Chapter 306
In no time, Matthew was impeccable: a tight white shirt, pastel-colored pants, perfectly styled hair.
Drive to Laura's apartment an hour early? Yes, he would do that without thinking twice.
Better early than late.
When he picked up his cell phone and left the room, Dinho's voice surprised him coming from the living room:
“Matthew, buddy... it's too early to leave. It's not even ten o'clock yet. No one is at the boss's house yet. We should arrive about fifteen minutes before eleven. Not too early, but early enough to help with the preparations for Lilian's party...”
Matthew froze, speechless.
Before he could respond, Dinho raised his eyebrow and added, intrigued:
“You... want to help Lilian prepare for the party, right? So why are you leaving now?”
“Yes, of course. But I need to stop somewhere else first. That's why I need to go now...” Matthew replied, trying to sound natural, controlling his voice so as not to arouse Dinho's suspicion.
“You want to leave early? Why? Are you going to pick someone up?”
Matthew froze.
Before he could even react, Benjamin's soft, cheerful voice echoed from the kitchen:
“He's going to pick someone up? Hey, I want to see that,” he said, appearing with a bowl of cookies and walking over to the sofa, joining Dinho as if settling in to watch a show.
“N-no...” Matthew replied, trying to sound even calmer.
Internally, however, he snorted.
This kid should be a detective. When he wants to find something out, he goes all the way.
“Oh, I see. So you're going straight to Lilian's house?” Benjamin asked, eating a cookie without haste.
“Yes. Of course.” Matthew smiled, trying to end the conversation.
“Wait a minute!” Dinho interrupted, raising his finger. “You just said you needed to stop somewhere else. Why are you now saying you're going straight there?”
Damn.
Matthew cursed mentally as he tried not to show his irritation.
They were asking too many questions, too quickly, and cornering him. If he wasn't careful, he would end up telling the truth without meaning to.
After a deep sigh, he gave in:
“Well... yes. I mean... no. I need to stop somewhere else before I go,” he replied, hoping that would be enough to shut them both up.
The two men exchanged glances. Then... they finally gave up.
Matthew felt relief wash over him like a cool breeze. He quickly turned toward the door.
But he didn't even take two steps.
“Oh, I know... I know who you're going to pick up...”
“No!” Matthew cut Benjamin off immediately.
He knew where this was going — and no, he wasn't going to let the boy say her name.
He didn't want anyone to know he was going to Laura's house.
If they knew, the teasing would go on all day.
“Oh, so you're not going to pick up Gabriela...” Benjamin finished, narrowing his eyes with a clearly mischievous smile.
Damn it! I should have said that! Why didn't I think of Gabriela? I'm an idiot!
“Yeah, no...” replied Matthew, trying to compose himself. He closed his hand, his patience at its limit. “Guys, I have to go. Please mind your own business. Benjamin, keep eating your cookies, and you... big guy,” he turned to Dinho, “keep watching the sports news. See you at the party.”
He resumed his walk toward the door.
He took just one step.
Only one.
“Wow! I GET IT!” exclaimed Benjamin, pointing his cookie at him. “If it's not Gabriela... then it's Laura. You're going to pick up Laura, right? Seriously, bro?”
Matthew stopped in his tracks.
He froze.
His eyes widened.
And that... was exactly the confirmation Benjamin wanted.
Mattew's expression gave him away completely — much more than any words could have.
A lazy smile formed on Benjamin's face, accompanied by a sudden pang of jealousy. Meanwhile, Dinho tilted his head, intrigued:
“So... Laura's having lunch with us? But didn't you say you weren't going to invite her?”
Matthew closed his eyes for a second, exhausted.
There was no escape now.
“Yes. She is.”
There. He confessed.
Either he faced it now...
Or he would never make it to Laura's house on time.
“Yes, yes. I invited her, and she accepted. Of course I had to invite her...” said Matthew, artificially regaining his composure. “You heard, right? Lilian insisted that Laura come. How could I ignore a request from the boss?”
It was the best excuse his panicked brain could come up with.
“HAHAHA! True, true...” Benjamin laughed loudly, giving him a thumbs up. “Congratulations, bro! I'm so jealous you have a new girlfriend. Laura is a kind, intelligent woman... hard to find another like her. You're lucky, huh?”
What the hell?
Matthew blinked, confused.
When... exactly... did I say I was dating Laura?!
He felt a chill run down his spine. He was terrified that his thoughts were escaping through his mouth.
“Congratulations, Matthew!” Dinho added sincerely. “Go on... don't keep the girl waiting. We'll sort this out later at Chief Lilian's house.”
Let's celebrate your... new promotion!
He gave another thumbs up.
“Yes! Let's celebrate!” Benjamin agreed, excitedly. “Brother Matthew is no longer single like us. He already has a girlfriend! Congratulations, brother! Let's open some champagne later!”
Matthew just stood there.
In silence.
The sound of his soul leaving his body could be heard from miles away.
He really wanted to yell at them.
He wanted to correct them.
He wanted to explain that it wasn't like that at all, that they were delusional!
But... he just didn't have the energy anymore.
Benjamin had this bizarre talent for turning any detail into an epic romance.
And Dinho... well, Dinho believed in anything emotionally positive.
After taking a deep breath and accepting his fate, Matthew turned and left.
If he didn't leave right then, he would never be able to escape their questions.
And worse:
if he didn't ask Laura to be his girlfriend before they got to Lilian's house...
Dinho and Benjamin would probably call everyone, spread the rumor, and turn everything into a monumental disaster.
Laura would be confused.
Scared.
She might even run away from him.
That simply couldn't happen.
Great. You win.
I'll confess my feelings. I'll ask her to be my wife before you ruin everything.
Fifteen minutes before eleven, Matthew parked in front of Laura's building. As soon as he turned off the car, he sent a message to let her know he had arrived.
The reply came almost immediately:
\[Laura\]
Oh my God, Matthew. Sorry, I'm not done yet! 😭 🙇♀️
\[Laura\]
But I'll be right down! Please wait just a little longer. 😊
The smile that spread across Matthew's face was as involuntary as it was ridiculously broad.
She used emojis.
Lots of emojis.
And reading that... he was transported back in time.
Back to when girls in high school sent him similar messages when they had a crush on him.