The Arrangement | Completed | Wattys2020

57

Matty's POV

I toss and turn in bed, not being able to fall asleep knowing that Candace is so upset with me. She doesn't understand the entire situation. In a way, I don't think she ever will. My family isn't like other families. We aren't that cookie cutter family that everyone dreams of having. My family has a fucked up history. My family is no where near cookie cutter. We aren't completely fucked.

I didn't mean to offend her with what I told everyone. I didn't mean it the way she assumed I had. I just...I don't want to give them something to talk about. I don't want to be the topic of every family dinner, and I don't want Candace or Phoebe to be their topic to attack. Which, they will. If given the option, they will rip that topic to shreds. Plus, Candace and I have a bunch of our problems on our own that we need to work out. I mean, we haven't really settled on a living situation. Although I was quick to answer no, I do in fact need to consider the possibility of her and Phoebe moving in with me. She needs support, and I want to be the one to give that support to her. I know she doesn't want to leave her childhood home, but she doesn't want to stay there either. I want to give her a safe place to live, and that's with me. I also don't want to freak her out by suggesting it, either. It's kind of a weird situation, but eventually it will have to be faced.

I check my phone for what seems to be the fiftieth time since I texted her. A few hours have passed and she hasn't replied. She read it, but she has yet to reply. I guess that means that she probably won't. Nevertheless, I still wait for her name to pop up on my phone anxiously.

I have to take a piss, but I'm kind of nervous to step out into the hall and see her on the couch. I should have told her that I needed to sleep on the couch and she could take the bed. She shouldn't be the one sleeping on that cold leather. I should be the one doing that. But instead, she is sitting out in the living room alone in a house that is unfamiliar to her. And, it's all my fault.

12:45 A.M

Fuck it. I am not just going to sit here and wait for her to come to me. I'm the man in this relationship, so I am going to be the one who fixes this. I get up and walk into the living room. I don't even both putting a shirt on. I mean, no one else is going to be up anyways. I just want to get her and go back to bed. I hate sleeping without her. It's like sleeping in an unfamiliar place at all times.

When I walk into the living room, I don't see her in the living room. I look in the kitchen, assuming that she might be getting water or something. Yet, she isn't there. I go over to Phoebe's room and open the door, hoping that the creaking noise it makes doesn't wake her. Candace isn't in there, but Phoebe is sleeping peacefully in the bed. Her hair is sprawled out across the pillow, and her light snores can be heard. I fucking love her, and I don't even understand how Candace can believe that I feel otherwise.

I guess she could be outside, but I couldn't imagine her being out here this late on her own. I step outside and hear a shriek, followed by her laughter coming from closer to the ocean. I walk off of the back porch and head down the path that leads to the shore. What I see both surprises and pisses me the fuck off.

Candace and Garret are standing in the sand, and she goes to take her the shirt that is now soaking wet from the water I assumed the two were just in. Garret is in his boxers and turned away from Candace and she undresses. I see that the shirt that she's wearing is his, and not hers.

"What the fuck is going on right now?" I spit out. The two turn to look at me, and Candace has a look surprise written all over her face.

"Matty, what are you doing out here?" She asks loudly, as if I'm the one that's out here in my underwear. I mean, I guess I kind of am right now, but so are they.