sat next to me.

He was smiling boyishly, his hand covering mine on the table while the other resting on the small of my back. "What did I miss?"

The phone call must've gone really well.

Jason's eyes lingered on our hands on the table, then shifted between me and Matthew. For a split second, I felt his gaze growing judgmental and... bitter.

Whatever it was, I decided aggravation would be a good idea.

I gave Matthew a cheeky smile "Not much. We were talking about how you loved that one slide."

Kierra didn't have to tell me about the slides—although not all of the stories. His mom already did way before our lives got wrapped in the whole parenting thing.

He pursed his lips at me. "But slides are fun."

Kierra's face perked up. "Oh, Matty, do you remember that one slide we had at my old house? Jessica, you need to hear this story."

I turned to her, suddenly excited.

Matthew groaned. "Kierra, not that story."

"Oh, you have to tell me." I giggled. "I need to hear this one."

"Kierra, I beg you." Matthew's hand went up to cover my ears.

Kierra and I laughed—even more so when he turned red.

I gambled a glance over to Jason. I caught him rolling his eyes.

Then I turned to the innocent and beautiful Kierra next to him. I suddenly have the urge to take her away from all this mess.

Wow. Been a while. Happy new year, Ladies!