Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter Book 2)

by Melanie Martins

  “Matthew and I are friends,” I remind him, outraged at his lack of decency.

  “I’m not talking about that.” Fuck! His stare goes right through me and leaves me totally exposed and mortified. At that moment, I know exactly what he is talking about. “Be wise.” And he lets his words sink in as he presses his lips to my head.

  After swallowing dryly, I say, “Alright. Have a great weekend.” Then I open the door, walk outside, and smile one last time at the two tyrants I’m leaving behind.

  Standing in front of my building, I find Matthew’s car waiting at the curb. To my surprise, Katrina, Sarah, and David are sitting in the back seat, and I let a quick smile escape at the realization that Matthew reserved the front one for me.

  “Hey,” I greet as I get into the car, looking first at the group behind me. Then my gaze goes to Matthew, who’s already smiling at me. His hair is just as messy as usual, which gives me an immediate urge to try to compose it. As I brush his hair a bit to the side and back with my fingers, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him as happy as he is now. His eyes are gleaming, and his smile has never been so joyful.

  “Is it better?” he asks as I observe his hairstyle.

  “Not really, but it’s fun to play with your hair.” Not sure why I said that, even though it’s true.

  As he keeps his eyes pinned on me, he says, “I can’t believe Ms. Van Gatt is coming with us.”

  Letting out a quick chuckle, my gaze drifts to my lap, a bit embarrassed at his comment, especially as he said it out loud in front of everyone else. “Miracles do happen,” I reply in a low voice.

  All of a sudden, though, Matthews reaches down and lays his right hand on top of mine, which is resting on my lap, and leans closer to me. “Thanks for joining us,” he whispers near my ear, before giving me a kiss on the cheek. My heart might have sped up at his unexpected touch. Not knowing what to think of it, I just give him a quick smile in return. Then his attention goes back to the road, and he starts driving, putting two hands on the steering wheel.

  After twenty-five minutes in, the car is filled with laughter, music, and playful chitchat, but I remain a bit aloof, looking pensively out the window as I think about what I’m about to do later tonight. I feel a bit sad for Matthew. Despite all our disagreements, he seems truly happy to have me here. And leaving tonight means I won’t get to celebrate his twentieth birthday tomorrow with him and the group. Once I run away, not even telling him why, Matthew is gonna feel quite resentful toward me, and maybe even betrayed. My attention shifts quietly toward his face. While his stare is pinned on the road, he keeps singing and dancing in his seat to a Katy Perry song that is now playing on Spotify. My lips twitch into a grin as I observe him. And I can’t help wondering, would I have fallen in love with him if Alex had truly left forever for Singapore? The question terrifies me, and I mentally slap myself at having even thought about it. No, Matthew is a friend, and he belongs in the friend zone, even if Alex had left, I tell myself. A fatigued sigh rolls off my lips as I push those thoughts away. The uncertainty of what the future holds for me keeps my heart pulsing faster than usual. After all, not only am I leaving my entire life in New York behind, but I also have no idea where I’m going next. Thankfully, I only have online classes for now, but what about next year? Will I be able to return to New York safely without repercussions from Dad or Mom? And what about Matthew? Will he ever forgive me for running away from his house on his birthday? I guess only time will tell.

  The Hamptons, October 23, 2020

  Petra Van Gatt

  “Here we are,” Matthew announces as we finally arrive onto his street. While everyone is praising the beautiful neighborhood and the direct access to the beach, I look discreetly behind us—fortunately, I don’t see anyone. Maybe my parents decided not to send the bodyguards to the Hamptons after all. Or maybe they have been told to stay at a distance. But the road is really long, and I don’t see any cars on the horizon. Maybe Dad decided it was safe enough and there would be no need to bring extra security. Once Matthew stops the car in front of the gates, I take note how they open automatically when he presses a button on his keys. As we wait for the gates to open all the way, I see a pedestrian door with a doorknob on my right. When we get to the driveway, I notice a security cam perched on the front porch, recording the entrance. After parking the car in the garage, Matthew leads us inside and shows us our respective rooms. I must admit, I was not expecting the house to be so spacious and modern. It even looks pretty similar to Emma’s. Matthew leaves the group behind and gestures discreetly for me to follow him down the hallway. He then opens a door, inviting me in.

