I'd known Matt since the two of us were in diapers. Our parents became best friends when my mom and dad moved into the house next door. They got so close that we shared every holiday, every birthday, and even most of our vacations. Matt and I were always together playing games or getting into trouble. As we got older, it become obvious that no one believed boys and girls could be best friends. The other kids at school teased us and always made jokes about us kissing, which disgusted him and horrified me. Then, one day, Matt and his parents picked up and moved states. My parents were crushed to lose their best friends, and while a part of me was sad that the person I'd been closest to my whole life, the one like a brother to me, was gone, I was also relieved.
I started making more girl friends and spent time learning how to do hair and makeup and gossiping about boys. My parents still spent all of their free time talking to, visiting, or hosting the Anderson's, but I went years without any contact with Matt except for seeing the few posts he made online. When he posted his graduation pictures, I tried not to notice how hot he had gotten. I moved into my dorm at the state university, only an hour from my parents house. My first semester was a blur of parties, studying, and more parties. When the holiday break finally rolled around, I was relieved to be coming home.
My mom rolled to a stop at the curb outside of my dorm and wrapped me in a tight hug. After my stuff was loaded up, we buckled in and she asked me questions about my first taste of college life. Once I finished, leaving out about half of what actually happened, we lapsed into silence.
"Ellie, have you kept up with Matt since he moved?" Mom's voice was calm but curious.
"Not really, why?" I asked, suspicious.
"Well, we invited the Anderson's down for the holidays. Matt is back home from his first semester as well, and he'll be coming with."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" My voice came out harsher than I intended, but something about her springing this on me while we were driving home, giving me zero time to mentally prepare myself, got under my skin. The idea of seeing Matt, now grown up, after so many years made me feel flushed and antsy.
"I wasn't sure how you would take it, but we always spent the holidays with them so I hoped you'd be excited! Plus, what a good chance to reconnect with Matt. You guys were attached at the hip when you were younger."
"Yeah but now we are both adults and haven't spoken since middle school. This is going to be so awkward, Mom, I can't believe you waited until now to tell me!"
I folded my arms over my chest, knowing that I was pouting like an angry little kid.
She put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. "I'm sorry, honey, you're right. I should have told you before. There is one more thing though. The Anderson's will be staying in the house with us. Judy and Arnie will stay on the second story with us and Matt will take the basement bedroom next to yours. Try to make the best of it, will you? Maybe you guys will still have fun together."
I scoffed, wondering how this could get any worse. But I felt guilty for snapping at her earlier, so all I said was, "Yeah, sure."
She smiled, clicking open the garage and stopping in the driveway to let me out.
Without looking back or waiting for her, I grabbed my stuff, let the door slam behind me, and trudged down to lock myself in my room until dinner time.
After a long, hot shower and some deep breathing, I shuffled up the stairs in a tank top and pajama pants. Dad made lasagna, one of the few recipes he had down, and mom stood at the island preparing a salad.
"So when do the Anderson's get here?" I asked, plopping down on one of the barstools and focusing on keeping my tone light and polite.
"Any minute now," Dad mumbled, trying very hard not to burn himself as he slid the lasagna from the oven.
"Judy said they are ten out about ten minutes ago. I left the door unlocked. When they get here, why don't you show Matt where he will be staying?"
I roll my eyes knowing neither of them are looking at me. "Sure." My tone is dry and my mom catches my eye, raising one brow just enough to remind me that I promised her I would try to make the best of things. I plastered on a smile in response, and that is when the front door swung open and there were shouts of excitement from all of the parents.
I stayed still for a minute, then braced myself and turned to go greet them. I stopped when I caught sight of Matt, who was already looking at me, standing at least 6 feet tall and thick with muscle that was not nearly as evident in any of the pictures I'd seen of him recently. I felt my cheeks warm and I shifted my focus to his parents. I went in for hugs and remembered that I did really love this family, even if the idea of sleeping in the room next to Matt made me feel like my chest might explode.
After Judy and Arnie got enough of me, I turned awkwardly to Matt. I didn't have long to question whether or not I should go in for a hug because he tugged me in by the shoulders and wrapped his arms tightly around me. He felt even more massive than he looked and he had to lean down to reach my ear when he whispered, "Hey kid, long time no see."
I jolted at this, his voice low and breathy in my ear, his body big and hot, and was consumed by feelings that I could not begin to understand. I let him hug me, my arms limply circling his waist, until he let me go.
"Oh look at that, she's blushing! You two haven't seen each other in so long, this reunion is so cute!" Judy's voice was high with excitement and was punctuated by the click of a camera. Oh my God, I thought, this is so beyond embarrassing and now they have photo evidence.
I turned to head back into the kitchen, face still hot, but mom stopped me.
"Ellie, remember how you said you would show Matt to his room?" I heard the sternness in her voice.
My eyes flitted to his, and he was still beaming at me.
"Right. You're gunna be downstairs in the basement next to me."
I turned and headed for the stairs instead, wishing time would move quicker so that we could get to dinner and then I could lock myself back in my room.
I didn't look back to check, but I heard Matt's heavy steps behind me. I crossed the den and opened the door to the guest room he'd be staying in.
"Here it is."
He peeked his head in, flicked on the light switch, and nodded. Then he turned to me and I realized how close we were standing in the doorway. I immediately backed up.
"And where's your room?"
I pointed at the next door, inches from his own. He smiled. "Fun."
I didn't reply, watching him as he deposited his bags on the bed. He unzipped a duffel and rifled around, bringing out a dark blue long sleeve shirt. His hands tugged his shirt over his head in an easy, fluid movement, and I was so surprised that I just stood there and watched him, the muscles in his broad back flexing with his movements.
Without turning around he asked, "You gunna watch me take off my pants, too?"
I stuttered, gave up on trying to say anything intelligible, and nearly ran back up the stairs into the kitchen. A few minutes later, Matt was seated at the island next to me while our parents took up the only four chairs at our tiny dining table. I tried to focus on biting, chewing, swallowing, but all I could think about was that he was here and so, so close to me.
After dinner Dad poured glasses of wine and handed them out, including Matt and I, to my surprise.
