Page 68 of Pucking Your Best Friend

“Well, I think it smells great,” Maddie remarked while Matt and Jack took off their jackets and shoes. “Thank you, Dax. It’s sweet of you.”

“Mm hm,” he grumbled, looking at Matt with his eyes narrowed. “That’s just me: Sweet. There is absolutely no reason to be angry or blame me.”

Lucy pinched his bicep angrily and hissed, “There arealwaysreasons to blame you, Dax! You should sit in on a Hawks marketing meeting. Now, stop spitting venom. It’ll make the sauce too salty.”

“Oh, come on! I’ve been holier than Jack theSaintfor the last few weeks!” Dax complained incredulously. “And why are you mad at me when it was Matt who said we should split up?”

“Excuse me?” Matt exclaimed, perplexed. “I didn’t say anything like that!”

Lucy sighed heavily. “I know, Matt,” she reassured him. “Dax feels his pride is hurt because he assumes he’s good at everything but still has to learn to juggle friendships and relationships. Me too, by the way.” She frowned and looked apologetically at Maddie. “We realize that we’ve been a bit…consumed by each other these past few weeks.”

“Now stop saying that.” Dax looked at her with a furrowed brow. “It sounds like an admission of guilt. And my pride isn’t hurt – I’m good ateverything!”

“Ah, I don’t know,” Jack mumbled. “Remember the time you tried to assemble an Ikea wardrobe and broke a window, a finger, and your bed?”

Dax glared at him. “I’m so glad you’re back in my life, Jack.”

The center grinned. “Thanks. Me too.”

Lucy glanced back and forth between the brothers with interest. “I want to hear the story.”

Not Matt. He already knew it. Just like he knewallDax’s stories…although, hang on, the treacherous bastard had keptquiet about having a secret brother! Man, maybe they weren’t as close as he’d always believed. Maybe he should just accept it and forget it.

“No,” Dax replied harshly.

Huh. Was he answering Lucy or had he heard Matt’s thoughts?

Lucy snorted in frustration. Maddie grabbed some plates from the cupboard and handed them to Matt, presumably to set the table. Then, she placed some wine glasses on the kitchen island.

“Fine,” Dax’s girlfriend capitulated. “Then keep the story to yourself and let’s change the subject. Anything new with you guys?” She looked expectantly at each of their faces.

Matt glanced away because, yes, a few things were new, but it would never occur to him in his wildest dreams…

“Yes, Matt and I had sex,” Maddie stated lightly. “Who wants a glass of wine?"

A few synapses burst loudly in Matt’s brain and he abruptly dropped the plates. They shattered on the floor with a tremendous clatter, sending shards across the open kitchen and living room. Dax’s spoon slipped into the pot, splashing red sauce in all directions. Jack choked on the water he had just sipped and spat up on the floor. Lucy just stared at Maddie with her mouth agape.

The blood whooshed loudly in Matt’s ears and his whole body stiffened. Fuck. She hadn’t really… She couldn’t…

“You did what?” Lucy finally squeaked, glancing frantically between Matt and Maddie. “You…but,what?”

“What the hell?” Dax exclaimed, and Matt had to agree with him. He had expected this evening to be terrible, but not likethis.

“Maddie,” he said through his teeth.

She glanced up, confused. Her cheeks were slightly red, but her expression was not at all guilty. “She asked if there was anything new. This is something new.”

His throat constricted. He saw Lucy’s eyes opening so wide that they were threatening to fall into the tomato sauce alongside Dax’s spoon. “What? When? How? Why?” she cried out.

Matt wondered if it was about time he passed out. Could he do it on command? If not, he should learn as quickly as possible.

“Man, I’m glad I came,” Jack muttered in pain. “This isn’t uncomfortable at all.”

Maddie rolled her eyes when Dax said, “I know, Jack, you don’t like drama. Get over it. And I repeat;what the hell?” Then his eyes landed reproachfully on Matt’s face.

As if it was his fault! As if he had used black magic to convince Maddie to jump into bed with him. As if he had the right to blame him for the most amazing night of his life.

He didn’t, though. He ignored Dax and instead, stared at Maddie, thunderstruck. “Why?” he exclaimed in disbelief. “Why the hell would you say that out loud?”

---