  “Is this room alright for you?” He turns the light on, and I take a few more steps, my lips curving up as I smell the fresh jasmine fragrance. My eyes marvel at the view of the beach from the floor-to-ceiling windows, but I’m particularly glad to see I have a private bathroom. I don’t know why, but I’ve got a feeling it’s the best bedroom in the house.

  Pressing my lips tightly together, I can’t stop thinking about what I’m about to do in a few hours. I’m nearly tempted to ask Alex to postpone until tomorrow evening, but that’d be so tone-deaf. After everything we’ve been through, I have to leave today. “It’s great, yeah,” I tell him, my tone not as enthusiastic as I wanted.

  He strolls over in my direction and stops inches from me. “By the look on your face, it doesn’t seem like it.” But I don’t dare look him in the eye, so my gaze remains down—it feels safer. “If you prefer mine, we can switch…” Then he brushes some hair behind my ear, forcing me to hold his gaze. Matthew pauses and simply stares at me for a few heartbeats. And as we look at each other, I feel a bit like a traitor for running away on his birthday without telling him why. The thought of it doesn’t sit well with me, and I truly hope he’ll forgive me. But I force a smile and say, “No, don’t worry, this one is really nice. And the view of the beach is great.”

  But Matthew is still observing me attentively, like I’m some sort of puzzle he’s trying to solve. “Are you still angry at me?”

  I chuckle at his question. “No, I…” Pausing for a beat, I search for a proper excuse. “I’m just a bit tired because of the drive.” Bullshit. “But I’m good.” And feigning some enthusiasm, I brush his arm energetically. “So, how does it feel turning twenty?”

  “Well, ask me that at midnight.” And he gives me a playful wink, which makes me feel even worse. “Let’s go. The rest of the group is already in the dining room.”

  We go to the dining room and find everyone already setting the table for dinner. As Sarah looks in our direction, her eyes shoot daggers at us. “Oh, finally,” she snaps. “You guys thought you’d hide and not do shit?”

  “Thank you, sweet Sarah.” Matthew trots toward her and gives her a quick peck on the cheek, before taking the plates and putting them at each place setting.

  Since I see everyone busy arranging the dining table, I ask, “Um, can I do something?”

  “Don’t worry, it’s already done,” Matthew mumbles as he finishes putting the glasses in front of each plate. Then he takes his iPhone from his back pocket and asks, “What do you guys want to eat? I’m thinking of ordering Thai. Is that okay for everyone?”

  As the group gathers around Matthew to tell him exactly what they want, I excuse myself and quickly go to my bedroom. There, I take my new iPhone and send Alex my location, along with a text message: Hey, I’m at this address. Be careful of the security cam at the gates. And I’m not sure if the bodyguards are around or not. Love you, P.

  “Petra!” I hear Matthew shouting from the dining room.

  “Coming!” Glancing at my watch, I see it’s only seven p.m., so I leave the phone in my bag and head back to the dining room.

  After our Thai dinner, we get our coats and head outside to the beach where Matthew is lighting up a campfire, while David is already passing out beers for Sarah, Katrina, and himself. Then he shows me a bottle and asks, “You want one?”

&nb
sp; “No, thanks,” I tell him as I sit on one of the cushions. A smile settles on my lips at the fire already beaming on my cheeks, and I extend my hands to warm them up.

  While everyone is sitting around the campfire, Matthew goes back inside the house without saying a word. As we wait for him, I discreetly pull out my iPhone and check the time: 8:30 p.m. I also notice Alex sent me a message in return, and I open it just as fast: Noted. I’ll wait far from the gates, then. See you at 10 p.m. Love you.

  Jeez, only ninety minutes to go.

  “Here.” Suddenly, I see Matthew standing beside me, offering me a mug.

  “What is it?” I ask as I hold it and bring it to my nose.

  He sits beside me, and I notice he’s also holding a mug for himself. “Try it and tell me if it’s good.”

  As curious as I am, I take a sip, and my lips curve up, recognizing the flavor. “I can’t believe you made me a matcha latte.”

