Page 162 of Lovers' Dance

“Matt.” My eyes widened in surprise as I leaned against Marie-Sol in the hallway. They almost popped out their sockets as I noticed Nathan and Bella behind him. “Wha—why—what are you doing here?”

I jerked away from Marie-Sol and hurried towards my living room fuming, or trying to…I was high and drunk.

Matt gave me an incredulous stare before running an agitated hand across his handsome face. Wow. He looked good in a suit.

“You asked me to come, poppet. We spoke on the phone,” he prompted with an expectant look. “About an hour ago. Remember?”

“We didn’t,” I said with surety, then paused. “Did we?”

Matt nodded slowly, eyes darting from me and Marie-Sol to Dante and Bret. “Yes, we did.”

Marie-Sol came up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and saying in a not-so-quiet voice, “MSG, he’s hot.”

“Hey.” Bret’s head snapped around. “I heard that, Sol.”

She laughed and sauntered over to the couch where she ruffled Bret’s hair. “I know you did, sweetie. Just trying to keep you on your toes.”

I squirmed in embarrassment and ran a hand over my wild hair. Oh shit. I looked a fine mess, and Matt was here with Bella and Nathan, who were staring at me as if my body had been inhabited by an alien life form.

“Happy birthday, Madi,” Matt said softly as he closed the distance between us. I flinched, unable to meet his eyes when he stopped in front of me. Oh God. Had I really invited him over? Damned alcohol and happy brownies.

“Thanks,” I muttered, eyes downcast as I eased past him towards the couch and my friends. “Uh, guys, this is Matt.” I gestured in his direction, then pointed at my other unexpected guests. “And they’re his friends, Bella and Nathan. They’re engaged by the way.”

Nathan and Bella smiled a nervous hello at my friends.

I fiddled with the back of the couch. “You guys already know, Dante.”

Bella nodded her head and Dante sent a distracted wave in her direction. She waved back.

“And this is Sol.” I nudged my friend. “Marie-Sol and her boyfriend, Bret. They will be engaged soon.”

“Hey,” Bret piped up. “Stop sweating me, MSG.”

Everyone murmured hello to each other, and I fidgeted next to Marie-Sol. She picked up on my unease immediately and tapped Dante on his shoulder, who, in turn, nudged his knee against Bret’s.

“MSG, how’s the food coming along? A brother be starving out here,” he said. I laughed, knowing full well he was trying to distract me. They’d being doing that all day. Anytime the echo of a frown graced my lips, either Dante, Bret or Sol would say something to make me smile.

“About an hour left, Bret. Can you last until then?”

He snorted, then rose up to yank Sol over the back of the couch and into his lap. She let out a little yelp, and I laughed harder as Bret began to tickle her while chastising her for saying Matt was hot.

I gave not-quite-lucid eyes to the hot man in discussion. “Would you guys like something to drink?”

I could see Matt was about to decline when Nathan said, “Yes, please. Happy birthday, by the way.”

Nathan ushered Bella forward. I think he was unnerved by my friends’ antics and wanted to escape the confines of my living room. Bella came over to wish me happy birthday, while Matt observed me silently, clinical and searching grey eyes fixated on my face. I nervously ran a hand over my curls.

“Follow me,” I mumbled before heading back to the kitchen with the three of them on my heels. I could hear Sol’s shrieks as Dante seemed to join in on the tickle fest. I wished I was out there with them, instead of in my kitchen putting on the kettle to make tea for my guests.

“Why do they call you MSG?” Matt asked in the awkward silence building throughout my kitchen as he leaned against the counter.

I glanced at him before averting my eyes. Could he tell I was high right now?

“Because her name is Madison,” Bret supplied. Damn, he was quiet. I hadn’t heard him coming after us. “And she’s square like a garden,” he joked. It was a private joke that the others wouldn’t get.

Matt exchanged a blank look with Nathan, who had pulled out chairs for himself and Bella and was sitting at the table.

“It’s short for Madison Square Gardens, Matt. MSG,” I explained, taking mugs from the cupboards. Should I offer them something stronger than tea? I turned to give them a choice, and yelled at Bella, “Don’t eat that!”

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