Betrayal - The Matlock Pack: Book Two

Chapter 22_Part 1 - Mac

Friday 19 February

~*Mac*~

“Come on, we’re going to be late. We’re supposed to meet her there at seven-thirty.”

I was fidgeting on the couch while I waited for Dakota and Peyton to finish getting ready.

Dad had settled himself in his oversized cushioned sofa-seat with a can of beer and a small bowl of peanuts so he could watch the women’s AFL without interruptions. He was a lifelong St. Kilda supporter, and he was hoping they would win tonight in their match against Geelong. The match had only just started, so he wasn’t too annoyed about the chatter in the household, but I knew once the game really got going, he’d be glaring at us all to ‘shut the hell up’.

Peyton roared with laughter. “Ha! Now, who’s complaining about the time?” He plonked himself down next to me and leaned his head back and stretched his arm out behind me on the sofa back. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you this nervous. It’s good to see.”

I consciously tried to stop my knee from bouncing, but as soon as I looked away from it and over at Peyton, it started up again. “It’s been a while since anyone’s caught my attention like she has,” I muttered, looking away from him guiltily and staring at the TV but not taking any of the action in.

He brought his arm forward and massaged my shoulder in sympathy. “I know, mate. I know,” he said quietly. Even though he’d just sat down, he pushed himself up from the couch and turned around to face the rest of the house. “Dakota! Get a move on!”

I watched him stroll down the corridor to find his girlfriend, a sigh escaping my lips before I pressed them together and shook my head. Not the time to be thinking about that.

“All right, all right,” Dakota called out. “I’m coming.” She appeared in the corridor and gave Peyton a kiss as she walked past him.

She’d certainly dressed up a little more than what I was used to seeing. Normally whenever we went to The Gap for dinner, she’d just wear jeans and whatever top she could get her hands on and not fuss too much about her makeup. Tonight, though, she’d gone all out, with tailored black pants, a flowing green top, full makeup, and black chunky heeled boots.

Peyton’s jaw dropped when he took her ensemble in. I could almost see the drool dripping from his lips. “f**k…” He followed her down the hallway with eyes filled with desire, and fingers twitching to pick her up and take her back to their room, regardless of our plans.

“What?” Dakota said as she struggled to attach her last earring. She looked down at herself with a worried expression. “Do I need to change?”

“No!” Peyton and I shouted in unison, even though Peyton looked like he was kicking himself for saying it.

“You look perfect, Kotes,” I said, earning a grin in response. I got off the couch to get us out the door. We were so close, just a few more feet.

“Good. I wanted to make a good impression. She’s important to you.” She grabbed her bag from the dining table and headed for the door, Peyton following along closely, still drooling.

My heart swelled as I took them in. I was so happy that they were together; they suited each other so well. Having spent enough time with them over the years, both together and separately, I never felt like I was the third wheel, even on nights out like this, though I couldn’t deny that I was nervous about introducing them to Nat tonight. Dakota and Peyton were like family to me. If they didn’t get along with Nat, I didn’t know what I’d do.

“You kids have fun,” my dad said, coming up for air in an ad break. Someone must have kicked a goal. “Go and paint the town red or whatever it is you all do these days.” He popped some peanuts into his mouth and motioned to the door.

I chuckled. “Thanks, Dad.” I stepped past him, patting him on the shoulder as I went.

“Oh, go on with you, now,” he said, looking up at me from his seated position, a twinkle of cheekiness in his eyes. “Stay safe.”

“We will.” I tousled his hair, laughing when he tried to bat my hand away. “Love you.”

“Love you.” The ad break finished, and he immediately returned his attention to the match, effectively dismissing us.

