Perfect Match

by Monica Miller

  “Hey… Wanna come in?” I asked when he stopped the engine and turned to look at me. “I mean, if you don’t have anything more important to do…”

  “Like… Sitting by myself in my room thinking I’m a forever alone?” Matt replied and I laughed. “I think, hell yeah, that’s more important than just spending my time with you. Why did you even bother asking?”

  “Don’t be so silly,” I said and he got closer to me and kissed my cheek. “So, coming or not?”

  “I don’t know, what you think?” he asked as he opened his door. “Come, Ems, we don’t have all day.”

  I sighed and then got out of the car and we walked holding hands until we entered my house and then I let go of his hand just in time to see my mom coming towards us.

  “Oh Matthew, is a pleasure having you here. Are you staying for dinner?”

  “I… think so?” Matt replied looking at me and I nodded.

  “Wonderful,” mom said as she took my jacket. “Did you have a good day?”

  “Definitely, Mrs. West,” Matt replied with a smirk and I rolled my eyes.

  My mom gave Matt a warm smile and it was so weird, because she was treating him so good and I have no idea if I preferred her to treat him different or just act more like herself since she was the most restrained person I’ve ever met. It was weird she liked and approved him.

  She said she’ll get us a snack in a few minutes and we walked towards my room.

  “So this is your room,” Matt said looking around. “It’s weird I haven’t seen your room before,” he continued as he looked at the picture of us from last year. I don’t even remember when I framed it and why I had it on my nightstand, but I think it just fits perfectly.

  I sat on the edge of my bed while Matt looked around the room and I have to admit that I was a little nervous about this, even though I have no idea why. Matt’s been in my room back in Los Angeles thousands of times because we’re living together, but this is kind of personal.

  “I like it,” he said as he came and sat next to me with his hand around my waist. “It’s so like you somehow.”

  I smiled and he leaned into me and his lips touched mine.

  Suddenly I remembered how many times I thought about this before/after Prom and it was so unbelievable the fact that I was now kissing Matt on a daily basis and I still couldn’t get used to this. I couldn’t even think about what’s going to happen in L.A.

  Sometimes I do think this is now just a vacation thing, even though it started in New York and maybe we’ll get to be together in Los Angeles too. I can only imagine Monica’s excitement. I have to accept she was right, because after all that had happened these days I can’t picture myself without Matt anymore.

  Maybe I allowed this to go way too far and maybe I didn’t think about it too well, but now I was caught in this and I didn’t know what to do anymore. Was I supposed to accept that I was actually in love with Matt? Or maybe I should take it slow?

  “Why don’t we go help your mom with the dinner?” Matt suddenly asked as he slid out of the bed. “I think she’d appreciate it.”

  “Yeah, that’s… Yes,” I managed to answer and he laughed.

  “You’re so cute, Ems,” he said as he kissed me again and he pinned me across the wall, lifting me until we had the same height and placed his hands on my back while my hands were wrapped around his neck. “We should go downstairs,” he said and took my hand.

  I was surprised how normal he was acting, when I was completely out of my senses when he kissed me like that. Maybe he wasn’t into me the way I was. Maybe I was indeed just a rebound, like I originally thought.

  After all, why would Matt act like he does after he broke up with Kate? It doesn’t make sense. We did have all the time in the world in the last five years to be like this and we never were. Because… Yes, I know I tried to stay away from him and make it seem like the only way we could work is as friends because I was afraid of becoming… addicted to him or something. I couldn’t afford myself to fall for him, because I just know something like this could never happen in real life.

  Matt let go of my hand just a few feet before we entered the kitchen and mom smiled at us, more at him and she started discussing with him like I wasn’t even there. Yeah, he has that effect on everyone. Especially on girls. But I can’t picture my mom like any other girl who’d fall for Matt’s looks, even though he’s just… perfect.

  “I really wish Richard was here, though. Couldn’t he just come for the weekend?”

  “I know, I’d like him to be here, too,” I replied and Matt nodded.

  “Maybe he’s enjoying his freedom,” he replied as he took a bite of a cookie he found on the kitchen counter. “This is amazing, Mrs. West, seriously.”

  Mom nodded and smiled at him and I rolled my eyes.

  “Yeah, plus he started working at that company as an account assistant last month, and I don’t think he has that much time…”

  “And he’s living by himself now and I definitely don’t want to see my house now,” Matt said with a laugh.

  “What do you mean by that, Matthew?”

  “Um… Rick’s living with us, Mrs. West, didn’t you know that?”

  “Oh, really?” mom asked and gave me a questioning look and I shrugged. Didn’t Rick mention this before? I thought she knew. I could’ve bet she knew. “So how is this working for you?”

  “It’s great. Rick’s just awesome and we get along really well.”

  “So do you have three rooms?”

  “Um… No, he usually keeps all his stuff in my room and I don’t know. He likes the couch I guess. We haven’t actually figured that one yet,” I replied and then it hit me.

  My mom actually thought Matt and I… What?

  I turned to look at Matt who was still eating my mom’s cookies and he didn’t seem to care about what she said and he didn’t even think about it.

