Force of Forever (All In #0.5)

Water dribbled down Pia’s chin onto her shirt. She was still sputtering, eyes streaming from the carbonation that had invaded her nose.

Finally, the chaos started to subside, and Pia realized Matt was now directly behind her. His warm hands dropped onto her shoulders as he crouched down, twisting to see her better. “Are you all right?”

His deep, accented voice filled her pounding eardrums. She could only nod. And stare.

“Who are you?” Felix asked, eyeing the dapper man touching her.

“Pia’s boyfriend,” Carol supplied, eyes dancing.

“Boyfriend?” her dad barked.

“Since when do you have a boyfriend?” Felix asked.

Words had failed Pia entirely.

Boyfriend?She’d held hopes for something with Matt, but he’d dashed them with an abrupt hang-up and four weeks of silence when she’d needed him most.

“We’ve been dating for about three months,” Matt replied.Lied. “I’m Matt. I’ve heard so much about all of you.”

All eyes turned to Pia. Even her mom had left the kitchen and was leaning in the frame of the door, watching.

Matt was here. In her backyard. With her family. With her. Telling half-truths.

Judging from Ami’s surprised expression, the mystery of Matt’s appearance could only be solved by Carol and Matt himself, both of whom she’d corner once she found her voice and some privacy.

Pia realized she still hadn’t said anything. “Uh, surprise?”

Her family seemed to accept that as an answer, and went back to their own conversations.

She glared at Matt. “Sit,” she hissed. “Eat, or they’ll know something’s up.”

“Anything you say.” He offered a blinding smile Pia wanted to scowl at but couldn’t. He was too annoyingly handsome and she was too damn confused.

Her dad watched through narrowed eyes as Pia helped Matt load up a plate that had been meant for Carol. The conspirator in question sat next to Rey instead and was trying unsuccessfully to communicate to Pia with her face. Some communication, say by phone, ahead of time, might have been nice. Her shirt would have been drier, anyway, and her heart more attached to the inside of her body.

He tried thepancitfirst. Pia’s dad waited until Matt had a full mouth before asking, “Where are you from, Matt?”

Matt held up a finger and smiled, chewing slowly and swallowing before replying. It was a test of manners, and he’d passed. “France until recently, but I’m calling California home now.”

Interesting. Still, Pia dared not let hope bloom. Showing up at Sunday dinner with Carol could mean nothing more than the woman had nagged or shamed him heartily. Pia had shared the whole story with her a few weeks ago.

“How did you and Pia meet?”

“On a flight,” Pia replied, trying to hurry the conversation along.

“Most attentive flight attendant I’ve ever had.”

“I’ll bet,” Ami muttered under her breath. She had not stopped moving her eyes between Pia and Matt since he’d arrived.

“Also the most beautiful,” he whispered, for only Pia to hear.

“Save it,” she whispered back.

“I plan to. That’s why I’m here.”

Pia turned, feeling a blow to the chest from the blaze of emotion in his stormy eyes. His hand found her knee under the table and squeezed.

An apology and a promise.