Frowning, I ask, “How did your dad find out, if Nicholas didn’t even know?”
Locking eyes with me his mouth is tight. “I had a gay porn magazine under my mattress.”
“Oh,” I whisper. “He found it.”
“My mom did.”
Shaking my head I run a hand through my hair. “I’m so sorry. Do you think he believes you’re straight now?”
Matt nods. “Yeah, I know he thinks it was a phase. I told them that in family counseling after Mr. Cocker forced him to get help or go to jail. Said that someone had given it to me—that I was too scared to throw it in the garbage and have it be found.”
“I might have done the same, to save myself.”
Bringing his knee up, Matthew shakes his head. “I didn’t say it to save myself. I was desperate not to move away. I’d have told him anything if it meant we could stay next to Nicholas and his family. They’re like my family. I love those guys more than I love my dad.” He snorts, “Obviously. But it would have crushed me to lose them because…of what I am.”
“You’re perfect the way you are, Matt. You were born that way.”
He stares at me. “I know but…”
We look over as my bedroom door opens with less finesse than I used. Nicholas pads out in his jeans and no shirt, giving my groggy eyes a fresher outlook on life. Even more handsome with bedhead and bare feet, he holds up his phone. “My grandmother called, woke me up. Hey Matt, you still up for kicking ass when the time is right?”
Matthew chuckles, “That hasn’t changed.”
“Good.” Nicholas touches my shoulder and bends down to plant a brief kiss on my lips, but his eyes are troubled and angry. “Morning.”
“Hi. What are you upset about?”
He gives Bucky a pat, and sits on my coffee table, facing us. “Madison, I asked my Grandma Nance to find out who your boss was.” As I react he extends his hand, quickly explains, voice low with restrained fury. “She’s on the board of a women’s club, connected with all the wealthy of Atlanta by one or two degrees of separation. I knew she’d be able to find out who blacklisted you.”
“Nicholas!”
“I didn’t want to get you involved when you were feeling like shit, but I’m telling you now because we’re in this thing together, all of it, right? That’s what it means when I say you’re my girl. Plus, I fucking know the guy.”
My eyes widen. “You do?”
“His name is Dane Schweis, right?”
I gasp, “Yes!”
“That’s the fucking creep I walked out on a lunch meeting with.”
My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh my God!”
Nicholas and Matt lock eyes as he says, “We’re going to go kick his ass.”
“I’m in.”
“No!” I cry out, standing up.
He rises too, towering over me, voice firm. “He needs to be taught a lesson.”
“Let me do something! I’ll call Mrs. Schweis! I should have told her before, anyway!”
Nicholas shakes his head one. “Fuck that. She’s the one spreading the rumor, and my Grandma says she’s a viper.”
“But the kids! Skyler and Kyle are—”
“They’re already affected by losing you, Maddie.” He blinks to the phone, starts walking to my bedroom. “Get dressed. You’re coming to my grandmother’s with me.”
“I am?”
“She wants to meet you so I told her we were coming.” Looking back, he pauses, determined. “Grandma’s going to help you get your reputation back.”
Matthew throws the blankets off and jumps up. “I’m coming, too, right?”
“Fuck yeah you are,” Nicholas mutters as I’m hot on his heels. “I’m going to wear what I wore yesterday.” In my bedroom he dips and grabs his shirt, smelling it. “Yeah, this’ll do.”
Stunned and excited, I turn to my closet, flip through my clothes and find them lacking. “Is your grandmother very posh?”
While texting, head down, he assures me, “She’s a laid back, cool as shit, lady. Wear whatever you want.”
“Well, what I want is to impress her!”
“You already impress me.”
Pausing I go to him and touch his hip. He glances to me, smiles and leans down for a kiss. “Hey, you got an extra toothbrush by any chance?”
“There’s a small travel one I bought a long time ago, never used. I haven’t gone anywhere.”
“Perfect.” He heads out. “Where is it?”
“Bottom drawer.”
I settle on blue pants and a cream blouse that I wear for nanny interviews. It’s fairly loose with a high neck. Looking at myself, I shrug and grab some matching, blue ballet flats, hurrying out to find Matt and Nicholas in the living room talking in hushed voices. “Oh God, what are you going to do?”
“I know where that asshole has lunch on most weekdays. We’ll start there. I’m going to drop you off, say a few words to Grandma Nance and then I’m gonna head out with Matt and my brothers. They’re driving over to her place now. I just texted them.”
Exchanging a look with Matt, I ask, “Why so many people?”
“More fun that way!”
Nicholas smacks Matthew’s shoulder, “Damn straight,” and bends to pet Bucky. “Oh shit, does he need a walk?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck it, we’ll bring him.” Snatching the leash from a hook on my wall, he attaches it to my dog’s collar and looks at where I’m frozen, watching. “Ready?”
Springing into action, I grab my keys and follow the guys out.
CHAPTER 38
N ICHOLAS
Beams of sunlight through tall windows warms the popular Corner Cafe on Piedmont Road NE. Professionally dressed people on their lunch breaks plan business strategies in colorful booths of striped sea-green, orange, and sunflower yellow.
Normally Nate and Wyatt would eyeball the tarts, eclairs and scones on bakery shelves that take up much of this cornerstone, neighborhood establishment. Right when you walk in, the display is hypnotic to a sweet tooth, and we’ve been here as a family many times over the years—Matthew with us. But do they give a shit about them today?
Those pastries can fucking wait.
Wyatt asks, “He here?” staring at me to see if
