Page 10 of Keep My Heart
‘Yeah, because I’m totally her type,’ I say with a laugh.
‘Maybe you are. It’s the opposites attract thing. You’re allserious and by the book, and she’s more of a free spirit.’
‘By the book? What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You follow the rules. You’re a lawyer. Your whole job is about abiding by the law.’
‘It’s aboutinterpretingthe law in favor of our clients. Totally different thing.’
‘Whatever. I’m just saying, you two complement each other.’
‘Why are we talking about this? I’m not even going to see Lyndsay again.’
He pulls into his driveway. ‘You ready for this?’
‘Ready for what?’
He laughs. ‘My kids. They can be a little loud.’
‘I think I can handle it.’
We get out of the car and walk up to his house. It’s a simple white two-story that cost less than a parking spot in New York City. I’m not kidding. My boss paid more for a reserved parking spot in Manhattan than Matt’s house cost.
‘Dad!’ Bella runs up to him the minute we get through the door. She looks small for six, but what do I know? I’m never around kids. I don’t know what six-year-olds look like.
Matt picks her up and kisses her cheek. ‘Remember Nick?’
She shakes her head.
‘It’s been over a year since she saw me,’ I say. ‘I didn’t think she’d remember me.’
He sets her down. ‘Where’s your mom?’
‘In the kitchen,’ she says.
We go down a hallway to the kitchen. Tessa, Matt’s wife, smiles at me as we walk in. ‘Nick, it’s good to see you again.’ She comes over and gives me a hug. I feel like I’m hugging a kid. She’s barely five feet and I’m six three.
‘Good seeing you too,’ I say. ‘Thanks for the dinner invite.’
‘It’s nothing fancy. Just grilled steaks and some sides. Nothinglike the food you’re used to in New York.’ She laughs. ‘I was worried about what to make, knowing you eat at all those great restaurants.’
‘I’m actually looking forward to this. It gets old going out all the time.’
‘I keep telling her to stop worrying,’ Matt says. ‘Just because you live in New York doesn’t mean you forgot where you grew up.’ Matt looks over at Tessa as she takes a jar of mayonnaise from the fridge. ‘Nick’s family used to have cookouts all the time over at the orchard. I’d work late just so his mom would invite me to dinner.’
I smile. ‘And here I thought you were just a hard worker.’
‘I love your parents’ orchard,’ Tessa says. ‘It’s so beautiful up on that hill with views of the river and the trees. They could host weddings there.’
‘I’m not sure there’s much demand for that,’ I say, smiling, ‘but I could mention it to them.’
‘Want a beer?’ Matt asks, going over to the fridge.
‘Maybe later. I’ll take some water for now.’
He takes a glass from the cupboard and fills it at the sink. I’m so used to drinking bottled water that it seems strange to see someone get water from the sink.
‘Are you staying for the reunion?’ Tessa asks as Matt hands me the water.
