Page 33 of Golden Ruin

Well, this is fun.

There’s a long stretch of silence that makes me want to curl up and die, but then Sterling takes a step away.

“Can I get you two something to drink?” he asks. “Coffee? Water? Beer?”

My eyes lock with his as he backs toward the kitchen, and my heart does this weird thing inside my chest. It beats faster for just a second, then returns to normal speed.

“I’m good. But thanks,” Matt replies, then Sterling flashes a tight smile before he’s gone. I hear him doing something in the kitchen, but with him out of sight, things are slightly less awkward.

Slightly.

I can only guess what Matt’s thinking, what he’s feeling, and I’m considering again that I should’ve done this differently.

“Matt!”

Matt and I both turn toward the steps as Jax comes barreling down them, clutching the railing as a huge smile stretches from ear-to-ear.

“Hey, buddy! I thought I might’ve gotten here too late to see you.” Matt scoops Jax up the second he reaches the foyer, and I let them have their moment.

“Nope! I stay up super late at Daddy’s house,” Jax beams. “He just read me a story about dinosaurs.”

“Whoa, dinosaurs? That must’ve been a good story.”

Jax nods, and I love seeing him so happy.

“There was a big one with sharp teeth, and one with a really long neck, and even one that flies!”

“No way!” Matt gushes. “I’m gonna have to get the name of that book, so I can read it too. What’s it called?”

“It’s called The… Mmm… I can’t remember,” Jax giggles, and just as Matt opens his mouth to speak…

“The Sleepy Little T-Rex.”

My head snaps toward Sterling when he answers, returning from the kitchen with a bottle of water in hand.

Matt’s smile falters just slightly before he recovers. “Awesome. Thanks.”

“No problem,” Sterling nods, then casually sips from his bottle before shifting his gaze to Jax. “Why don’t we go play the racing game, kiddo.”

Jax is already wriggling out of Matt’s arms before Sterling even finishes his sentence. He’s every bit his dad’s shadow, longing for the day he can be just like him.

“Yayyy!” he shouts, leading the way to the living room where he grabs the remote from the table and turns on the TV. Sterling is right behind him, taking unhurried steps toward the sofa.

Matt glances down at the stuffed dog. Jax ran off without it, and I see the disappointment in Matt’s eyes. The gift doesn’t seem to have landed quite as hard as he thought it would, and I have to say something to salvage the moment.

“He loves it. He just loses his mind over video games. Sorry about that.”

Matt casually waves his hand as he sets the dog near the door. “Nah, it’s cool. I get it. I’d choose video games over stuffed animals, too, if I had to pick.”

He smiles, but I know it’s just a cover.

The awkward silence returns, and for a moment, the only sound is the music from the game as it fires up.

“I should uh… probably get going. I need to get some sleep. Tony’s my first patient tomorrow,” he adds, and I smile thinking about the rambunctious German Shepherd.

“Ah, yes. Get plenty of rest and don’t leave the house without full body armor in the morning.”

Matt laughs. “It’s already laid out and ready to go.”