Paradise Bound (bxb)

Chapter 2

It's been a couple days since the whole fiasco with Ryder and we've talked a few times, nothing too big but I can tell there's a little tension between us. It makes me sad but it's also understandable too. He wants to pull back a bit for my sake and his.

I walk to Jace's since it was our summer's goal to hang out majority of the summer before I go off to NYU this fall. Ryder's bike is in the driveway and it makes me a tad nervous. I walk up and open the door, I've known them forever and a day so they don't care if I just come in since I'm basically family. 

"Hey!" I say to Jace as he, Charlie and Tanner are in the living room. Charlie and Tanner were on the love seat and Jace was lounging on the other new sofa.

"Hey Mattsy"

"Ryder here?" I ask innocently, rocking back and forth on my feet. Jace rolled his eyes.

"No, he went off with his riding buddy, Landon" Jace said and I nodded.

"What are we watching today?" Jace asked as I joined him, lounging on his new couch that sits in front of their bay window. With having Charlie and Tanner in the house, the boys all decided that another sofa and love seat would be beneficial for the house as their will always need to be room for visitors. 

"Lord of the Rings?" I asked and his eyes lit up.

"Yes!" he exclaimed and searched through the tv apps to find the movies.

"I don't think I've ever watched that one before" Tanner mentioned and Jace gasped. 

"What?! Are you even human?" 

Tanner and Charlie laughed "Always thought it was for nerds" Charlie shrugged.

"Pfft, rude" Jace scoffed "You'll see how bomb diggity it is, startingggggg now" he said as the intro began. 

Half way through the first movie, an engine roared up to the front. Jace and I peeked through the window and seen Ryder on the back of a dude's bike. He hopped off and they talked a bit before the dude kissed his cheek and I scowled with a pang of jealousy hitting me. A little more talking and Ryder jerking his thumb toward the house, the dude shut off his bike and swung his leg off. They both walked up to the house and opened the door.

"Hey guys" Ryder said as they came into view. The guy had brown hair and light green eyes, standing about a half a foot taller than Ryder and was toned from what I could tell with his jacket on.

"Hey" the three said while I stayed silent, analyzing his buddy.

"This is Landon Granoli, a buddy of mine I met a few months ago" Ryder introduced and Landon gave a wave. 

"Please sit down" Jace gestured to the open sofa. They sat down and Landon's arm laid across the back of the sofa. I narrowed my eyes a bit at the gesture since it was so close to Ryder's shoulders. I should knock it off really, he isn't mine but I can't help the feelings that are coming up. 

"So, is that Italian? Granola?" I asked, making Ryder and Landon's eyebrows shoot up.

"It's Granoli , but yes" he answered with an Italian accent.

"Oh, my apologies Ravioli" I said with a smile and Jace snorted a laugh but then cleared his throat as Ryder gave him a glare. 

"Please excuse us" Jace said while taking my hand and pulling me to the kitchen. 

"How old are you?" he exclaimed in a whisper shout.

"Five" I answered bluntly and he slapped my shoulder, making me grimace.

"Stop acting like a jealous little girl" he said and I scoffed.

"I'm not acting like a jealous girl" I rolled my eyes and he gave me a deadpan stare. "Okay, fine maybe I was acting a little jealous" Jace quirked an eyebrow "Okay, a lot jealous" I muttered. Footsteps approached and Ryder appeared in the entrance of the kitchen, looking less than pleased.

"Jace, can I have a word with Matthew?" he asked 

"All yours" Jace said leaving the kitchen then snorted as he left cause he thinks he's funny. 

"What was that?" he simply asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the sink. Not gonna lie, he is pretty hot mad. Now is not the time for that though, I scold myself.

"What was what?" I asked feigning innocence, leaning against the fridge across from him. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"You know what" he said and I sighed.