“Right, let’s get this show on the road.” I palmed the keys to the car and leading the way out the door. It was now or never.

~~~

I opened the door to The Gap to let my friends in ahead of me. “Can you grab us a table? I’ll see if she’s here yet.”

“No worries,” Peyton said, heading straight for the back section and the table for four that we usually sat at, Dakota following suit.

I stood just inside the doorway to take a couple of deep breaths. My nerves were getting the better of me. I knew it was just a dinner before Nat and I were heading out to see a movie, but it was the first time she’d be meeting my closest friends. I desperately wanted them all to get along.

Casting my eyes around the darkened bar, I found her in a booth with Cody and Murph. A smile spread over my face as I watched her for a moment, just taking her presence in. She must have realised I was watching her as she looked up and away from her companions, meeting my eyes immediately, a smile of her own appearing on her face. She turned back to Cody, said a few words, then slipped out of the booth to come towards me.

I met her halfway, bringing her in for a hug. I’d forgotten how much shorter I was than her; most of the time I never even noticed our height difference as we were usually sitting next to each other. Now, though, it wouldn’t have surprised me if she could rest her chin on the top of my head. I chuckled at the thought of how it might look to everyone around us, but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. I was just happy to hold her in my arms.

“Ready?” I asked once I pulled away from her. She nodded, but nibbled her bottom lip with nerves. “Don’t worry. I promise they won’t bite.” I winked at her. “Not unless you ask them to.”

She laughed, but I could still see the tension running through her body. I took her hand and gave it a light squeeze, then led her to the back section where Dakota and Peyton had already got themselves settled. I nodded at Cody and Murph in greeting as we went past. Cody gave me a massive grin in response while Murph looked a little worried.

It wasn’t hard to guess at where his mind was. He was best friends with Bells, so of course, he’d be concerned about him and what me seeing Nat meant to him. It’d been a few days since our altercation, and I hadn’t seen any of them since then. I was very much hoping not to go through a repeat performance.

Once Nat and I got to the table, I pulled her chair out and introduced her to my friends. I wasn’t worried about Dakota as she could talk to anyone about anything and make them feel at ease, but Peyton… I wasn’t sure. Conversations with him could go literally anywhere.

“I meant to ask you as soon as you walked in,” Nat said, turning to me as I got myself settled. “How are you feeling after what happened Tuesday?”

My eyes widened at her question and I started shaking my head to indicate this was a no-go topic, but it was too late. I hadn’t told my friends about my misadventure on Tuesday, as I knew they’d both start worrying. I didn’t have the energy spare to field their concerns or arguments about me studying with the Warriors. It would just bring up all the terrible memories again and I was much too happy at the moment to wallow in past nightmares.

“Tuesday?” Dakota asked, suspicion dripping from that one single word. “What happened Tuesday?” She looked across the table at me while she finished pouring a glass of water for Nat.

“Nothing,” I said quickly. Far too quickly. “It was nothing.” I held my hand out to get the water jug from her. “Here, let me do that.”

Dakota narrowed her eyes at me, but handed the jug across. She knew I was hiding something. “Right…” she drawled before she focused on Nat. “Please, Nat. Let us know what this dingbat has neglected to tell us.”

The colour drained from Nat’s face as she gulped and looked at me with wide eyes. “Uh…”

“Dakota, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it,” I said, trying to shut this topic of conversation down even though I knew I was fighting a losing battle. Once Dakota got her hooks in something, she wouldn’t give up easily. It’s what made her such an excellent researcher.

Dakota waved her finger to shush me. “It obviously is something and I very much will worry about it, thank you very much,” she said, annoyed, before she turned back to Nat and adopted a sugary-sweet persona. “Please, Nat.” Was Dakota actually fluttering her eyelids at Nat? Good lord.

Poor Nat looked terrified. She flicked her gaze from Dakota to me and back again, her mouth working, but nothing coming out. She realised she’d brought up the wrong subject, but didn’t know how to fob Dakota off onto something different.

“It was just an accident, Dakota. Leave it alone.” I placed the jug down a bit too forcefully, making a small amount of water slosh out onto the table. I glared at her while she glared at me; a silent battle of wills taking place over a bowl of breadsticks and a jug of water, while Peyton watched on in amusement and Nat in horror.

“And here, dear Nat, we have the opportunity to observe the fighting rituals of oldish friendish,” said Peyton in an absurdly over the top English accent, his hands motioning between Dakota and me. “It happens so rarely that previous instances have been relegated to myths and legends status, only to be discussed in hushed tones—”

Peyton was cut off by a quick slap to the back of the head by Dakota, which of course made everyone at the table burst out laughing, including Peyton himself. I silently sent a thanks to the Goddess above for my goofball of a friend getting us out of a tight spot.

“Mac tells me you’re heading into study?” Nat asked Dakota when the laughter died down. “Are you looking forward to it?”

I reached over to take her hand and squeezed it in thanks for a successful change of topic. She beamed at me before turning her attention back to Dakota. I looked over at Peyton, who gave me a tiny nod with a small grin on his face. I heaved a sigh of relief. He liked her.

Dakota was taking a small sip of water when Nat asked her the question, and her eyes instantly lit up with enthusiasm. “I am! Classes start next week, and I can’t wait to get started. I’ve been allowed to study remotely for the first year, so I can monitor these two idiots.” She pointed her thumb at both Peyton and me.

I gave Nat’s hand another little squeeze. She didn’t know it, but she’d just won Dakota over. Ask her anything about her research field with any sort of genuine interest and she’d be your friend for life.

After a rocky start that was entirely due to me keeping secrets, this dinner was going much better than I thought it would.

Although I was well aware that Dakota would be waiting to pounce on me when I got home later to find out what I was hiding. At least I had a few hours to think about things. I was going to need every second.