I Lost Control

14. Whatever You Want

SUMMER

"I'm home!" I call out as I enter the kitchen through the garage, my hair freshly trimmed and colored the normal caramel brown with blonde. The house is quiet, not even the sound of a television which is unusual. I hear the sound of nails on the hardwood and I'm greeted by Sonny, his tongue hanging out of his mouth in a typical dog smile.

"Well hello." I say to him while scratching behind his ear. He takes off into the other room and I follow to the den where I see a site that pulls at my heart strings. The lights are off, the curtains drawn, the only light is coming from the flashing of the tv screen that's turned down low enough I can barely hear it.

Matt is asleep at one end of the couch, his head tilted to the side against the back of the couch. At the other end Landon is laying on his stomach, one arm hanging off the couch touching the floor. A blanket is draped across the both of them at the waist. Sonny lays down on the floor between the two and stares at me.

I kick off my shoes and walk over to the couch, wanting nothing more than to cuddle up with my two favorite boys. Three, if you include the Labrador at my feet. I gently scoot Landon over and curl up on the couch beside him. My arm slips underneath his body so he's resting on my chest and I breathe in the smell of his clean hair.

___

I'm awoken by the sound of whispers and I strain my eyes back into focus to see Matt standing just outside the room on his cell phone. It's dark outside now and the room is almost pitch black. Landon is no longer in my arms and the tv has been shut off. I stand from the couch and adjust the dress I've been wearing all day and walk silently to the door. It was a mistake to not change into sweats.

"No, that's not okay." I hear Matt whisper in an agitated voice. "Why? Because my family is here. You can't just drop by whenever you want to." My heart sinks at those words. Who could the person on the other end of the phone be? Another woman?Matt steps far enough away that I can't hear what he's saying, so I take a few steps forward. Something catches Matt's attention and he spins around, catching me in the act of spying.

"Don't call me back again." Matt shoves his phone in his pocket and storms over to me.

"What are you doing?" He asks, his body tense, his eyes full of anger.

"Nothing, I—"

"You were eavesdropping."

"I wasn't. I just woke up and heard you on the phone." My heart rate quickens when I realize just how irritable he's become since waking from his nap.

"Bullshit." He turns away from me and heads for the stairs.

"Baby, wait." I call after him as I take a few steps. Things have been so good between us I don't want to ruin it now.

"Don't follow me." His tone tells me there's no room for negotiation, but I can't let it go.

"But—"

"Jesus fucking Christ, Summer. Leave it the fuck alone." He doesn't even turn to look at me, just continues up the stairs. I stand there for a moment, defeated, my feelings hurt. I head towards the laundry room where I dig through the basket of laundry to find some clean pajamas to put on since going to our bedroom would be considered 'following'.

One of Matt's shirts sits on top and I reach behind me to unzip the dress. It puddles at my feet and I pull the black Slayer shirt over my head. I throw on the first pair of sweats I see and head back towards the den. I flip on the lights and grab the remote. Nothing stands out to me as I flip through the stations in a daze.