Page 27 of Love in Unexpected Places

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Matty couldn’t rememberthe last time he’d been so nervous.It wasn’t the same as when he and his family had first arrived in town.That had been fear and anxiousness.It wasn’t the same as when they’d first met Chance, either.Matty had been that terrified they were going to be killed.

No, this was nervousness because he and Sullivan were going on a date, and the last time Matty had gone on a date, he’d been seventeen.Living on the streets didn’t make for relationships, and Matty had been more focused on surviving than on dating.He had no idea where to start, but he was glad it was happening with Sullivan.

He missed the man.They hadn’t seen each other in almost a week, which was understandable considering Sullivan’s situation.He couldn’t afford for the coven leaders to suspect he was up to something, which meant not spending too much time away from the coven.From what he’d said, the coven members weren’t forbidden from leaving the house, but if he continued disappearing for entire hours like he had the day they’d picked up Sabrina, someone would notice, and he could end up in trouble.That was the last thing Matty wanted, so he’d been glad to keep this long-distance and communicate through texts and phone calls.

But tonight would be different.Tonight, they’d see each other, and Matty had a problem.

He didn’t know what to wear.

“I’m telling you, the first outfit was nice,” Sabrina said from Matty’s bed.

She’d settled into one of the guest rooms at the house Matty still shared with a few of his family members.Most of them had moved in with their partners, but a few had stayed, and Matty was glad.He wasn’t used to living alone anymore.They’d been each other’s everything while they were on the streets, and that hadn’t changed just because they had a roof over their heads.

“I thought it was too stuffy,” he said, eyeing the shirt and dress pants.

“It was elegant.Where’s Sullivan taking you, anyway?”

“In town.”

Sabrina wrinkled her nose and rolled onto her stomach.She kicked her feet up, looking completely at ease on Matty’s bed.Matty was happy about that.He’d been afraid that things would be awkward between them because they hadn’t seen each other in four years, but it was like no time had passed.Sabrina was still his annoying little sister, and he loved her as much as he had four years ago.

He’d missed her.He hadn’t allowed himself to think about it much, but he was glad he would never have to miss her again.The pack was her home now, just like it was Matty’s.

“Okay, I can see why that would be too elegant.There aren’t that many nice restaurants in town.Are you going to the diner?”

“I think so.He didn’t say, but we want to keep things casual.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t mean casual in the sense that we don’t want to be together.It’s just that with everything going on, he needs to be careful, and he has to be able to leave at any time if something happens.Besides, I’m not the kind of person who enjoys stuffy restaurants.”

“I don’t know.I think it would be nice for him to take you to one, but fine.”

Matty had explained to Sabrina what had happened between him and Sullivan once they’d gotten home the day of the road trip.He’d told her that he and Sullivan hadn’t actually been together until then, which she’d found hilarious.She’d been poking at Matty for how obvious his crush on Sullivan was, but Matty didn’t care.He and Sullivan were boyfriends.Of course Matty had a crush on him.

Matty also told Sabrina about the coven and what had happened recently.She was scared, but she hadn’t let that stop her from settling in.She behaved like she’d always been a pack member.She’d already made friends, and she’d be starting school on Monday.

Sabrina sat up and dragged Matty’s pillow closer to hug it against her chest.“You know, I didn’t think you would answer my message,” she murmured.

Matty frowned and turned to her.It wasn’t like he needed to continue staring at himself in the mirror, anyway.He already knew he looked fine with his sweater and jeans.“Why wouldn’t I?”

Sabrina shrugged and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.“We hadn’t talked in four years.I thought that maybe you’d forgotten about me.”She sucked in a breath.“I didn’t think that maybe you’d ended up in trouble when they kicked you out.For a good year after you left, I kept looking around every time I was out of the house.I hoped I’d see you.”

“I didn’t stay in town for long.I couldn’t afford to.”Matty had tried finding a job, but there hadn’t been anything for him in the town he’d called home until his parents had kicked him out.

He’d moved to a bigger city, but even the money he’d managed to earn working in coffee shops and as a waiter hadn’t been enough.It was hard to keep a job when he didn’t have a home, and it was hard to have a home when he couldn’t keep a job.He’d been desperate until he’d met Theo and the others.Things had been hard even after that, but at least he hadn’t been alone.He’d had people who cared about him and who would do anything to help him.

That was what he wanted to be for his sister.It was what he was planning on being for her.

“I knew that something could have happened to you.I tried talking to them after they kicked you out, but they didn’t care.They said that you needed to learn to survive on your own and that if you couldn’t, it wasn’t their problem.I hated them for so long.”She snorted.“I can’t believe I didn’t think that they would do the same to me.”

Matty went to sit on the bed next to her and squeezed her shoulder.“You don’t have to worry about them ever again.You’re safe.”

“All thanks to you.”

“We’re both lucky to have people who care about us.It might not be our parents, but we don’t need them.”

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