Page 73 of Savannah Royals
I tilt my head, considering the Abe standing before me. It’s certainly a different version than I’m used to.
“Does he own you?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
“No.”
“I didn’t think so. Not anymore at least.” His gaze flicks briefly to Matthew. “All right, Kitty-Kat, I’m going to leave now so you can say goodnight to your beau in private. Neither of us will tell Master Paul I didn’t stay all the way to the bitter end, keeping my eye on you.”
I laugh, gratified. “Goodnight, Abe.”
The billiard room is nearly empty now. Taking a fortifying breath, I return to Matthew.
“So…” I bite my lip. “Shall we go someplace we can talk?”
“Absolutely. You want a drink?” When he smiles, I know what he’s suggesting.
“Sure, but we’ll have to sneak out.”
Turns out Matt isn’t half bad at sneaking, if a little sunshine-y and giggly while doing it. The poor man has no idea what’s coming.
After we slip into his mother’s office, I’m the one to pull out the whiskey and tumblers. I pour Matthew a liberal drink. Very liberal. I keep going until the glass is two-thirds full.
“Uh-oh.” He accepts the hefty pour, frown lines appearing. “Am I really going to need all of this?”
I want to smile and laugh so much. Because he’s sweet and perfect…so very sweet and perfect. But I’m neither, nor is what I plan to confide tonight.
“You might.” I pour myself a generous drink as well, then take a fortifying pull. “I’m going to tell you some things you might not like…things you definitely won’t like, I reckon.”
“All right.” He’s nervous, but he takes another sip and waits.
“I’m not really even sure where to begin.”
Matthew leans back against the desk. “Perhaps the beginning?”
That will never do; we’d be here all night.
I tighten my grip on my drink. “You know there’s a fella in the picture, from back home?”
“Yes. Is that fella Abe?” he asks, steady.
I love him for the fact that there’s no accusation in his eyes, no judgment or reproach when he asks it.
“Yes and no.”
“Yes and no?”
“No, because no, it’s not really Abe. There’s someone else.” I blink and press my fingers to my closed eyes for a moment. “Someone who’s quite important to me. But yes, because, in the past, Abe and I…Abe has been that guy for me. I’ve been with Abe before.”
“Been with him in what capacity, exactly?” He puts his drink on the desk.
“In…every capacity.”
Matthew falls silent.
“I’m not…I don’t know what you have or haven’t assumed about me, but I’m not a virgin.”
He exhales slowly. “I didn’t think you were. So…with Abe?”
“Yeah. Sometimes.”