  “Is it good though?” he asks, still worried I won’t like it.

  “That’s very sweet of you,” I say in a low voice, quite in awe at his effort to prepare a beverage he told me he doesn’t like. “And yeah, it’s really good.” As I see him also drinking a hot beverage, I ask, “Are you also drinking matcha?”

  “Oh, no. This is a cappuccino. You want to try it?”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  Then Matthew glances around the campfire, and seeing that we are all here, he asks, “So, Sarah, you still want to play that game?”

  Oh jeez, I had already forgotten the reason why we came here. I can’t believe Matthew just reminded Sarah about it.

  “Yeah!” she shouts, clapping her hands. “David, did you bring the shots?”

  David shows us the beer-packed cooler resting behind him. “There is beer and tequila inside.”

  “Perfect.” Then Sarah takes a sip of her beer and says, “Let’s play, then!” Her voice has never been so joyful, which makes me laugh a bit. She then looks at Katrina, sitting beside her, and asks, “Katrina, truth or dare?”

  Katrina presses her lips tightly together, pondering her options for a second. “Hmm, dare.”

  “Great!” And Sarah rubs her hands together, maliciously planning the dare. “Call Prof. Reich and tell him that his breath smells bad.” While my jaw drops at Sarah’s request, everyone else breaks into laughter.

  “Are you insane? I can’t!” Katrina yaps amid the laughter.

  “Relax. Put your phone on private, and he won’t know it’s you,” Sarah insists.

  David takes her phone and helps her set it to private mode, then Katrina makes the call and puts it on speaker for us to listen.

  “Hello?” My heart skips a beat recognizing Prof. Reich’s voice. Everyone is containing a laugh, trying to keep quiet as much as possible.

  “Prof. Reich?” Katrina asks.

  “Yes, who’s speaking?”

  Jeez! It’s really him.

  “I was one of your students last year, and let me tell you, your breath smells terrible! Brush your teeth once in a while, for fuck’s sake!”

  Oh my gosh! I can’t believe Katrina just told him that. She spoke so bluntly that I’m left blinking my eyes, speechless.

  “What?” While everyone is breaking into laughter, the poor man remains just as confused. “Who’s speaking?”

  But Katrina then hangs up. “Done.”

  “Well done,” David praises. “You might have saved his future students from that terrible breath.”

  Now being her turn, Katrina looks at Matthew and gives him a smirk. “Matthew, truth or dare?”

  “Knowing you as I do, I will go with truth.”

  But Katrina blinks twice, most likely in surprise. “You know you’re gonna have to do a shot first, right?”

  Matthew keeps thinking for a moment and says, “Alright, I still prefer truth over dare.”

  Katrina raises her brows, still baffled by his choice. “Are you sure?”

  “Go ahead,” Matthew tells her.

  Katrina takes the tequila bottle from the cooler, gets up from her seat, and goes to stand behind him.

  Matt closes his eyes, tilting his head back, and opens his mouth wide for Katrina to pour some tequila into it. Everyone cheers and claps at the show while Matt tries his best to drink the tequila falling in his mouth, although most of it just lands on his chin. His facial expression twitches into a grimace as he keeps swallowing the distilled alcohol, and I find myself doing the same.

  Once he drinks enough, Katrina goes back to her seat and then starts, “Matthew Bradford.” Everyone remains quiet, patiently waiting for her question. “Is it true that you have a crush on Ms. Van Gatt?”

  “Jeez…” David shouts at the blunt question.

  And as I freeze on the spot, my cheeks must have turned a sharp shade of red. What an embarrassing question to ask. Damn!

  Matthew looks at me, giving me an unbothered smile. “Yep, and I think she knows that,” he replies in the coolest manner possible, his eyes on mine.

  Wow. The way he dealt with such a delicate question couldn’t have been better, and I return the smile, though a bit troubled that he still has feelings for me. You are really dear to me, I recall him saying in his apartment. Jeez, my chest tightens knowing how hurt he’s gonna be when he finds out that I ran away.

  “Oh…” Katrina utters. “That’s so cute.”

  I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say something or not, but I break eye contact and take a quick sip of my matcha, anxiously waiting for the next round.

