Page 40 of Starfish and Coffee
“He has his pilot’s license now. He flies himself everywhere. Very convenient.”
Matt laughed. “And you’re giving me shit about a motorcycle?”
“He was asking about you. I didn’t have the heart to tell him you’ve been ignoring your oldest and dearest friends for that riffraff on the beach. It’d break his heart.”
“I think his heart would be just fine.” Matt laughed again. “Trust me, Devon couldn’t care less what I’m doing with my spare time. He went backpacking for a full year after he graduated. He didn’t call anyone. We thought he’d died over there.”
“Europe would be a better use of your time. What are you learning at that dirty little shack on the beach?”
“How to make eggs Benedict.” Matt couldn’t resist the jab.
“You’re doing this deliberately to upset me.” She let out a little sob of misery. “You’re trying to embarrass me.”
“Yes, that’s it. My entire life is centered around the primary goal of embarrassing my mother.”
“I hate that motorcycle!”
Matt knew this meant they’d just gone full circle. There was some speech about his father coming up next, and he didn’t have the stomach for it.
“Mama, I love you,” he said in a soft but firm voice. “But I’ve got to go now. Can we please be cordial to each other until Friday and then have a nice evening at the club?”
“You’re going to wear a real suit?” she asked as if considering his proposition. “Dress properly for once? I’m so tired of seeing you in jeans and shorts.”
The doorbell rang before Matt could promise to dress appropriately. He looked toward the front of the house with a frown. “I have to go.”
“Friday,” she said again, as if afraid he’d change his mind. “We’ll go early for cocktails.”
“Fine.” Matt got off the stool and walked toward the front door. “Bye, Mama.”
Matt hung up before she could get another word in. He’d learned that trick from his father and knew now it was the only effective way to get off the phone with her.
He saw Alex through the cut glass of the front doors. He opened them and frowned when he saw Alex was shirtless. “Are you okay?”
Alex ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back into place. “Can I crash here tonight?”
Matt could say something nasty about waiting until this weekend, but the truth was he was happy Alex was there. His pride be damned, he stepped back and let Alex walk in.
Alex leaned into him once Matt closed the door. He sniffed and then scowled. “You smell like scotch.”
“My mother has been calling all fucking day.” Matt groaned in annoyance. “She even sent her driver over here to tell me to pick up the phone when I wouldn’t answer. I finally gave in and just spent the last twenty minutes listening to her bitch about how much I suck.”
“She was bitching about that?” Alex pulled back with a mock look of shock. “Your sucking is one of my favorite things.”
Matt laughed, feeling instantly lighter as he eyed Alex’s bare chest. “So what’s your story?”
“I think my brother’s fucking my best friend and pseudogirlfriend,” Alex said simply. “So you know, that’s not awkward or anything.”
“Okay.” Matt eyed Alex’s bare chest once more. “And somehow that led to you giving all Mirabella Island the eye candy on the way over here?”
Alex shrugged. “It was either leave without a shirt or kick my brother’s ass.”
“Works for me.” Matt leaned in for a kiss that was quick but intimate and desperately needed. He studied Alex’s face when they pulled apart, seeing the strain of a long day on his handsome features. “You want me to order something from Giovanni’s on the Boulevard?”
“You’re drunk, and I’m about to be.” Alex walked toward the kitchen, obviously in search of something to solve his sobriety problem. “They don’t deliver.”
“For enough money everyone delivers.” Matt followed after him, finding Alex in the kitchen with Matt’s abandoned drink in his hand.
Alex smirked against the rim of the glass. “I love you for your money.”
