Page 111 of Santa Has a Six-Pack
“I’m really sorry to hear that,” Matt says. “But not everyone is your dad or your ex-boyfriends. Certainly not Eugene. He deserves to know what his fiancée’s been doing.”
I scoff. “Whatever. I’m sure Eugene cheats on Elinor, too.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Pennywise.”
My heart stutters at his silly nickname for me.
But instead of letting it bring me closer to him, I push him even further away.
“Good thing you’re just my fake boyfriend,” I say coldly. “Because I’m sure you’d cheat on me too. Bullet dodged, I guess.”
I see the hurt pass over his face.
The moment those words are out of my mouth, I want to take them back, but I don’t.
I stand my ground. My shaky, wobbly, so-sad-I-can’t-see-straight ground.
Matt takes a step closer to me and places a hand on my cheek. “Listen to me, Penny. If I were lucky enough to be your real man, nothing and no one on this planet could ever make me hurt you. Ever.”
Tell him you’re sorry.
Tell him to stay.
Tell him that more than anything, you want this thing between you to be real.
I stay silent, my heart racing a mile a minute.
Matt continues, “A few minutes ago, I told you that I love you. Did you hear me say that?”
“Heard it,” I say. “Doesn’t mean anything.”
He bends his knees slightly so he can look deep in my eyes. “Me telling you I love you… that doesn’t mean anything to you?”
It means everything to me.
I shake my head. “Nope. Nothing.”
“Huh.” Matt stares down at his shoes. “For the record, Penny, it means a hell of a lot to me. But I, uh—” He looks in my eyes one more time. When he finds nothing there, he nods resolutely. “I guess we’re not on the same page. About a lot of things.”
He turns and starts walking away from me.
“Where are you going?” I say, my voice cracking.
“To talk to my best friend,” he shouts over his shoulder, not looking back. “Enjoy your holiday, Penny.”
I watch him walk away.
When he disappears around the corner, I place both hands over my face, lean against a brick wall, and cry.
Chapter 30
Matt
“Thought I’d find you here.”
Eugene’s voice filters into my consciousness, where I must’ve fallen asleep again in Bossfit’s loft space, surrounded by the pillows.
Just how I like it.
