Page 55 of Forever

Friday

Brooklyn

I laughed as the song finally changed to a slow one and Matt pulled me in close. I was glad he’d ditched the frame around his shoulders so that I could put my arms there instead. “I forgot how good of a dancer you were.”

“We dance almost every night when you’re cooking.”

I smiled. “Yeah, with Jacob. That’s different.”

“You mean because at home you don’t grind all up on me like a horny teenager?”

“Hey.” I swatted his arm. But he wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t get enough of him. And they were playing music from the early 2000s. It felt like high school all over again. But also…different. I felt closer to him now than I had before. I think because I felt more sure of myself. I felt like I belonged in his world. Like I fit. I didn’t have a single doubt in my head this Halloween. It helped that Isabella wasn’t dressed in the same costume as me running around killing puppies.

I pushed the thought away.

“Ah! I see Tanner finally. I’m going to go apologize.”

Matt kept his hands firmly on my hips. “And what exactly are you going to say?”

“That I’m sorry.”

“That’s all you’re going to say?”

I laughed. “I mean, I’d like to talk about why he hooks up with two girls at once. It’s a little hurtful.”

“For who?”

“The girls.”

“Did they look like they weren’t having fun? They looked perfectly happy to me.”

“I mean…yeah. But…” my voice trailed off as I stared up into his eyes. Wait, how did he know it wasn’t hurtful to the girls? “Matt, have you ever been with more than one woman at once?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?”

I sighed. “No, probably not.” I searched his eyes. “We’re okay, right? Like…you don’t want stuff like that anymore?”

“Eh. I’ve had enough nights like that.”

I lightly shoved his chest.

He caught my hand. “No, I don’t want that. I just want you. I think I’ve shared you enough for 16 years, Brooklyn. I’m never sharing you again for another second.”

I couldn’t help but smile. The less specifics I knew about our time apart, the better. Because I had a feeling he really did have a lot of nights like that. “Well you have to share me for one more second, because I’m going to go talk to Tanner.”

Matt laughed as I hurried off.

“Tanner!” I yelled over the music. “Can we talk for a second?”

He smiled. “How about we dance instead?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me back onto the dance floor.

He looked a lot happier than he had an hour ago. And I wondered how much he’d had to drink as he smiled down at me.

“I’m so sorry about earlier. I was out of line…”

“It’s fine,” he said. “It’s already forgotten.”

“It’s not fine. I was just surprised to see you with two girls at the same time.”

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