"It was nothing" I mumbled, averting my eyes to the floor. I heard him kick off of the sink cabinet and then his body appeared just mere inches away from mine. My body thrummed with the proximity of him so close to me. I watched as he brought his hand up and a finger curled under my chin, lifting my head to look at him face to face. My heart began to beat a million miles a minute as our eyes connected. 

"That wasn't nothing, it was actually pretty rude, Matt" his tone stern making me internally wince as he used 'Matt' again. "Why are you acting like this?" He asked as his eyes searched mine.

"I was jealous" I mumbled.

"Now why would you be jealous, Matthew?" he asked.

"Why were you riding on the back of his motorcycle?" I questioned.

"He traded his old bike for this one, he was taking me for a spin on it" he stated, quirking an eyebrow. "Is that all you were jealous about?" 

"I saw him kiss your cheek and his arm basically around your shoulders" I admitted and a smirk grew on his face. I huffed and let my eyes wander around the kitchen.

"He has a boyfriend, mon cheri" his hand cupped my face, thumb stroking my cheek. I shivered at the small gesture, cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. 

"Oh" I simply said "Sorry" I muttered.

"You can't be jealous when I'm not yours, my sunflower" he softly said and my eyes snapped back to his at his term of endearment for me. "Lucky for you, not so lucky for me...when I'm interested in someone, I'm only interested in that one and it takes forever to outgrow that interest if the feelings are not reciprocated" 

"I know I can't be jealous" I admitted with a sigh "I'm sorry" I said sincerely and he wrapped his arms around me. I laid my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around him and subtly inhaling his intoxicating scent. 

"Are you good now?" he asked while pulling away. I internally frowned at the loss of contact with him. Ugh, Matt what is wrong with you. I mentally scolded myself.

"Yeah, all good" I told him.

"Come on, he's a nice guy. Get to know him" he said as he turned to leave the kitchen.

He led me into the living room and I felt quite bashful walking past Landon.

"So where in Italy are you from?" Jace asked as we took our seats.

"Sicilia, My parents and I moved here when I was ten. I usually spend the summer there with my grandparents before I met Peyton" he smiled.

"How old are you?" Jace asked

"I'm 22" he answered

"Peyton's your boyfriend right?" I asked to join the conversation.

"Yes, he is"

"Aww that's sweet of you to visit your grandparents that often, how come you just didn't bring Peyton with you?" Jace chimed in.

"That was the original plan but then his surgery date got moved to the beginning of August instead of October" he replied.

"Oh no, surgery for what?" I asked with concern.

"He had top surgery done" he said. I had a look of confusion before realizing what he meant.

"Your boyfriend is Trans?" I questioned.

"Yes" he simply answered

"That's cool, how long have you been dating?"

"It will be a year next month" he answered "I have yet to introduce Ryder to him but eventually maybe we will all have to get together" he continued with a bright smile.

"That would be nice! Maybe we could all go bowling!" Jace said excitedly making us laugh.

"I'm sure that would be a fun get together" Landon agreed.

"I have a personal question, you don't have to answer" I said biting my lip. Everyone looked at me in question.

"Go for it" Landon said, moving his hands in a sweeping motion in front of him as a kind of 'go ahead' gesture.

"So since he is trans....do you identify as straight or gay?" I hesitantly asked.

He gave a chuckle "Neither" and I looked at him with my eyebrows raised in confusion.

"I identify as Demi and Pansexual" he added.

"What's Demi and Pansexual ?" Tanner asked curiously.

"Demisexual basically means I need to have a strong emotional connection with someone before being intimate with them and being Pansexual is being attracted to someone regardless of gender" Landon informed.

"Huh, interesting" Tanner said with a nod. "I didn't know those were a thing" he added.

"Yeah, sometimes sexuality is not as simple as straight, gay or lesbian" Landon chuckled "But you identify with what you feel is right for you"

Our conversation continued with getting to know Landon more telling him about ourselves. Of course, we left out any indication of Jace's relationship with his brothers along with Charlie and Tanner's relationship. Landon and Ryder both left shortly before dinner and we said our goodbyes. It was overall friendly and I kicked myself for acting so immature and jealous before getting to know him. In my defense, it looked like he was getting chummy but like Ryder had said. He is not mine.

