Kay’s pristine floor and it seems I’ve been replaced.
Matt goes on, “My brain is in constant motion. That’s why I love the busy work around Kay’s place. It gives my brain time to ruminate on how to beat these monsters at their own game. You need that downtime, you know? To strategize.”
I sigh. He may as well have said he’s getting free Prada with each paycheck. “The timing’s all wrong for me. I’ve been out of the game too long.”
Admittedly, I want him to say it’s not true. But looking to Matt Callaway for comfort is the first sign I’ve completely lost my mind.
I should mention that Matt and I have a dark history. He hurt Kay once. And let’s just say she’s more forgiving than I am. If I had my way, he’d never darken her doorway again. Kay thought they were a couple back when, but he began dating my sister-in-law Emily while she was here for my wedding.
I never forgave him for making Kay look like a fool, not that I was his biggest fan in the first place. It didn’t help that Matt’s ancient next to Emily. She’s just twenty-nine now, and Matt’s rapidly flirting with fifty. The fact that he’s still in Kay’s universe doesn’t add up. It’s hard to meet people in the Valley, so I chalk it up to Kay’s insane level of patience for people. Maybe she’s just throwing him a bone as a friend. But it doesn’t add up.
Kay’s so…practical. Matt is smooth. Smarmy even. He’s a patent attorney, what else does she need to know? Didn’t she have enough of that with me?
“I’ve got to get to the office,” Matt tells me, as he lifts my suitcase into the foyer.
Wow. Chivalry. Go figure .
“Come on in and get settled. Kay’s got you in your old room, I suppose.” He smirks at me. “Just don’t get too comfortable in there. It’s my office when there are no guests here.”
“Your office? You have an office, not to mention a house. What gives?”
“Just don’t get too comfortable, all I’m saying.”
“You’re just going to leave that mess?” I stare out the back door at the stacks of two-by-fours.
He follows my gaze. “Does it bother you?” He sneers. “Isn’t that rich?”
“Maybe,” I tell him. He bothers me . “What kind of patent attorney gets to be home in the middle of the afternoon these days? Did Silicon Valley go on hiatus?”
“The kind of patent attorney that’s sought-after and whose services are in demand.” He tucks his chin and stares at me with a wicked eyebrow raised. “You, if you were around to get in on the action. I haven’t seen your name on any tech patents since you left.”
He may as well have struck me. “Below the belt.”
“Maybe, but it was your choice to follow the good doctor and not think about yourself. Very self-sacrificing and noble, I’ll admit, but not very bright.” He lifts his shirt off the hardwood floor and puts it on over his tool belt. He buttons a few buttons and flicks the cuff on the long sleeve. “I make my own rules now. My own schedule.” He cocks one eyebrow, yanks open the front door fully and passes me with a swift breeze. “Think about what I said.”
The door slams behind him, and I’m left wondering how Matt always seems to get the better of me.
Kay’s living room is still much the same. The hardwood floors shines like a Minwax commercial. The house has always looked staged—as though a realtor placed furniture in all the right places to make it appear lived in—but never really had the feeling of warmth or home.
The small bungalow is decorated sparsely with only black, white and beige in a neutral palette that lacks personality and any hint of excitement. Walking through the house, I peek into Kay’s master bedroom. It’s spotless as usual and this gives me peace. Something is as it should be. She has the same bedspread as when I left (who can live that long with the same bedspread? Doesn’t she get bored?)
In my old bedroom I’m flooded by desperate memories. How many restless
Matt goes on, “My brain is in constant motion. That’s why I love the busy work around Kay’s place. It gives my brain time to ruminate on how to beat these monsters at their own game. You need that downtime, you know? To strategize.”
I sigh. He may as well have said he’s getting free Prada with each paycheck. “The timing’s all wrong for me. I’ve been out of the game too long.”
Admittedly, I want him to say it’s not true. But looking to Matt Callaway for comfort is the first sign I’ve completely lost my mind.
I should mention that Matt and I have a dark history. He hurt Kay once. And let’s just say she’s more forgiving than I am. If I had my way, he’d never darken her doorway again. Kay thought they were a couple back when, but he began dating my sister-in-law Emily while she was here for my wedding.
I never forgave him for making Kay look like a fool, not that I was his biggest fan in the first place. It didn’t help that Matt’s ancient next to Emily. She’s just twenty-nine now, and Matt’s rapidly flirting with fifty. The fact that he’s still in Kay’s universe doesn’t add up. It’s hard to meet people in the Valley, so I chalk it up to Kay’s insane level of patience for people. Maybe she’s just throwing him a bone as a friend. But it doesn’t add up.
Kay’s so…practical. Matt is smooth. Smarmy even. He’s a patent attorney, what else does she need to know? Didn’t she have enough of that with me?
“I’ve got to get to the office,” Matt tells me, as he lifts my suitcase into the foyer.
Wow. Chivalry. Go figure .
“Come on in and get settled. Kay’s got you in your old room, I suppose.” He smirks at me. “Just don’t get too comfortable in there. It’s my office when there are no guests here.”
“Your office? You have an office, not to mention a house. What gives?”
“Just don’t get too comfortable, all I’m saying.”
“You’re just going to leave that mess?” I stare out the back door at the stacks of two-by-fours.
He follows my gaze. “Does it bother you?” He sneers. “Isn’t that rich?”
“Maybe,” I tell him. He bothers me . “What kind of patent attorney gets to be home in the middle of the afternoon these days? Did Silicon Valley go on hiatus?”
“The kind of patent attorney that’s sought-after and whose services are in demand.” He tucks his chin and stares at me with a wicked eyebrow raised. “You, if you were around to get in on the action. I haven’t seen your name on any tech patents since you left.”
He may as well have struck me. “Below the belt.”
“Maybe, but it was your choice to follow the good doctor and not think about yourself. Very self-sacrificing and noble, I’ll admit, but not very bright.” He lifts his shirt off the hardwood floor and puts it on over his tool belt. He buttons a few buttons and flicks the cuff on the long sleeve. “I make my own rules now. My own schedule.” He cocks one eyebrow, yanks open the front door fully and passes me with a swift breeze. “Think about what I said.”
The door slams behind him, and I’m left wondering how Matt always seems to get the better of me.
Kay’s living room is still much the same. The hardwood floors shines like a Minwax commercial. The house has always looked staged—as though a realtor placed furniture in all the right places to make it appear lived in—but never really had the feeling of warmth or home.
The small bungalow is decorated sparsely with only black, white and beige in a neutral palette that lacks personality and any hint of excitement. Walking through the house, I peek into Kay’s master bedroom. It’s spotless as usual and this gives me peace. Something is as it should be. She has the same bedspread as when I left (who can live that long with the same bedspread? Doesn’t she get bored?)
In my old bedroom I’m flooded by desperate memories. How many restless
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