DONT DRINK AND DM ━ Matthew Daddario ✓

TWENTY- TWO

"Hi, Matt," Alfie choked out as he hung up the phone, much to Veronica's clear dismay. He gulped nervously as he made eye contact with Matt.

Matt smiled, his eyes drifting down to the ground, "Hey, Alfie."

"How much of that did you hear?"

"A lot," he shrugged, "enough."

Alfie stepped out of the Starbucks line as he faced the other man, "I- can we talk?"

Matt just nodded and motioned towards a table outside, covered from the sun by a trademark green umbrella. The two stepped outside and into the warm California air.

"So, you like me?" Matt asked, breaking the tense silence.

The other smiled slightly with a nervous chuckle, "This isn't middle school, Matt. But uh, yes, I have feelings for you."

Then, Matt did the unexpected, he smiled, "Well, that makes this a whole lot easier."

"Makes what easier?"

"This," was all the man said before getting up from the table and pulling Alfie up with him. The two were face to face with inches between them. Matt closed the space, connecting their lips and surprising Alfie, who kissed back immediately.

It was mere seconds after that the noise of a camera shutter and a flash went off that the moment was ruined. They both turned and saw a teenage boy around the age of seventeen with his mouth agape and his phone in his hand.

Alfie's eyes widened, but Matt just chuckled and laced his fingers with Alfie's, "C'mon, three's a crowd."

The man let himself be dragged away as he followed behind Matt with a giddy smile on his face.