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“Yeah. I’m hungry too and we have a long drive.”
He shook his head and slid into the passenger seat. “You must really like my freckles.”
Ciaran had no idea.
63
CIARAN
We were well on our way to Malibu before Matty let me even open the bag of food. Afterwards, he comically kept stealing glances at me as I ate my drive-thru burger and fries.
He asked for a large handful of napkins, which I draped over my thighs. In fairness, he did the same as he gently nibbled on his meal like a child at pretend teatime.
The Matthias Vaulteneau I met several weeks ago would never have allowed this, though he nixed any beverage suggestion except bottled water. A chocolate milkshake was a bridge too far. Not that I wanted one. I was merely curious to see how he’d react.
What I discovered most about the drive back to Malibu was that I really enjoyed teasing Matty. With the exception of his dad and maybe Franky, no one ever gave him pushback.
Matty’s phone was plugged into the console, but he unlocked it and handed it to me and said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
“Grindr, here we come,” I joked as I scrolled through his phone.
“I’ve never needed to use a dating app, Ciaran.” His tone was serious. “And even if I did, I’d delete it now that we’re, you know, together.”
“Smart man. I don’t plan on sharing.”
“Ditto.”
He had a million contacts, to include some very famous names, but his phone was mostly cluttered with every swimming app ever created.
If I didn’t know Matty was training to secure a spot in USA Swimming’s National Team Roster to earn the opportunity to compete at the Olympic level, I’d say he had a problem.
His injured shoulder, though, might be what derailed him this season. And that was if Coach Anderson’s blackmailing scheme went away.
I downloaded Spotify, selected a rock playlist, and asked, “Why don’t you have reading apps or streaming services?”
“No time,” Matty said. “It’s the three S’s for me: swimming, school, and sleeping.”
“What about surfing and sex?”
“That’s what I said. It’s the five S’s for me: swimming, school, sleeping, surfing, and sex.”
I laughed. “Well, let’s add an R in there for reading. When we get home, I’m buying you a book.”
He smiled at me. “Okay.”
“And you’ll read it, no matter what I select?”
Why was I stupidly holding my breath at this question?
“It might take me a very long time to read it, but yeah, if you want me to, I will.”
I already knew I’d get him the first book in the Claymourn Chronicles, and then we’d dissect Baron Barry Claymourn’s adventures as he came into his inheritance.
Another idea hit me. “What if we read it to each other, like at night, before bed?”
It’d only be, like my tenth re-read. I didn’t say that last part aloud as it might make me sound like the ultimate nerd.
“That sounds awesome, actually.”
