The Great Pretenders

Chapter 23

Lucy's POV

When I woke about an hour or so later, I couldn't remember just what had happened for a second. Then, I felt the pair of strong arms wrapped possessively around my middle and felt the steady, even breathing against the back of my neck and it all came rushing back. I remembered the previous night with sudden clarity. The mess at the party. The way he came after me. The way he'd looked at me, the way he'd touched me, the way he'd felt inside . . . it all came back in crystal clear detail. I smiled to myself at the memory. I knew it probably wouldn't last past tonight but I could enjoy it right now. Right?

I looked at my clock. 5:36am. A little less than 2 hours before my mom got home. I needed to get some clothes on. I stretched a little, feeling sore everywhere.

It wasn't long after that Matt began to rouse as well. He groaned and buried his face against my neck as he tried to hang on to sleep for another precious moment. Finally surrendering to the fact that I had moved, he lifted his head just slightly and said in a voice still rough with sleep, "Morning."

"Morning," I replied softly as I lifted myself off the bed and pulled my t shirt and underwear back on. I grabbed a pair of Nike Running shorts and stepped into them. His eyes watched the entire process with a slight smile playing on his lips. "My mom will be home in a few hours."

He adjusted the pillow under his head "So you're kicking me out?" he asked, dimples still showing.

"Not so much kicking you out," I replied as I sat on the bed next to him, pulling one leg under the other. "More like trying to keep my mother from castrating you."

He laughed and the sound was warm in my heart "We can't have that then. For the record though, I could have stayed in bed all."

"We'd have to get up sooner or later. My mom's going to be home eventually today."

"She wouldn't appreciate this whole scene?" he asked with a smirk.

I giggled and said, "Not likely."

I watched him as he sat up slowly and stretched. He stood and pulled his underwear and pants on and I couldn't help but think that I probably would have tripped over myself, trying to put my pants on in the dark. I pulled his shirt from under my pillow and dangled it in front of him on one finger. He reached for it and I pulled it back behind my back playfully. He smiled and I felt myself drowning in those dimples. Before I knew what was happening, he leaned me back on the bed to steal a kiss and grabbed the shirt from my hand as I relaxed.

"Not fair," I said "You cheated by distracting me."

"Fuck fair." He whispered just above my lips, "I never play fair. Fair is for whiners and Johnny."

"That's so mean," I laughed as I ran my hands up and down his chest.

"If you keep doing that, I'll never make it out of here on time," he replied.

I pushed against his chest "Come on, I'll walk you out."

Stealing one more kiss, he stood and reached his hand out to take mine. He pulled me up and together we walked out of the room and toward the door.

Before I opened it, he pulled me into his arms by my waist "What are you doing today?"

I shrugged my shoulders as I wrapped my arms around him. "I have practice today. How about you?"

He gave it some thought "More sleep. Probably hanging out with the guys later."

"Sounds fun," I said softly.

"Come out with me tonight. Let's hang out," he said.

I was unsure. I mean I wasn't up for keeping up the act for Val's sake in public. "I don't know. I have a test Monday that I need to study for. Zoey and I are getting together from 4-6."

"Okay," he said "I'll come get you afterward. We can have some dinner and then we can find something else to do." He raised my hand and kissed the back of my knuckles.

"No, I'll drive out to you. I'll call you." I wanted my car, just in case there was a problem. Not that I was going to look for one. I was going to be optimistic if it killed me.

He slid his lips to the inside of my wrist, then dropped my hand. "If you haven't called by six-thirty," he said as I unlocked the door and opened it, "I'm going to come looking for you."

"Are you afraid I won't show?" I said as I held it open.

"I never know what to expect out of you." He smiled before walking out.

I closed the door quickly. Not wanting to see him walk away. That's what you did after to protect yourself. Before you could fool yourself into thinking that what you had was real.

Matt's POV

I drove home exhausted. Not just physically but mentally.

I thought about Val. We'd been together so long but we hadn't ever really known each other. It wasn't her fault. It was mine. I hadn't bothered to try to get to know her. I just enjoyed having her around to show off, like a prize. I had taken her for granted. I deserved her dumping me.

And I thought about Lucy. Lucy who helped me plot getting Val back even though I hadn't really paid attention to her in all the years I had a girlfriend. She welcomed me into her home, her life and her bed. And I had feelings for her now.

But did she have them for me? I mean, I thought she did. We did just sleep together and Lucy wasn't the kind of girl to do that for someone she didn't care about. Right?

It was too much to think about. I pulled into my driveway and turned off the car. I dragged myself into the house and dropped fully clothed onto my bed. Hopefully after a few hours sleep, I would be able to figure it all out.

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The sun was shining in my face the next time I opened my eyes. My phone was buzzing on the night stand. I rubbed my hand over my face before reaching for it. I pressed the answer button.

"Hello," I croaked.

"Dude, where the fuck have you been?" Zacky's voice cried loudly. "He answered finally." He said to someone in the background.

"Jesus fuck Zacky, keep it down," I cleared my throat.

"We've been calling you all night. Where'd you sneak off to?" he asked. "You just disappeared."

"I didn't disappear," I argued "I was with Lucy."

"Wooohoooo," he catcalled "He was with Lucy." He told his audience and I chuckled as I heard various catcalls. "Oooh Lucy!!! Yes Lucy," I heard Brian and Jimmy cry.

"Shut the fuck up, you jackasses," I said sitting up "What are calling me so early for?"

"Dude, let's go to the beach in LA for the day," Zacky said. "Brian's dad is having a cookout at their beach house."

I looked at the time. I'd slept till almost noon. Could I manage to make it to the beach and then back to Lucy? "Zacky, we have beaches right here in Huntington."

"I know," he explained "But we could scope out some real LA babes. Don't be a buzzkill dick."

I didn't want to be but LA was an hour away. "I'm not trying to be."

"Then get your ass out of fucking bed, grab your swimsuit and get over here," he demanded. "We're leaving in 45."

"All right, ass face. I'm on my way."