Page 44 of Just Don't Call Me Yours

Janet gives us each a goodnight hug before we head upstairs. “I’m so glad we got to spend the day with all of you.” I think she’s getting a little teary, but it might be the wine. She quickly wipes her eyes and smiles. “Both bedrooms are made up for you upstairs.”

“Okay, goodnight, Mom,” Matt says.

“Goodnight, Janet,” I add. My eyes flicker to where Margot stands, and I’m surprised to find her already looking at me.

She’s been doing that a lot today—looking at me.

I’m not sure what to make of it. She’s probably trying to figure out how she can avoid sleeping in the same room as me tonight. Janet and Drew would never knowingly let Matt and Rae share a room, so it would look too suspicious if either of us slept on the couch.

Once we’ve said goodnight, the four of us head upstairs. Matt’s parents’ bedroom is downstairs, so there shouldn’t be any reason for them to come upstairs tonight, but we still keep our voices low in the hallway to be safe.

“I just have to get my stuff out of the other room,” Rae says as she points down the hallway.

Matt’s eyes jump from me to Margot. “And you guys are sure you’re okay with this?”

“Of course,” Margot says with a nod, but she has her arms wrapped around her torso like she’s physically trying to shield herself from this situation.

Matt cocks an eyebrow. “If you’re sure . . .”

“The things we do for love,” I say dryly. Taking a step toward Matt’s room, I add, “Come on, I need to get my stuff, too.”

We go our separate ways, and Matt and I sit in his old bedroom. Not much has changed since he lived here. The room is clean and neat without him living here, but it was that way when we were in high school, too. Lacrosse trophies line the shelf over his bed, and there’s an old LSU calendar from 2022 still hanging on his wall. A few pictures of him from over the years line his dresser in frames, and I’m in most of them. Sometimes it feels like more of my childhood is showcased here than in my own home.

Matt falls back on his bed. “I ate way too much food.”

I let out a laugh as I turn and lean my back against his dresser. “You and Rae are both going to pass out as soon as she gets in here.”

He shrugs, still staring up at his ceiling. “That’s okay.” Rolling his head to the side so he’s looking at me, he says, “I think I love her.”

“Shit,” I mutter. I’m not surprised, though. I can see that he does.

He lets out a laugh, staring up at the ceiling again. “Yeah.”

“Will you tell her?”

Matt said that to a girl once in high school, but I don’t think he meant it. Or maybe he was too young to understand it. They were only sophomores, but they dated for six months. None of my flings ever got anywhere close to that.

His eyes jump to me before he sits up. “Do you think I should?”

We both know I’m the wrong person to ask, but I guess when you’re in love with someone, you ask your friend for advice regardless of their take on love and relationships. “I think you should.”

He doesn’t bother hiding his surprise. “You do?”

I shrug. “There’s no time like the present, right?”

He drops his gaze but can’t fight the stupid smile that spreads across his face. If I thought she wasn’t right for him, or if I thought she didn’t feel the same, I’d tell him.

When he looks up at me again, the smile fades from his face. “Was today weird for you? Being here?”

“Are you kidding?” I say with a laugh. “Do you know how many Thanksgivings I’ve wished I was sitting at a table with you guys?” He gives me a knowing look, and I come clean even though what I’ve just said isn’t a lie. “Kind of,” I admit. “Honestly, I just feel bad for my mom. She’s trying to calm my dad and not rock the boat.” I shake my head. “He can take it out on me, but it pisses me off that he’s being selfish and not thinking about how this affects her.”

“Yeah,” Matt says with a nod. He knows how my dad can be. “Do you want to tell me what happened today, though? You seemed more . . . bothered than usual.”

Pressing my lips together, I shake my head. We don’t have time to unpack everything that happened today. I thought I’d be so happy about finally touring with a band it wouldn’t matter that my dad was pissed. I wouldn’t even care because I’d be doing it. I’d be proving him wrong.

But I do care.

And even though I’m excited about touring, it sucks that my own family can’t share that excitement.

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