Step by step

Chapter Fourteen

When I got home, the porch lights were open which was odd, Tom never left them on when he leaves or turns them on when he arrives. The only person who would turn it on was my late grandmother who passed away last year due to old age.

I climbed out of Emmett's car without waiting for Emmett to open it for me. He rounded the hood as I took a step onto the pavement.

"You okay here?" He cocked his head to the side and wrapped his arms around my waist, willing me towards him. I took a step closer and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him in a friendly manner.

"Course," I said as I pull back and winked. He chuckled as I removed his arms around me and held his hands. Instinctively, I began to draw patterns on his fist then I came across a bump and scratch. I lift it to my eye level and sure enough, there was a bruise on his fist, it was turning purple and looked like it was going to swell.

"What happened?" My eyes flutter to meet his which looked away in every possible angle to not meet mine.

"It's... Nothing." He tried to wipe off my knitted eyebrows as he reach for my face but I immediately dodged and swat his hand away gently. I narrowed my eyes at him and in a second, he sighed and pulled his hand away. My hands left hanging in the air. "It's.. I-It's, uh, football." He shrugged.

I rolled my eyes and narrowed them even thinner.

When he didn't say another word, I took him by the hand and led him inside the house.

Tom greeted me with a wide smile and raised an eyebrow at Emmett who, in return, smiled sheepishly while freeing his hand and showing it to Tom.

"Woah, someone got into a fight." The chair scraped against the wood-designed tiled floor as Tom got up to make his way to us. He put out a hand and Emmett immediately placed his in Tom's open palm. "What happened?" Eyeing me with discomfort.

"Practice. Do you have some first aid?" I explained for Emmett.

"I'll take care of this." Tom motioned for the kitchen and I let Emmett out my hold, not realizing I was gripping on his shirt the whole time. As soon as they were out of sight, I dragged myself upstairs and into my bedroom. As soon as I open the door, Matt was lying still on my bed. My heart raced and I felt my blood go hotter. I looked over my shoulder and over the railings by instinct.

Emmet can not, absolutely not, find Matt here. He might think I'm sleeping with him.

I wiped my hands down my face as I run through the door and slammed it shut. Amazingly, Matt didn't even flinch. He was fast asleep, like the baby he was. I giggled to myself and kept the loving smile I had for him as I walked over to his seemingly lifeless body.

He looked so peaceful like this. So calm and serene. His jaw was slack and his lips parted, I had to resist the urge to kiss him right then and there. I knelt down beside him and rest my chin by his shoulder, carefully caressing away the stray strands of hair on his angelic face.

Unknowingly, my fingers began tracing his features and I heard myself gulp. It was more than will power to stop myself from confessing my feelings to a sleeping prince, for all I know he could be awake.

He suddenly grunted. His hand lifted from his side and intertwined with mine, he brought it to his lips and kissed it, it felt light as a feather. His eyes started twitching and soon enough, they were open, gazing into the depths of my soul.

"Hi sleeping beauty." I murmured with a smile.

"Are you my prince charming?" He teased with that blinding half smile of his.

"Depends on the story. You want those classics or the Mulan and Frozen type?" I chuckled as he sat up pulling me into bed with him.

"Technically, Mulan isn't a princess." He narrowed his eyes at me, snaking his arms around my waist. He was breathing down my neck and I could hardly contain the fits of excited lust bubbling in my lower abdomen.

"Alright, smarty pants. You want Disney version or the dark, gory version?" I pushed out a light laugh that sounded more like an asthma attack.

"I want you."

My heart stopped.

I couldn't even tell if he was kidding or not.

I tried to twist my neck in the most impossible angle so I could take a peek at his expression. But I couldn't. And right now, all I want to know is that of he was serious or not.

"You fell asleep on me?" Matt laughed, pushing back, and then shaking me awake.

"Stop." I laughed and turn to him, hoping to see some kind of hint that he really did mean it. But it wasn't there. Even the twinkle I see often was missing, he had a wide grin, a pair of smiling eyes but no hint that he meant what he said.

I don't know what came over me. It was like a wash of something hot and heavy, then I was angry. Mad. Furious. The thoughts of his niece's words collecting in my mind then I pushed him away, no, shoved him away as hard as I could.

"Ellie? What's wrong?" Matt asked, rubbing the part where I had laid my hands on.

"Just stop, Matt, I'm tired of hearing your jokes. They aren't funny anymore. I'm tired and I need space." I huffed, somehow speaking the truth. I needed my own time, not a time I'm always with Matt. I was becoming too dependent and I didn't like it one bit.

Matty looked confused, of course he was. "Ellie?" He chuckled, trying to hide his nervous tone, "What are you talking about?"

And as if to answer his question, Emmett came busting through the door. His hand bandaged and a confused, hurt look plastered on his face.

"Em," I greeted with an uneasy smile. I could hear my own heart beating in my ears. Emmett shifted in front of us while Matt stood his ground, just beside my bed.

"Looks like you've invited more than one company." Matt said dryly that sent my voice in a plunge. I was unable to speak for quite a bit of time while Emmett and Matt stared each other down. My lungs started constricting and my heart was on the verge of bursting when Tom walked through the doorway. All four of us in a standing reunion in my room.

"Oh, am I interrupting something?" Tom cleared his throat and swung an arm around Emmett to pretend like he just hasn't walked in a threesome or something. Okay! Rated SPG everyone. God, me and my mind.

"No, you aren't. I was about to leave." Matt said, making me face him. A smile on his face. A freaking genuine smile on his face. It wasn't as if he just haven't seen a guy he barely knew walked into the room of his girl best friend. "Well looks like you're accompanied for the night? I'll take my leave then."

"Great! I need someone to run to the hospital with me then grab a few drinks after." Tom grinned, saving Matt from complete humiliation.

"Sure, I didn't plan anything today anyway except well.." He motioned around the room without looking at me. He began to walk away then stopped. I thought he has completely forgotten to kiss me goodbye but he just ran back to the bed to get his bag and to the door again, disappearing before I even had a chance to register what just happened.

"Door. Open. Curtains too." Tom instructed with a light smile then a look towards me that said behave. I nodded at the unvoiced command before he disappeared after Matt. I paced to the door in enough time to see Matt flailing his arms around as Tom greeted him in the porch. He was saying something inaudible while Tom calmed him, putting a hand on his chest like he just stopped him from charging to war. What was happening to my Matty?

Before I could retreat back into the room, I saw Matt's eyes staring into mine. They held me in a tight spot where my body refused to move an inch. I wanted to run to him, hold him, asking him what was wrong, but I was stunned. I looked deep into his eyes. Even a fool would see why he was acting this way.

Was he jealous?

No. He couldn't be. Maybe he was just mad that Tom left me alone with another guy inside the house.

When I finally calmed and started to feel the blood run through my veins again, Matt and Tom were gone. The Camry was already strolling down the road.

"El?"

Startled, I spun and backed into the window instinctively.

"Woah, calm." He slowly beelined towards me. "You okay?"

I took a deep breath and settled against his chest. His heartbeat soothed me as I closed my eyes and felt his fingers run through my hair. "No,"