Chapter 26

MATT

* * *

This past week has been insane. Darcy and I work side by side to finish the last details of the house. We work, we kiss. When she's unsure of her choices, I inject her with courage and assurances, we kiss, and we work some more until we're exhausted. We still find the energy to make love every night before we fall asleep in each other's arms. It's more than sex. It's a connection unlike anything I've ever experienced.

I never thought I'd be that guy who falls into domestic bliss so quickly, but with Darcy, it feels natural. It's only been a week, but I barely remember what it's like to fall asleep alone. Even at the height of her stress, she relaxes at my touch. I can't get enough of her. How have I ignored this force of nature all of my life? Why have I withheld this level of happiness from myself? It's pretty fucking fantastic.

My phone buzzes. I reflexively smile and accept the FaceTime call.

"Hey, pretty girl."

"Hey." She bats her eyelashes at me. She's such a flirt now that we've crossed the line from friends to more.

"Do I sound like a sap if I say I miss you?"

She giggles. Her laughter is music to my soul. "A little, but you're my sap, so I'm okay with it. Where are you?"

"I'm just leaving the gym. I still have some Christmas shopping to do, and Mom called asking me to swing by. You going to be okay without me today?"

"I'll try." She lets out a long sigh. Darcy's full of drama today. I can't tell if it's real or not. She enjoys teasing me, and it keeps me guessing.

"I'll make it up to you tonight." I try to sound suggestive, and she gives me one of those smiles she saves just for me.

"Really? How do you plan on doing that, exactly?" Her voice is husky, and my dick twitches at the sound.

"Exactly? Hmmmm. Well, I'll start by making you dinner. How does that sound?"

Her bottom lip pokes out in an exaggerated pout. "Meh. That's okay, I guess."

"Oh, but I haven't told you about my special dessert."

"You and your sweet tooth." Her pout quickly turns into a grin, and her eyes sparkle.

"You know how much I love my sweets. You know my favorite sweet?"

"Of course I do." She gives me one of her famous eye rolls. "You love those salted caramel toffee cookies your mom makes."

Oh, I do love those cookies. Mom promised me some if I came over this afternoon to help her with a project in her she-shed. "I do like those, but they aren't my favorite sweet thing." I give her a wink and wonder what happened to my balls. Oh, yeah, I remember. This girl owns them.

She gives me a puzzled look. "You've loved those cookies since we were kids. What's moved into first place now?"

"You," I whisper. "I can't wait to taste your sweetness. You'll come on my tongue, and then I'll fuck you so hard, you'll see stars."

"Stars, huh?" Sammie says in the background. "Tell me more."

"Darcy! You need to let me know when you aren't alone." I blush a little, but can't decide if I'm embarrassed or proud. Maybe both?

Sammie's face appears behind Darcy, her chin resting on her shoulder. "Why, Matt Hartman, are you blushing?"

"Nope. Just jealous of you right now, Sammie. You're with my girl."

"Gah. Ya'll are too much. I'm out of here," she says as Darcy throws a pillow at her.

"Bye," I yell at her retreating figure.

"You owe me some cookies for that," she replies, her shoulders bouncing as she laughs.

"Well, I hope Mom made a double batch."

"Me too," Darcy says. Her giggle makes my heart clench.

* * *

"Hey, Mom. Oh damn, those smell good." I walk in and drop my keys on the table by the door, just like I've done for years. This is home, even if I don't live here anymore.

The tree is aglow with multi-colored lights, with presents underneath wrapped in colorful paper and bows. Christmas music is playing in the kitchen, and Mom is singing along. It screams holiday festive. I remember back to my school days when Cole and I would come home after practice, and my mom would greet us with a snack and a smile. Today's sounds and smells fill me with nostalgia, and I'm reminded of how unsettled I've felt since graduation. Until now.

I'm finally feeling settled, content. That empty feeling in my chest doesn't feel as gaping anymore. Coming into my childhood home confirms it. What's changed to lessen that feeling? Darcy Davidson. She's home. Belonging. Comfort. Love.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Love? Is this what love feels like? Maybe falling for Darcy was inevitable? When did I fall? I've fallen, right? I mean, I wouldn't pursue this thing we have if it was just a fling. Darcy is the kind of girl you love. And I do? I shake my head again to clear that train of thought. Not here. Not now.

Mom's in the kitchen, taking a tray of cookies out of the oven. She's in jeans and an oversized Christmas sweater with the phrase "Santa's Ho" on the front. She's singing and shaking her hips to a song. She hasn't changed a bit, making those memories seem like yesterday.

"Seriously? Santa's Ho? Mom," I groan and roll my eyes, as I kiss her on the top of her head.

"I know you don't like to think about it, but I've still got game," she teases.

"You're right. I don't want to think about it." I give a mock shiver and swipe a cookie off the cooling rack. "Mmmm, this is pure happiness."

"I know all your secrets, don't I?" She gives me a wink.

I cock my head to the side like a golden retriever. "What secrets?" Oh shit. Does she know about Darcy?

"The secret to getting you to come see me. Bake my boy's favorite cookies, and he comes running."

"You know, all you have to do is ask, and I'll always be here for you." Family is everything to me. Darcy was right when she said relationships are what I value most in this world. Family. Friends. People above money, career, things. Those are the values my mother instilled in me my entire life.

"Oh, I didn't mean that as a guilt trip, honey. I know you're busy and have a life of your own. Just when I got used to you being so far away, you're right around the corner, and I want to take advantage while I can." She sighs. "Besides, you're less likely to judge me than your father."

