Page 27 of A Single Soul

Oh my God, would you stop being so amazing, you asshole?

We found a table that was reasonably clean, sat down, and started eating.

Halfway through his sandwich, a calmer and less aggravated Matt met my gaze across our small table. “Thank you again. For doing this. I’m…” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m so lost when it comes to all of this.”

“Nah, you’re probably just overthinking it.”

He cocked a brow.

I shrugged. “You should see me trying to figure out what to wear to go out or even to meet someone.” I laughed. “Even when I know for a fact whatever I put on is coming off two minutes after I walk through the door.”

Matt’s eyes widened, and I’ll be damned if he didn’t blush. He had to clear his throat before he asked, “Is, uh… Is that right?”

“What can I say?” I plucked a pickle slice off my sandwich. “It’s easy when it’s someone else. When it’s me…” I grimaced and then popped the pickle into my mouth.

Matt watched me, and then he sat back in his chair and exhaled. “At least it’s not just me.”

“Yeah?”

He nodded. “I can look at a guy and immediately decide if he looks put together, if he’s got a sense of style, if he’s hot—like, I have taste, you know? But when it comes to dressing myself?” He laughed dryly as he reached for his smoothie. “I’m just lucky my line of work requires suits. Those are easy. Everything else…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

Lord, the last thing we needed right now was suited Matt parading through my head. I’d seen him dressed for work, not to mention plenty of mutual friends’ weddings, so I had anextensivecatalog of sartorially pornographic Matt-themed images to choose from.

I took a quick gulp from my own drink to cool down and wet my suddenly dry mouth. “For what it’s worth, I’ve never looked askance at the way you dress.” I gave a haughty laugh. “Not something I can say aboutmostof our social circle.”

Matt snorted. “Meow.”

I shrugged unapologetically.

He just laughed, which was a relief. Didn’t do much to keep my pulse in a safe range, but it was still good to see some humor breaking through. I hated how stressed he was right now.

I shifted in my chair. “Well, um, now that we’ve zhuzhed up your wardrobe…” I grinned. “Time to put it into action, right?”

He peered at me suspiciously. “Put it into action… how?”

“Any chance you want to try a club?”

Matt stared incredulously at me. “A club? Like… a dance club?”

“No, honey. A country club.” I rolled my eyes. “Yes, of course a dance club.”

He blinked a few times. “Have you forgotten who you’re talking to?” He gestured at himself. “Look at me!”

Oh, he didn’t have to tell me twice. I never missed an opportunity to look at him.

“Matt.” I tsked. “You’re the kind of guy who turns heads in clubs.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Why? Because half the people there think someone’s dad just walked in?”

“More like someone’s daddy.”

Matt tilted his head, eyeing me as if I’d lost my mind or spoken in Martian.

I laughed, nudging him under the table with my foot. “Dude. You’re hot. And the club I go to, there’s plenty of guys there who are in their thirties and up. It isn’t a college bar.”

He pursed his lips. “That, um… That really doesn’t sound like my scene.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And running out the clock before Andras and Raziel are visible 24/7 is?”

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