chapter 42

Matthias POV

I woke up to the sound of birds and stretched lazily.

The morning sun dappled the leaves of the tall tree outside my window. I'd slept surprisingly well, considering the memories I'd allowed myself to relive last night. After taking a warm shower, I prepared myself for work while Josie was being pampered by Shirley and the rest of the ladies.

"Good choice," Josie said to me, moving towards me. She leaned over to me and helps me tie, with a soft kiss at the end.

''You'd like that?'' I smirked.

''Of course, I do,'' She smiles, I tug a string of her hair behind her ear and kissed her on the forehead.

''I got to go, I'll call you when I'm available. In the meantime, you stay here, you can have Maya over. I'll be home soon, tonight we can go out, wherever you want to go.''

''Really?'' Her eyes glisten.

I took her hand softly, pulling her closer to me. ''Really,'' I whispered. ''Anywhere.''

∞

''This is weird,'' RJ announced on Wednesday afternoon as we were getting drinks. I looked around the bar, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

RJ is my new affiliate company from Connecticut. I invited him after the meeting for a drink since the meeting

It was hardly the first time we had gotten beers here on what many would consider being an off that afternoon. Sure, there weren't too many people in the place, but that was what I liked about it. It meant I didn't have to worry so much about the paparazzi. They didn't care for places like this; they'd much rather catch me in compromising positions like dancing in clubs.

It seemed like any other afternoon to me. I frowned at RJ. "What's weird?" I asked.

"You," he said, shrugging. "I think this is the first time I've ever had your undivided attention, especially since your wife is pregnant.''

I couldn't let him know how embarrassed that made me feel. "You make it sound like I'm a terrible person," I said.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," RJ protested, holding up both hands before I could say anything else.'' He whistles ''Red-head on the far right.''

"I noticed," I said drily. But I didn't explain to him why I wasn't interested in her over-the-top ways of trying to get me to notice her. She had even dropped a glass on the ground, acting like she was such a klutz.

''Thought that was Poison Ivy for a second,'' He chuckles, making his brows dance while the girl flirtatiously looks back at Zach.

''I think I'm going to throw up,'' I mumbled taking another sip of my drink.

''Jealousy Lekas?'' RJ teased.

''Not a chance,'' I replied.

He twists his body to me and pats me on the back. ''Listen, I got a booking for you in the Bay Area, San Fransico with a company. They are looking forward to working with you.''

''Can't do that, going to be with my wife.''

"Whatever you do, you know I support you," RJ said quietly, in a moment of uncharacteristic emotion.

''Why'd you say that in that tone?''

''You're going to walk away from a five-hundred-dollar deal? "Thought you'd make the right choice," he continued. "You always do."

''I am,'' I clapped back. ''Now, if you excuse me my wife needs me, I'm taking her out.''

''You're making a mistake Matthias.''

''I own a multi-millionaire company I'll be fine,'' I pat him on the back.

''Matth--''

''Bye RJ, you have a nice day.''

∞



I wasn't sure I had taken Josie to the right place. We were far from home, out in a private restaurant by the beach, where it was near on the ocean shore. We walk along the ocean shore, no-one speaking a word, everyone lost in their torrid thought. The rocks shift unhelpfully underfoot, testing our agility and sense of balance.

We walked on the boardwalk to the small area near the restaurant and sat down as we begin to look through the menu.

Josie grinned across the table at me, though, and somehow, that eased my nerves. I grinned back at her and then tapped my fingers on the edge of my menu. "So you're ready to order?" I asked her.

''Yes,'' she smiles.

After taking our orders, Josie then sparked up with a conversation about my day.

''How was work?'' she asked.

"Work has been going well," I said lamely.

Josie stared at me for a moment, like it was taking her a while to figure out what it was I had said. Then, she gave me a small grin. "You think so?"

I sighed roughly. ''I don't know baby, I just... RJ wants me to go to some event, out of town. I said no because I wanted to spend time with you. He told me that I was making a mistake.''

I thought you would be the kind of guy who didn't give a damn what anyone else thought of him," she said. Then, immediately afterward, she clapped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to say that."

I laughed. "Don't worry about it," I told her.

She still looked unsure. "It's bothering you, isn't?" she said.'

''Just a little.''

''Then what do you want to change about it?''

''Nothing, I'll be fine.''

''Are you sure?''

''Positive. I don't care how much money I'd lost for that day. I know if my father were alive he'd be pissed. For the first time, it feels good making my own decision. You know?''

''Yeah, I know.''

We spent the whole dinner talking about the upcoming appointment for the baby, and how we were going to plan for the baby shower. Listening to Josie's laugh made smile, like a little boy seeing Christmas presents under the Christmas tree.

After hours during dinner, I knew it was time to take us back home. It was near nine when we left the restaurant, heading back to the car in the parking lot.

''My goodness, we're full,'' she said, rubbing her shoulders.

" Do you want to come back to my place, then?"

She stared at me for a long moment and then turned away from me. I imagined that I could see her blushing. Then, she shrugged. "I mean, if you want me to," she winked. I laughed and put an arm around her.

And then, I slowly leaned in to kiss her. She didn't pull away. In fact, she shifted closer to me, until her thigh was pressed against mine.

"Let's go," she said quietly.

I looked deep into her eyes, almost seeing the want there, as much as I wanted to feel it. I grinned at her and didn't ask any questions. "Let's go," I agreed.