  “So how come you and Emma never dated?” mom asked out of the blue and Matt choke with a cookie while my eyes widened at her question.

  What was wrong with her? She can’t ask something like this while we’re both present! I’m not invisible, for Christ’s sake! I’m right here and Matt is, too. I can’t even realize why both of our parents keep insisting for us to be together. Yes, it’s nice and I’m glad they see it this way, because now I do, too, but somehow I know if something happens they won’t be pleased. And I don’t want Matt’s parents to think I’m a problem for him or my parents to start disliking Matt. And my father would stop golfing with Matt’s dad; mom would get mean with Mrs. Nicholls…

  “I don’t know,” Matt said a couple of long, interminable minutes. “I think it’s Emma’s fault. She doesn’t seem to understand just how great I am, Mrs. West. Sometimes that’s truly annoying,” he said with a shrug and mom laughed.

  I stared at him in disbelief but he didn’t even notice while he kept talking with my mom about other stuff. How did he even dare to joke about something like this? Was that even a joke?

  “Stop overthinking again, Ems,” Matt whispered in my ear and I jumped because I didn’t even notice him sitting next to me. “I swear, you’re thinking way too much,” he whispered and I turned and look at my mom who was busy with the meat.

  “I-I wasn’t, I just…”

  “I know you, remember? You can’t lie to me,” Matt said and I nodded slightly as he touched my cheek and smiled. “But you’re just so cute,” he added and I rolled my eyes.

  “Stop saying I’m cute,” I whispered and he laughed.

  “But yet you are.”

  “You could be cute, too. Especially when-“

  “Stop it. I’m not even close to ‘cute’. That’s not my description at all, Emma,” he said with a harsh tone. “You can’t call a man ‘cute’. It’s just outrageous!”

  “You see, that’s cute,” I said with a laugh and he glared at me which made this funnier.

  “You see, you’re definitely
gonna pay for this,” Matt threatened me and I continued laughing as mom asked me to help her with the sauce.

  Chapter 22

  An Unexpected Confession

  ~ Matt Nicholls ~

  “You know what I learned from that thing with Kath?” I asked Emma while playing with a strand of her curly hair.

  “Um… That girls who have brains, and they’re not stupid blondes and their name doesn’t start with “S” are hot, too?” she asked casually.

  “What? No! What about that one?”

  “You definitely have a pattern there,” she pointed and I laughed. She was right, but I never took the time to think about it. “And she was so great.”

  “I agree with that. But I never thought about this stereotype. But it seems you have given it a thought, right, Ems?” I teased her and she shifted uncomfortable next to me.

  “I have not,” she whispered and I started laughing.

  “You have too,” I said, and pulled her closer to me. “God, we should come here more often,” I said and she nodded. Her head was now on my chest and I wondered whether she was thinking about the fact that my heart beats faster every time she laughs or looks at me. “We could really spend some time together here.”

  “Yeah, I mean it’s not like we live together in L.A. or that we work together or have the same group of friends. We should try that one and see how it all works out, you know,” she said sarcastically.

  “You’re so funny, you know that?” I asked and she started laughing. “You know what I mean, Ems. We can be ourselves here.”

  She shifted until her face was a few inches on mine and our eyes were locked together and she smiled. I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and she leaned to me and kissed me.

  This is one of my favorite moments. Just staying with Emma on the back of my parents’ convertible car and allowing the cold air of the night take everything away. I couldn’t feel the cold anyway, since Emma was in my arms and I held her so tight like she’d go away if I let go.

  The last few weeks have been unbelievable. I never thought Katerine would be right about this, but Emma and I were perfect together. Everything was going so great I hated myself for letting her ignore me the last five years. I played along all the time, thinking I’d ruin it, but it wasn’t like that at all. We knew each other too well and that was an asset.

  I have no idea what will happen when we’ll go back to L.A., but I obviously wouldn’t change a second of our time here in Connecticut or in New York.

  Emma was more beautiful than ever, if that is possible. I’ve always known she had the most beautiful smile in the world, but when she looked at me and smiled, my whole world became a better place. The way her brown eyes sparkled or how she blushed every time I compliment her, the way her hand fits perfectly mine, the way we kiss…

  “I know what you mean,” she said when she pulled away. “So you miss her? Katerine?”

  “What?” I asked in complete disbelief and leaned onto my elbow to look at Emma.

  She looked rather serious, although the question was stupid. We’ve been spending the last two weeks together and I never thought about anyone else and if I did, I thought Katerine was right about me and Emma. Not that I missed her or anything. I didn’t miss Katerine at all.

  “What?” she repeated avoiding my eyes, “I was just asking.”

  “Of course I don’t miss Katerine. I’m Matt Nicholls,” I replied out of reflex. She rolled her eyes and I laughed. “Plus, I have here everything I want,” I shrugged and Emma stared at me in shock. “What?”

  She shrugged as well and continued, “So what did you realized while dating Kate? That you are mature enough to have a normal relationship with a great girl?”

  “Oh, shut it, Ems, I’ll never be mature enough.”

  “True story,” she replied and I took her hand in mine. She moved closer to me, and placed her head on my chest again. I smiled to myself and slowly caressed her back.