Which leads me to my own questioning thoughts about what I want. Amber is a sweetheart and we go together nicely. But our relationship happened so quickly and maybe that's the issue and the reason why I don't feel a spark. Or maybe there was a spark but Ryder came and ignited a stronger fire within me. However, Amber is the mother of my children. I don't want them to grow up in a broken family.

"Maaaaaatttttttt?" Jace's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I said looking toward him.

"Where'd you go?" he laughed.

"Just thinking" I told him and noticed that 'The Notebook' was playing on the tv and it was the part where Noah and Allie are arguing about what she wants and she says it's not that simple. Girl, I feel you. I shook my head from my inner thoughts causing the audience of Jace, Tanner and Charlie to look at me funny before bursting out laughing. "Sorry just lost in my thoughts" I mumbled, blowing the hair off my forehead. We continued the movie before we all fell asleep in the living room.

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The next few days I had to go to work at the video game store and when I finally had another day off I had promised Amber I would hang out with her. So, I get ready for the day before making my way downstairs. 

"Hey ma, did you get the pictures I emailed?" I asked her.

"Oh yes sweetheart! Why didn't you personally tell me you were having twins?!" she scolded.

"Sorry mom, slipped my mind. I kinda actually fainted after finding out the news" I admitted sheepishly.

"Aww Matt" she cooed cupping my cheeks and squeezing them. I groaned in protest.

"Maaaa" I whined and she let go before kissing my cheek, leaving a lipstick print. I grimaced and wiped at it profusely while she giggled.

"One day, you're going to miss your mama's kisses" she said as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Way to make the moment depressing" I stated and she tisked.

"I'm just saying Matty, so what are your plans today?" she asked as she started to fill the sink with soapy water to do the dishes.

"Going to Amber's...Mom, can I ask you a question?" I asked tapping my fingertips on the counter.

"You just did but go ahead" she snickered making me roll my eyes with a smile.

"Hypothetically, if you were dating dad while pregnant and met someone who made you feel a different way, in a good way...what would you do?" I asked while continuing my finger dance on the counter. The water from the faucet seized and I looked up to see her with a look of empathy on her face. 

"Hunny, is there someone else?" she asked and I sighed.

"Sort of...Maybe" I scrunched my face "I don't know" 

"Sweetheart, if you really loved Amber you wouldn't have feelings for someone else" she said.

"There is a thing called polyamory" I retorted and she gave me a look "Alright, alright...I don't even really feel that way about Amber, like Love" I told her.

"Then you need to have a talk with her about possibly not being together, especially having feelings for someone else" she stated firmly.

"But I don't want our kids growing up in a broken family" I pouted 

"Sweetie, it won't be broken if you and Amber work things out to be civil and no matter what, both of you be there for them" she said in a very motherly tone. 

"You're right, Thanks mom" I smiled at her and she came over and hugged me from the side, laying her head on my head.

"So are you going to tell me who stole my boys heart?" 

"I wouldn't say that...yet" I felt my cheeks grow hot. 

"Soooo" she gave me a squeeze.

"You remember Ryder?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes?" 

"Him" I admitted quietly.

"He's a sweet and handsome young man" she kissed my hair

"Ma, my hair!" I exasperated, going to clutch my hair.

"Oh hush, I didn't get anything on it" she said patting where she kissed.

"You're okay with that?" I asked while turning to look at her.

"Of course, I still love you all the same. Nothing in this world could change that" she gave a smile "Now, go talk to Amber while I get these dishes done before your father gets home" she shooed me from the kitchen to the front door.

"I love you, Mom" 

"I love you too Matty" she said closing the door behind me while I walked to my car.