Read Fin & Matt for Free Online Page B

go.  “It’s great to meet you, Mrs. MacAuliffe.”
    “Chloe.  Or Mom.  Whatever you prefer.”  She winked at him.
    “Jesus, Mom,” I scoffed.  I placed the napkin on my lap just as Matt squeezed my hand under the table.
    “God, Mom, you’re embarrassing us,” Matt returned.  Sarcasm looked good on him; she was melting in her seat.
    She placed both hands on the table and leaned in.  “What did you boys do last night?  And don’t leave out anything.”
    “Well—”
    “Your father and I rented The World’s End, ” she interrupted.
    “The Edgar Wright one?” I asked.  “With the robots?”
    “Yes.  Hilarious.  Dad fell asleep.  I watched it twice.”
    I turned to Matt.  “My mom’s a big Edgar Wright fan.”
    He shrugged.  “I don’t know him.”
    She gasped.  “You don’t know him?  Shaun of the Dead ?”
    He shook his head.  “Sorry, no.”
    “ Hot Fuzz ?  Scott Pilgrim ?”
    “Nope.”  He lifted his water glass to his lips and took a short drink.  “You’re saying I should though, right?”
    “For shame, Finlay,” she scolded.  “Take this man home and have a marathon.  This afternoon.  Hell… now.  Just go now.”
    I laughed quietly.  “Maybe later.”
    “Matt, I fear you’re in for a long night,” she teased.
    “I welcome it.”
    “You are gorgeous,” she blurted.  “Simply gorgeous.  No wonder why Finlay hasn’t been able to talk about anything else.  Not as gorgeous as my baby, of course, but pretty damn cute.”
    My face heated, surely flushing a bright red.
    “No, you’re right, Chloe,” he said sweetly.  “No one is more gorgeous than Fin.”
    Fuck me .  She was toast.
    She clutched her hand over her chest.  “Paddy and I will adopt you.  Would you like to come live with a strange older couple on the Mississippi?  It sounds horrible right now, but we’ll feed you.  We have lots of booze and you’d never have to work again.”
    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.  “Mom… I want to see him again.  Can you please stop?”
    “I love booze,” Matt teased.  “And not working sounds awesome.”
    He squeezed my hand again before resting it just above my knee.  I could feel his thumb drawing lazy circles there, slowly advancing north. 
    Oh God.
    “We went dancing,” I blurted, quickly moving his hand back to his lap.  “You asked what we did last night.  We went dancing.  I mean, Emily and I went dancing and then we saw Matt.  He was there and—”
    “You danced!” my mom finished.  “Is Matt a good dancer?”
    “Yes,” I lied.  I’d never seen him dance.  I’d seen him at the bar and outside in the alley where I’d proceeded to let him pull my belt loops and kiss me against a wall.  “He’s a great dancer.”
    She sighed.  “He certainly looks like a great dancer.  Matt, do you eat meat?”
    “Um, yes.”
    “Do you like Beef Bourguignon?” she asked.
    Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
    “I think so.  Is that the one with the wine?”
    She turned to me.  “I make the best Beef Bourguignon, right, baby?”
    “Yes, Mom,” I mumbled.
    “After the movies, come.  Please.  Tonight, I’m making it for Dad.  He’d love to see you and meet your new man.”
    “Mom, he’s not—”
    Matt leaned over and kissed me (right on the mouth).  “We’d love to.”
     
    ♂♂
     
    “Can we swing by my place really quick?” Matt asked.  “If we’re going to go to your mom’s, I need a change of clothes.”
    “Sure.”
    His fingers entwined with mine as we pulled into a small lot behind an ancient, squalid brick building.  “This is it,” he mumbled.  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
    The carpet in the hallway was like an old casino rug; wild colors hiding dank stains below.  Inside was (a little) nicer – hardwood floors, at least – but tinier than the spare bedroom at my parents’ house.  There was a kitchenette with barely enough room to move.  A single sink for dishes.  A loveseat in