Page 32 of Because You Rejected Me

“How old are you?” he shot back. “You knew the reference.”

I stood there, listening to the pair of them bicker with a smile on my face. It was nice to see Matt coming out of his shell, even if it was to give Sam a run for his money. He’d never win because Sam was the master of banter, but it was fun to watch him try.

“So, how involved are you two?” Sam asked a few minutes later as he served us dinner in the kitchen. “Is this like a fuck buddy situation or something a little more emotional?”

“Uh…” I looked to Matt for his reaction, but he was already looking at me. “Well, I really like Matt,” I said, figuring the truth was the best course of action. “But I want him to be comfortable with wherever we move from here.”

Sam nodded. “And how about you, Matt?”

“I like Ace,” he replied, still looking at me. “And his stupid hat. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him both inside and outside of the bedroom.”

“Spicy. I like it.”

“But,” Matt added. “I need him to understand that I’m comfortable with him already and that sometimes I want him to make the first move.”

“Oooh, honesty,” Sam nodded, leaning forward so that his chin rested in his hands. “I like where this is going.”

“Is that really what you want me to do?” I asked.

Matt squeezed my thigh reassuringly. “I trust you,” he said for the third time. “I know you won’t hurt me. But I need you to always be honest with me, okay? Even if it’s hard to say. I’d rather know immediately than wait until it turns into something worse.”

“I will… try,” I said. “I’m not good at talking.”

“I want to be your safe place,” Matt smiled, leaning close and placing a kiss on my lips. “It’s gonna be hard for me too, so let’s just do our best to communicate, okay?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

Warmth spread through my chest, my heart fluttering against my ribs. It always felt this way with Sam. He turned me into a lovestruck teenager whenever he was around. I’d also never had anyone ask me to be open and honest with them all the time, regardless of whether or not the other person wanted to hear it. It seemed like such a foreign concept, but already, I could see the wisdom in his words.

“Oh my god,” Sam sighed dramatically. “You two are so adorable. I’m pretty sure my blood sugar spiked just listening to that conversation.”

“You’re free to leave,” Matt said, not breaking his gaze with me.

“No, no. I like it.”

“In the spirit of being honest,” I said, my voice shaking as the nerves welled up in my belly. “I uh… want to tell you something.”

“Anything.”

I gulped audibly. “Uh… that first day I met you… when I called you my mate…”

“Yeah?”

“I… Well, I still feel that way.”

I expected Matt to get upset, or at the very least for his expression to shift to something less desirable. But he didn’t flinch at all. Instead, his smile deepened.

“I know it’s fast and I’m not saying we have to do anything about it,” I added. “But I just wanted you to know that I don’t feel any different. I don’t expect anything from you either. I don’t want to keep secrets from you, though. Not a single one.”

“Thanks for telling me, Ace,” Matt smiled. “I like you a lot, I really do.”

“But?”

“But I’m not sure I know what a mate bond feels like right now,” he replied honestly. “I’m still so mixed up with everything going on and all this change… I just don’t know what I’m feeling. I know I want to keep seeing you and follow this path where it leads me. I trust you and I consider you a great friend.” He paused. “I just need some time before I jump into something that serious. Is that okay?”

I pulled him close, kissing him gently on the lips. “Take all the time you need,” I replied, holding him tightly. “Just being near you is more than enough for me.”

“Thanks, Ace.”

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