  “No, I learned that you never know what you have until you lose it, you know?”

  “So Kate made Mr. Matt glass heart Nicholls feel something?” she asked and laughed.

  “Nope,” I answered. “You did, actually,” I continued and I felt her body stiffen when I said that. “It’s true, Ems. I mean you’re the only girl I ever got to know and actually liked afterwards.”

  “So you like me?” she asked looking at me with a teasing face.

  “No, I just have to accept you around once in a while. Not like I see you every day or something,” I answered her sarcastically, just like she did earlier.

  “Ha,” Emma said and I pulled her head closer and kissed her.

  She relaxed a little bit and I felt my heart beating even faster as our kiss deepened.

  We stood there for hours, just talking and looking at the shining stars. I never thought I’d feel so comfortable with a girl, but then again she was Emma and we knew each other too well.

  And after all, I guess that’s it. Finding that person you know so well and despite everything, think she’s flawless. And I’ve always thought that way about Emma.

  It’s like this when you know you found the one, and I remember that the first time I saw Emma I froze and my heart started beating quite fast, and every time I tried to express my feelings towards her I just couldn’t, I was stuttering like a stupid jackass and I was immature, like I wasn’t capable of speaking or something. I don’t recognize myself around her. I’m completely different since I met her. I’m a better person thanks to Emma and my world’s better thanks to her. And I can’t lose the hope that everything would be great in the end.

  She was having her head on my chest while I played with a curly strand of her hair and we said nothing for quite a while, but it was a comfortable silence. It must be past midnight, because there is nobody around anymore and the air is rather chilly.

  I felt her breathing so peacefully next to me and I sighed. I never thought anyone could be as perfect as she was.

  “Emma?” I whispered softly.

  “Mm?” she asked and I knew she was half asleep.

  “I love you,” I whispered again and she didn’t say anything, she just muttered “mhm” and I realized she was completely asleep now.

  And there goes my moment.

  Chapter 23

  Misery

  ~ Matt Nicholls ~

  It was only because of Emma’s amazing luck that we got into a night flight. Again. When she heard the only flight to L.A. was a night flight, she almost said she would walk or drive. I couldn’t let her do that, plus I knew she was terrified by the fact that we will fly again, and I couldn’t miss an opportunity to tease her.

  Yes, I know I’m a horrible person because I love her and I shouldn’t do that, but I just can’t help it. And I’m a guy, and guys’ main job is to tease girls. Especially when they’re into them. It comes naturally.

  She paced around the airport all the time, even though I promised her there was nothing to worry about.

  “You know, I could just… stay here, you know? Maybe dad would agree to drive me to L.A. sometime next week,” she said with a shrug.

  “Ems, we’re not the only people in the world who will have a night flight, okay? Stop worrying.”

  “It’s not just flying with an airplane which thinks by itself, it’s flying at night now!” she complained and sat next to me on the uncomfortable bench in Bradley International Airport.

  I took her hand in mine and she sighed and for a moment she stopped complaining.

  “I hate flying,” Emma whispered like a five year old and I couldn’t help but laugh. She was way too sweet. “You’re a jerk,” she added and punched me.

  “Why?” I asked placing my arm around her shoulders protectively and pulling her closer to me.

  “Because… you’re laughing. You shouldn’t laugh, Matthew, a lot of people die while flying at night.”

  “Yes, if you’re in a movie called Final De
stination,” I joked and she rolled her eyes.

  “A lot of them died on a plane!” she continued and I laughed.

  “Yes, but Alex warned them in the first one, didn’t he? I loved the end of the fifth one. Don’t you think it would’ve been interesting if the guy got out of the plane as well as Alex?”

  “Stop talking about planes,” Emma hissed and I sighed.

  “Nothing happened when we went to New York, right? It all will be okay, baby.”

  “Promise?” she asked with the same five year old voice.

  “Of course, love,” I told her, and she placed her head on my shoulder and I smiled.

  “I can’t wait to see Rick. And Monica. Have I told you she texted me today?” she asked and I shook my head. “Yes, she said I must come back soon, and didn’t add anything else,” Emma added with a shrug. “What do you think happened?”

  “Maybe she had an argument with Ben about… I don’t know, moving a chair in the house or something? I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Yes… I mean, Monica and Ben are the greatest couple, right?”

  “Hmm… Yeah, you could say that, but I think we’re somehow greater than them. Just because I’m better than Ben,” I said and Emma laughed. “And clearly you’re cuter than Monica. Nicer. Smarter…”

  “Okay, I got it,” she said with a laugh and she ran her hand through her hair.

  “You’re cute, Emma,” I said and kissed her.

  “Stop it…” she complained and I laughed.

  When we got into the plane I let her have the window seat and then she took my hand in hers and I smiled and placed my hand around her protectively as she kissed me. Obviously every half an hour she’d complain about the turbulence or the fact that we’re flying way too fast, or too slow and something was definitely going on…

  At least this time I wasn’t tired as I was last time, and I knew I couldn’t sleep on the plane so I slept more than 10 hours last night. It wasn’t like I had anything to do anyway. It sucked that I had to stay so many days without Emma.