I raise an eyebrow and cock my head. "I'm afraid to ask," I mumble.

"I just need a little help with, um, something in my shed."

I groan and let my mind wander to what it could be. When I was in high school, Mom turned a small shed in the backyard into her private sanctuary. Men have man caves, and Mom has a she-shed. I haven't seen the inside in years. I have no idea what she needs in there, and it must be major if I'm breaching the inner sanctum.

The front porch of the shed has flower boxes and a small table and chairs. It's got a cute cottage feel. The interior space is probably twelve by twelve and is fully climate controlled. It's charming. As we step onto the front porch, my first thought was how Darcy would love it. I wonder how she would elevate the space. Damn, that girl has infiltrated all my thoughts.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Mom gives me her interrogation smile.

"Hmmm, what?"

"You spaced out a bit. Where'd you go?"

I can't lie to my mom. I never did and can't start now. "Was just thinking about Darcy and what she would think of your shed."

"Darcy, huh? What's going on there?"

Deflect. That's the strategy I need to take. I never lie, but that doesn't mean I must respond. "What did you need help with out here?"

I step inside and take in the cozy space, complete with a writing desk, loveseat, and an easel in the corner. Propped up around the walls are various paintings of flowers and Charleston landmarks.

"I didn't know you were painting again." I wander in further and squat down to see the canvases spread along one wall. "Hey, these are good." I pick up one of The Wreck with the shrimp boats coming down Shem Creek. I smile. The people are abstract, without distinct features, but I don't miss the splash of red shoes in the mostly pastel painting. Darcy.

"That's a new smile," Mom says in a sing-song tone. "I know you love the food there, but I didn't think it would make you smile like that."

Her teasing makes me uncomfortable, and I chuckle. I swear this woman is a witch or something. She knows.

"What?" I ask innocently.

"Okay." She shrugs her shoulders, but I know better. It's not dropped. She's just changing tactics. "I need help to find studs."

"Excuse me?!" Now I know why she didn't ask Dad for help.

She reaches into a half-opened box on the loveseat and pulls out a shiny brass pole.

"I need to find the studs in the ceiling for my pole."

I double over, laughing. My mom wants to install a stripper pole in her she-shed. I laugh so hard I start coughing. Mom isn't laughing. She has her hands on her hips, and I'm immediately transported back to when I was a small child, the recipient of my mother's disapproving glare.

"And I thought your father would be more judgmental." She gives me a tsk, turns around and mumbles something about doing it herself.

"I'm sorry." I get my laughter under control and wrap my arms around my mom from behind. "Don't be mad. It was just a bit of a shock. I mean, I didn't know the she-shed was being converted to a red room."

"Red room?" Awareness slowly dawns, and my mom joins in the laughter. "Hardly. I've heard it's a great workout and thought it looked fun."

"Well, let's get it installed properly. I can't have you getting hurt. That would be hard to explain to Dad." I grab the drill and the ladder and figure out the best place for the stripper pole. I consider calling Jay to help, but think better of it. It gives me an idea about possibly having him build Mom a guest house to replace this small space, and she can use it as her studio. That might be a great Mother's Day gift. I smile at my brilliance.

"So, you never answered my question about Darcy," Mom says. She's trying to be casual, but she's failing.

"I should've known better," I mumble.

"What's that?" Her feigned innocence isn't fooling me.

"You missed your calling. You should work for the FBI or something." I go back to drilling the screws into the floor and act like I can't hear her. Unfortunately, pole installation doesn't take very long.

"So? What's going on with Darcy?"

"That's a new tactic, just going straight in."

I look up at Mom, and she has her arms crossed, squeezing Mrs. Claus's face into a strange shape. I know this look. It's the "I can do this all day" look. I've seen it lots of times over the years.

"Just figured the sooner we put it out there, the sooner you can get back to the cookies."

"True." I exhale and think about what to tell Mom.

"I like her."

"Of course you do. She's an angel. But?"

"But what? I like her a lot. She's special, and I'm lucky she even gives me the time of day."

"Why wouldn't she? She's had a crush on you since middle school."

"What? She barely spoke to me."

"That's how unrequited crushes go, honey. But it doesn't sound unrequited anymore now, is it?" She quirks her eyebrow at me.

Has Darcy liked me for years? Why did I never notice? The answer is simple. Cole. I wasn't willing to risk it and didn't even think it could be possible. So, what's changed?

"No, but still, we're keeping it private until we figure out what this is. Cole won't be happy, and I don't know if I can handle that. It's hard enough with him in another city, but if we weren't friends anymore," I pause and shake my head, trying to clear that thought. "I don't know."

She reaches out and puts her hand on my shoulder. "I think Cole wants you both to be happy. Don't you? Don't you think he wants you both to find love? And if it's with each other, well then…" She shrugs.

She's just reinforcing the inevitable conversation I need to have with Cole. But what if? Ugh.

"Yeah, maybe." She's much more optimistic than me. Then again, it's not her friendship on the line. "Enough of this. Let's see how this pole works." I take a tug on it to make sure it's secure and climb up it and slide down like a firefighter. If it can hold me, it'll be safe for her.

"Well, if baseball doesn't work out, you can try pole dancing," she teases.

"And those are words I never wanted to hear from my mom." I throw my arm around her shoulder and lead her out of the room. "Come on. I promised to bring cookies to my girl."

Mom grins like the Cheshire cat and leans into me as we walk back into the house.

There. I said it. My girl. Everyone happy? Everyone that knows that is.