Chapter 73: Jake

When I arrived home that night, Aaron was in the kitchen making dinner. Renee and Matt were due home at any minute, so I kicked off my work boots and jumped in to help him cook.

"Fancy," I said, noting the vase of flowers and lit candles on the dining room table. Aaron smiled, but his smile was off, and I couldn't tell what he was really thinking. He seemed wary almost, and I worried about what was to come.

"Everything okay?" I asked, and Aaron nodded, his lips tight.

"Everything is great. I have some news I plan to break to you guys."

"News, huh?" I went to the fridge for a beer and handed one to Aaron as he stirred the pasta on the stove. "Good news or bad news?"

He hesitated, popping the cap off his bottle and taking a long swig. "I guess it depends on how you react," he said, and I frowned.

"Does Renee know?"

"Yeah."

"Wanna tell me?"

"Not until Ren and Matt get home."

Trying to push my intrusive thoughts aside, I checked on the bread in the oven and set the table with plates, pulling out a wine glass and bottle for Renee. Just as I was about to ask Aaron again to tell me, the front door opened and Renee came in, poking her head into the kitchen as she kicked off her shoes and tossed them near the closet. She was smiling, glowing, practically, and my body tingled with sudden desperation. To know Renee was to love her, and I fucking adored her. We all did.

"Ooooh," she cooed, taking the glass of wine I poured for her. "What's the occasion?"

"News," I said before Aaron could respond. "He won't tell me what, but he says you already know."

Aaron and Renee exchanged a glance, but I couldn't tell what either of them was thinking, and that set me on edge even more. Renee, however, merely smiled and took a sip of her wine. Even in her expression, I noted a hint of uncertainty.

"Is Matt home yet?"

As if on cue, we heard him lumber through the front door. He came straight to the kitchen, running a hand through his black hair as his eyes scanned over the three of us.

"Food," he said. "Good thinking." He looked at Renee and she smirked back at him, some unspoken secret lingering between them. Jealousy flared, but I pushed it back down, focusing instead on taking the garlic bread out of the oven. We were finally happy together, the four of us, and I wasn't about to ruin that. As I sliced the bread into thick cuts, Renee leaned back against the counter and watched Aaron and I finish the food, one arm folded beneath the other as she sipped her wine, cheeks growing crimson from the alcohol.

"I love when you're all here," she said softly. "There's no better moments than these ones."

I silently agreed, glancing at Matt. Had he told her yet? About Tameka? I'd have to ask him later on.

We dished up our plates and each took a seat around the table, digging into chicken alfredo and bread. Even though everything seemed perfect, the tension in the air was palpable, and I had to say something before I exploded with discomfort.

"Aaron." I cleared my throat, taking another swig of my beer. "You had news to share?"

"Oh, that's right." Aaron set his fork down and looked between the three of us, but when he opened it again, Matt spoke up, interrupting him before he could speak.

"Wait," he said. "Can I say something first?"

Nobody had time to speak before Matt rambled ahead, looking nervous suddenly. He glanced at me, just briefly, and I knew immediately what was coming. I opened my mouth to stop him, to beg him not to ruin a good night, but then closed it again. No matter what happened, she needed to know.

"Ren," Matt said, and I saw his Adam's apple bob up and down. "I have something to tell you."

Renee stared at him over her glass of wine, but she didn't lower it. Something in her eyes told me that she already knew, or at least had an inkling as to whatever Matt was going to say. He waited for her to respond, but she said nothing, only continued to watch him. Matt took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and looked away before meeting her gaze once more.

"I kissed someone," he said. "I kissed Tameka."

The silence that settled over the dining room was thick with tension. Aaron froze, his fork halfway up to his mouth as he stared between Renee and Matt, as if trying to wrap his head around the spoken words. I swallowed and stared down at my plate, giving Renee a moment to let his words soak in. We all waited for her to speak. The silence was suffocating.

For a moment, Renee continued to stare at Matt in silence. Then, without a single word, she tossed back the remainder of her wine, stood from her chair, put the glass in the sink, and turned around, her back to us. Matt opened his mouth to speak, but it didn't matter. She didn't even look over her shoulder as she walked softly upstairs, closing her bedroom door—and locking it—behind her.

A stunned silence fell over the table, and Aaron and I stared at Matt, willing him to speak. To say something, anything, to make the moment better. But there was no making it better, and now we'd confirmed it.

"Holy shit," Aaron said, still looking shocked. "When did this happen?"

"At your art gala." I shot Matt a disappointed look, and his gaze dropped to his plate. Good. He should be ashamed of himself.

"At my gala?" Aaron repeated, and the look of surprise quickly clouded over with anger. I couldn't blame him, but I was surprised when he wheeled on me, his anger evident on his face. "You knew about this and said nothing? This entire time, you didn't think to speak up?"

"It wasn't my place to tell her," I said lamely, realizing now just how shitty that had been. Renee had deserved to know sooner rather than later, even if it did put Matt in the hole. And as Aaron shook his head in disappointment, shame bubbled in my chest.

"Fuck both of you," Aaron said, and hearing those words come from our mild-mannered best friend just made it hurt worse. He stood up from the table, leaving his half-eaten plate where it sat, and glared between Matt and me. "Once again you've managed to steal the attention away with your shitty antics, and I'm tired of it." He shook his head and slammed his beer bottle down on the table, turning to leave. Then he stopped and looked over his shoulder at us. "Renee deserves better," he said softly. "And if you two can't give it to her, I will."

As he stormed away, probably to comfort Renee, I realized with a stab in my heart that he hadn't even been able to share his news with us. As always, it was about Matt.

And maybe even me, too.