Page 6 of Mine to Keep

“Oh!” I stepped away. “So you’re not all embarrassed because you tried to see my dick—it’s because I stopped you from getting dick from someone totally okay with fucking your highly drunk ass?”

He scowled…and yeah, still cute. “I remember everything. Clearly, I wasn’t that drunk. I just mixed beverages. That’s why I got sick, and I didnottry to ‘see your dick,’ as you say.”

I busted out laughing. “Hands on belt, Mattie!”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Stop hiding.”

He huffed, and then his expression changed to surprise…maybe fear? And he was looking over my shoulder.

I spun in time to see JJ and Mason dart into the kitchen…Those shits. I went to face Matt again, but he was gone.

CHAPTER THREE

Matt

Hiding,avoiding…such rude words to describe my behavior. Was I embarrassed? No…maybe. I just didn’t feel like dealing with it. Nick wasn’t anything to me. My focus was JJ, and it wasn’t like I’d spat in Nick’s face and had been mean to him. Okay, maybe I wasn’t sunshine and rainbows.

I huffed from the bathroom that I didn’t run to but calmly walked to after Nick’s attention had been diverted elsewhere. My reflection screamed that I was a liar, but I ignored it.

I didn’t owe Nick anything. Maybe a thank-you for getting me home, and the pills, and water—okay, and the food. But who was to say the guy I was gonna get lucky with—Steve, I thought his name was?—wouldn’t have done the same.

I splashed water on my face, took a deep breath, and counted to three. “I just have to go out there, tell JJ we need to talk about his new PT schedule, and then I can go back to my room.”

Once I’d dried my face, I stepped out and walked to the kitchen. And of course, everyone was there. JJ smiled and waved for me to join him.

“Shep’s icing the cake; come have a slice.”

“Actually, JJ. I was hoping we could talk about your PT schedule. You’ve made incredible process, and I don’t think you need a live-in therapist anymore.”

His brows crinkled. “Oh, really?”

“Yeah, think we can go in the other room?”

Shep waved for JJ to go. “It’s going to take a few minutes, anyway. Go on.”

It wasn’t intentional, but my eyes found Nick, who was leaning against the fridge with a glass of water in his hand. His face was pinched, and he was staring right at me. It was unnerving.

“Sure.” JJ stood and slowly, but with a lot of confidence, walked over to me. “Living room okay?”

“That’s fine.”

In the living room, I waited until JJ was settled. I noticed how easily he sat; he wasn’t breaking into a sweat or breathing hard. And while he winced here and there, he had improved beyond my expectations.

“So.” I smiled. “I feel that we can move to me being here three times a week, and by next month twice, if you’re getting better—which I think you will be. Then once, and hopefully I’ll be able to sign off on you shortly after that. Isn’t that amazing?”

JJ’s mouth opened wide. “Oh my God, for real?”

“Yeah, I’m insanely impressed with you, JJ. The trauma your body took was severe. You’ve managed to go above and beyond.”

“I can’t believe it. I’m thrilled…a little scared, though.”

I nodded. “I understand. But you’ll have daily exercises to do when I’m not here. Shepard can assist you on walks, or anyone here can, actually. I don’t think you should be wandering off on your own yet. You’ll tire if you do too much too fast on your own, and we really don’t need you taking a tumble.”

“This is…I can’t thank you enough, Matt.”

I snorted. “You’re the one that did all the work.”

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