Page 78 of The Light to My Darkness (The Light to My Darkness 1)

Scarlett didn't yell to stay with me. Or cry for being taken away. She clung to him like she loved him more than anyone else in the world. As they disappeared onto the elevator, I let my back slide down the door, until my butt hit the hallway carpet. And I cried. I cried and I couldn't seem to stop.

Chapter 26

Sunday

"Do you want to talk about it?" Matt asked.

I opened my eyes and looked up at him. "Where is Scarlett?"

"With Rob and Daphne. She seemed perfectly content in his arms. Wasn't anything special about me except that I was a man, I guess."

I laughed. "Well whatever it was, she wanted you more than she wanted me."

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked again.

"Not really."

"I got your keycard." He put his hand out for me and helped me get to my feet.

"Thank you. Is the little monster that used to be my daughter spending the rest of the night with Rob and Daphne?"

"Yup. It's just us." He put my keycard in the door and pushed it open for me.

I stared at him apprehensively. "Thank you for coming to my rescue tonight with Scar. And for getting my key. I really appreciate it. But it's the middle of the night. And you're practically naked." I gestured to the chiseled abs staring back at me.

"So are you."

I tugged on the bottom of my shirt again. "Goodnight, Matt," I said.

He crossed his arms as he leaned against the doorjamb. "Look, it's true, I think you're beautiful. And sweet and kind."

"Matt..."

"Let me finish," he said with a laugh. "I like pushing your buttons because you get all flustered." He smiled. "Sure, if you were single, I would have tried to sleep with you years ago. But I promise I'm not trying to steal you away from James. I just like messing with you."

Rob used to say something similar to me. Like he enjoyed seeing me blush or something. "Am I really so fun to mess with?"

"Absolutely. So will you let your guard down for two seconds and tell me why your daughter is insisting that a snake is going to murder you in your sleep?"

"Is that what she said to you?"

"Something along those lines."

"God." I walked past him into the room. "She just saw a scary movie. It's nothing."

"So the tears..."

"What would you do if your kid wouldn't stop talking about your impending death? How am I supposed to comfort her when I don't..." I let my voice trail off. "I'm too young to die." My eyes started to get watery again.

"There it is." He opened his arms like he wanted to hug me.

"I'm not hugging you when you're only wearing boxers."

He lifted up his arm and sniffed his armpit. "What? I smell fine, I swear."

"Matt."

"I just told you I didn't love you. What's the big deal? All our friends can screw themselves. You know I love you, but just as a friend. Come on." He gestured to his chest. When I didn't move, he sighed. "If the pregnant stomach wasn't enough to remind me that you're off limits, the hickey James left you with would be."

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