“I would never make you settle for fast and unsatisfying.”
I laugh and we redress ourselves before heading out. Of course, right there at the bar, eying me like I’m a traitor, is Matthew. His bleary, red-rimmed eyes say that he’s past drunk. And he’s past angry.
He smashes his glass down and comes over, poking Roman in the chest. Roman immediately makes himself a shield. “Matthew, go lay down, you’re drunk.”
“Why the fuck do you get to have everything. Bella’s love, now Sophie’s. Why is everything yours!”
“You need to go before I give you the nap you need.” Roman’s hand curls into a fist.
“Don’t you tell me what I need!” Matthew yells. “You don’t have a single fucking-”
“Matthew.” Nick pats his shoulder. “I have a question for you.”
“It’ll wait.”
“No, no. It’s really important. You and Bella are still together right?”
Matthew does a 180 just like that, totally focused on Nick. That means Roman and I make our getaway.
21
NICK
“What about Bella.” Matthew demands.
“It’s better that I show you.” I start to lead him to his wife, but hear him keep muttering threats.
If someone hurt her, they’ll be sorry. If she’s kissing another guy, they’re through. If anything happened, he’s not responsible for what he’ll do. It’s a blur of noise. When I finally get to the wall of windows outside, I show him Bella.
She’s unharmed, a little sad, but eagerly helping a lost little boy. She wipes his cold tears, give him the best smile she can and strokes his face. We can’t hear what they’re saying, but as Bella keeps calming the child, I focus on Matthew.
He swallows and tries to hide the sheen in his eyes.
“I didn’t see her anywhere and I was worried,” I admit, just happening to leave out the part where I told her a secretary sent her child to get hot coco and he didn’t come back.
Matthew takes a step forward just as Bella cups the kid’s face in her hands and laughs with him. She sweeps the little boy up in her arms, but I have this feeling she knows Matthew is watching through the window. Her gaze holds a second too long in our direction before the child pulls her.
“She’s not all bad, Matthew.”
“Nick, I don’t ...” He sighs and rubs his forehead.
“She’s working on herself, she’s obviously becoming more than an ambitious business woman and more than a woman that treats most things like trade agreements.”
His hand slides over the back of his neck, ruffling his hair as he watches his wife. “I just don’t know, Nick. I never knew she could be so underhanded like at my wedding and yours. How can I look beyond that?”
“It’s been five years, man,” I say, pulling him towards the entrance I’m sure Bella will use. “That’s a long time to hold the past against someone. She came up to Sophie and apologized. I’m ninety percent sure she apologized to Gunner too. She’s trying to grow, for you and her.”
Nick shrugs. “And if I don’t want this anymore?”
“Then stop dragging it out. You’re plenty of things, Matthew. Cruel isn’t one of them,” I say.
He considers that as he watches Bella come back in. Their eyes meet, but he doesn’t move. He must do something differently considering Bella gives a soft smile. She makes her way over to us slowly.
I elbow Matthew hard. “If you ever flirt with or scare my wife again, I won’t be this nice, Matthew.”
“Understood,” He says.
“Roman didn’t see you trying to force yourself on her.” I hiss. “I did and I let Sophie handle it. That’s a kindness.”