Page 164 of Lovers' Dance

“Stop bossing me around.” The air between us was tense, hell the whole atmosphere in my kitchen was loaded with tension.

Until Bella said lightly, “Mmm, these brownies are good, Madi.”

“Bella.” Nathan spun around. He’d jumped up from his seat when Matt had jacked Bret up against the fridge. “You didn’t.”

She swallowed and dabbed at the crumbs around her lips. “Didn’t what, darling? I meant to say they smell nice. Really nice.”

I burst out laughing, couldn’t help it. Her innocent face, Nathan’s disapproving frown. It was funny.

I patted Bret’s clasped hands and he released me. A drop of relief eased into Matt’s face. It disappeared when I walked towards the counter instead of his arms. My bottle of whiskey was where I left it before Matt’s untimely arrival. With my back to everyone, I took a long swig, enjoying the burn immensely. God. Today couldn’t get any worse.

The kettle began to whistle and I remembered I had offered them drinks. I sighed and turned around to face my people-filled kitchen.

“Someone else has to make the tea. I’m going to help Sol pack,” I said, needing time to think. Sol’s mouth parted, then she saw my face and nodded immediately.

“Yes, MSG and I are going to pack,” she confirmed, as I gripped my bottle and hurried over to her.

I paused by the door, conscious of Matt’s burning gaze on me, and suddenly feeling guilty for leaving Bella out. I would hate being the only woman in a room with four men.

“Bella, you can come if you want,” I offered with a weak smile. She’d probably think I was mental after today. Ah, well.

Bella glanced at Nathan, then nodded as she got up from the chair. She smiled sweetly at her fiancé before sneakily nabbing two brownies without him noticing.

I smiled. Maybe she wouldn’t think I was mental. We left the guys in the kitchen and made our way upstairs to my bedroom. Bella and Sol hit it off immediately. I figured they would. Hey, we were all creative beings. Sol, a musician. Bella, an architect. And, me, unhappy little ballerina me.

I took a deep swig from my bottle; maybe not so unhappy when the bottle became empty.

“Loaded,” I answered for Bella when Sol asked if she was as wealthy as Matt. “And it’s rude to discuss someone’s personal finances, Sol.”

Sol shrugged and continued painting her fingernails on my bedspread. If I saw one drop of baby pink on my bed I would thump her.

Bella suddenly reached over and took the bottle from my hand. She put it to her lips and took a dainty sip, before taking a larger one. My eyebrow shot up.

“Slow down there, Bella,” I warned, wanting my damned whiskey back. This was my last bottle, I needed to ration it.

Bella giggled, then burped. “Oh my. I think I’m high. How absolutely delightful. I feel as if I’m back at Uni.”

Sol and I exchanged a jaded stare. Bella hadn’t shared the two brownies she brought upstairs. Three good-sized pieces in total. Yeah, she’d be feeling buzzed.

Sol put down the nail polish and eased the whiskey from Bella’s hand. She took a swig, then passed it back to me. I cradled the bottle against my chest, vowing silently to keep everyone else away from it. We were probably in the bedroom for half an hour before someone knocked loudly on the door. I stared at it with nervous eyes. It was Matt. I knew it was him outside my room. I could feel his stern presence pulsating through the wood, ready to tell me off for being an irresponsible adult.

The door opened slowly and, sure enough, Matt’s irritated face popped around it.

“If you ladies don’t mind,” he started with a tight smile on his lips. “I’d like a word with Madi in private.”

Bella struggled off the bed. Matt eyed her suspiciously and, when she giggled at absolutely nothing, he shot me an accusing look.

“I didn’t make her eat it,” I grumbled in self-defence. “She’s grown, Matt.”

Matt cleared his throat softly and Sol slid off the bed. How did he do it? Make people follow his orders with just a look, a word, or even a sound. Matthew Bradley was some sort of Houdini. And Houdini had been mad.

Giggling, Bella let Sol lead her toward the door Matt held open.

“Thank you,” he said politely as Sol eased past him. Bella patted his cheek lightly as she passed by.

“You’ll be okay, right MSG?” Sol queried, shooting uncertain glances between me and Matt.

I nodded and Matt stepped into the room, shutting the door firmly. Sitting on my bed made me feel vulnerable, so I scooted around until my feet touched the floor and stood up on the other side of it, whiskey clutched to my chest and mentally preparing myself for another one of Matt’s lectures. The twin eyebrows of doom were at lecture level. I’d sussed out the varying degrees of arching now.

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