Page 6 of Morning Walks & Midnight Talks

Matt unlockeda narrow door beside the bar’s back hallway and motioned for me to follow him up the steep, creaky staircase. Even before we hit the first landing, I could hear the soft scuffle of paws above us.

“I think she knows by now when it’s me,” Matt said over his shoulder, smiling like he couldn’t help it.

When we reached the top, he pushed open the door and Sora practically launched herself into his legs with a happy yip. She gave me a quick sniff while her stubby tail wagged hard enough to knock into the doorframe. Matt dropped to one knee to ruffle her ears. His entire face lit up, different from the way he smiled downstairs. Softer. More real.

“Sorry for the mess,” Matt said as he stood up and kicked the door closed behind me.

The apartment looked like a storage room that had never quite given up the job—low ceiling, exposed pipes, and shelves still clinging to mismatched bar supplies and dusty glassware. A twin bed had been squeezed into one corner, covered with a tangle of blankets. The kitchenette was little more than a mini-fridge, a hot plate, and a coffeemaker balanced on an old crate. The apartment smelled faintly of hops and floor cleaner, but there was a dog bed by the radiator and a game console hookedup to a small TV, giving it just enough personality to feel like someone was trying to make it home.

Matt caught my stolen glances. “Brian was kind enough to let Sora and me stay here until we find a proper apartment. I’m actually going to check one out two blocks away tomorrow afternoon before my shift,” he explained.

“You had to move quickly, huh?”

“Yeah. It’s a long story,” Matt said, shuffling to the back, closely followed by the bulldog puppy. “My ex threw me out of the house. We split up months ago, but since we bought the place together, we decided to both stay until things were sorted out.”

“But then he met someone new and decided it was time for you to go?”

Matt blinked. “He?”

The air got heavier. I opened my mouth, then shut it again, feeling heat crawl up the back of my neck. That single syllable and the faint note of surprise in his voice were all it took to make it click. The guy standing in front of me was straight. Of course, he was. My gut had told me that from the start, but I’d chosen to ignore it. I'd let myself get swept up in his easy charm and friendly smiles that didn't really mean anything.

I swallowed hard, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.“Sorry,” I mumbled. “I just... assumed.”

“Why did you think...?” Matt’s brow furrowed slightly. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing down for a second before looking back up at me, his mouth tugging into a half-smile. “I guess I give off a vibe or something?”

I shrugged, trying not to shrink into myself. “Maybe... open-minded?”

He let out a short, surprised laugh, running a hand through his hair before shaking his head. “Open-minded’s not a bad thing.” The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, and for asecond, I caught a glint of something lighter under the surface—amusement, maybe, or just plain relief. “Other than that, you hit the nail quite on the head. Her new fiancé was always around, and things got awkward quickly. So, I decided it was time for a fresh start.” He grabbed a leash from a hook next to the window, squatted down, and put it on Sora.

I didn’t know what to say without making things worse, so I said nothing at all.

With the leash attached, Matt got up. “Shall we?”

“Sure,” I said, trying to sound casual despite my heart beating fast and erratically.

Matt pointed toward the door. “Lead the way.”

We made our way back down and out the back entrance so we wouldn't have to take Sora through the taproom. Outside, it was surprisingly warm, but still damp from the afternoon rain.

The four-minute walk to my house felt like an hour. I walked one step ahead of him, remaining silent the whole way. It was only when we reached my street that I opened my mouth again. “Sorry about...assuming. I didn’t mean to make things awkward.”

“You’re good, Cato. I’m honestly flattered, as Iassumethat this means youlikewhat you see?” With a quick flick of his hands over his chest, he practically dared me to look at him.

I followed his movements with my eyes as his hands glided down his body. When they stopped right next to his bulge, I forced myself to look away and fumbled for my house keys. “Now you’re just fishing for compliments.”

Matt playfully bit on his tongue. “Maybe.”

I climbed the five steps to my porch with a fast-paced strut, and the light above the door turned on automatically. I brought the keys to the lock but paused and, after a second, took my hands back down. “It's probably strange for me to say thisnow,but since you asked, I suppose I'm allowed to admit that I think you're handsome, Matt.”

He followed me up the steps, stopping just a little too close behind me. “It’s not weird,” he said, glancing sideways at me. “I was fishing for that compliment, after all.”

“You’re also easy to talk to and fun to be around.” My hands fidgeted with the keychain as I turned to face him. “So, can we not let that come between us? I promise, I’ll keep things normal.”

Matt chuckled. “What does 'normal' even mean?”

“That I'll only touch you inappropriately if you ask me to,” I joked.

Matt’s chuckle turned into laughter, loud enough to wake up the neighbors. “Deal.” Our eyes locked, and his brows softened to let me know this topic was officially resolved.

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