  “Sarah,” Matthew starts. “Truth or dare?”

  Sarah doesn’t waste any time, answering, “Dare!”

  “Why am I not even surprised?” he asks with a chuckle, before thinking something through. “Alright, you’re gonna lick Katrina’s neck and then give her a kiss on the mouth.”

  “Really? That’s it?” Sarah seems visibly disappointed, and we all laugh at her expression. “Sometimes I get the impression you are from last century.” Without further ado, Sarah leans toward Katrina’s neck and licks it in one go, which seems dumb to me rather than sensual, and I let a quick chuckle escape. Then the duo exchanges a quite intense kiss on the mouth, like they are used to it.

  “Damn!” David’s jaw drops to the floor as he observes the girls kissing in awe. And judging by his face, it seems like it’s the first time he’s seen this. I shake my head in amusement as I witness the whole thing.

  “That was super hot,” Matthew praises once they are done. “I didn’t know you had practiced before.”

  “Ha ha,” Sarah ripostes back. And her attention shifts to me. “Petra, truth or dare?”

  Oh my… Why can’t I just sit here and watch? I know if I opt for truth, I will have to take a shot, but I’m too scared of what Sarah will ask me to do if I choose dare, so instead I go with the safest option. “Um, truth.”

  “You know you have to take a shot of tequila first,” Katrina says in a playful tone as she shows me the bottle.

  “Can I at least drink from a shot glass?” Yeah, I’m definitely not going to put on the same embarrassing show that Matthew did. Plus, having tequila all over my mouth, coat, and shirt is far from ideal.

  “Alright.” Matthew rushes inside the house, and two minutes later, he brings out a shot glass. Then Katrina fills it and gives it to me.

  Not wanting to waste more time on this, I take one quick sip, then force myself to swallow the rest just as fast. “Done.” I breathe slowly in and out, taming the urge to grimace as the alcohol goes down to my stomach.

  “Is it true that your fiancé broke up with you?”

  What! Her question is enough to startle me, and I blink twice, staring at her.

  “Sarah!” Matthew warns.

  I can’t believe it! Did Matthew share details about my private life with her? Of course he did! That’s the only way she could know! After all, I didn’t share those details with anyone but him. That was confidential, for fuck’s sake! I squint my eyes in annoyance and look at
Matthew straight in the eye. It’s clear he told her about my breakup, and most likely about everything else. Jeez! Letting the reality sink in, I stand up and say, “Well done, Matt.” And I just leave this stupid game.

  “You’re not answering the question?” I hear Sarah asking as I walk away.

  And Matthew yapping at her right after. “Fuck off!” Then I hear footsteps running in my direction. “Petra, wait!” As he reaches me, he grabs my wrist to make me stop. “I swear, I didn’t tell her anything about your relationship.”

  Facing him, I cross my arms and shake my head at his blatant lie. “Stop lying. I didn’t tell anyone about my breakup but you.”

  “I didn’t say a word about it either,” he insists. “Maybe it’s because she noticed you haven’t been wearing your engagement ring that she asked you that. I swear I kept my mouth shut.” My gaze drifts away, not wanting to face him anymore. I’m so hurt and mad at what he did. “Petra, I promise I didn’t tell her. Sarah is just drawing her own conclusions. You have to believe me on this.”

  I try to find the truth in his gaze, and although he sounds sincere, there’s no way that’s possible. But one thing is for sure: I’m done with this game. “Alright, um, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to play anymore.”

  “I totally get it,” he replies just as fast. “I’m sorry for Sarah’s behavior, but I swear everything you told me has stayed between us.”

  I look to my left and see the pathway leading to the house, but I decide to sit on the bench first. Matthew sits beside me, and we keep quiet as we listen to the waves coming in and out onto the shore. I take a deep, long breath into my lungs, reveling in the cold air of the night. “It’s a beautiful night.” Then I look up and observe, amid the dark sky, some stars twinkling at me. “Cold, but beautiful.” I rub my hands together to warm them up. What a contrast of temperature now that we’re no longer sitting in front of a campfire.

  Matthew slides closer to me and takes my hands between his to warm them up faster.