Love At First Hate (Love At Firsts Book 2)(79)

Today went by without any other issue. My father didn’t follow me or show up anywhere. I managed to finish the outline of the tattoo. Matt showed up at work with enough food for the employees and clients, he even brought homemade cookies.

Hopefully, Robert will leave all of us alone. We’re all slowly starting to get our lives back together, and it’s going well for everybody without him messing things up for us. Let’s just hope it’ll last.





November 23, 2016

Things have been good since the day after my birthday.

Nate and I officially moved in together as Maddie and Gabby are living next door. It saves them having to pay full rent, and we can keep an eye on them and make sure they stay out of trouble.

Work has been amazing, and I’ve been promoted to the head of the magazine. It means a lot more responsibilities but less traveling, and I don’t have to spend hours upon hours writing at home. So that’s more time for Nate and me to spend together.

We had one fight about it, and I wouldn’t really call it a fight. Nate is a man of few words, and I talk a lot. He was quiet and distant for a couple of days when I took on the new position. He wasn’t sure of what to do because he didn’t have much to talk about besides what he did during the week, and he hates making small talk. He finds it awkward. I kept reassuring him that it was okay, that we didn’t need to be talking constantly to be together and to live together. It took me having to yell that at him for him to understand, and once he relaxed about it, we were fine.

The simple fact that he never had any real relationships or parents giving a good example didn’t help with his confidence about being with someone.

Other than that, things have been more than good. The sex is amazing, the complicity is just perfect, we love going on weekend adventures together, and we always have fun.

Robert hasn’t bothered any of us as of late, and it’s been nice. Everybody is a lot more relaxed, and it’s for the best. I guess yelling at him was the way to go, or maybe it was the punching. Who knows?

I’ve finally met Caroline, and she’s lovely now that she can live her own life. She’s seeing someone new and is keeping it a secret, but she’s happy, and that’s all that matters.

Valentine and Maddie have been really close, much to Nate’s despair. I get why he doesn’t want them to be together. I wouldn’t want Gabby to be with him either. Not that I don’t like him, he’s a great man, but they are our sisters, and he’s a bit of a player. We’re just doing what we can to protect them.

Things are good, and I love my life. Had you asked me in January if I thought I’d be happy and meet the love of my life this year, I’d have said no, but I’m beyond thrilled about how things are. I never thought being this happy was possible, but it is.

I never imagined when Nate first moved in that he was gay and that he’d be into me. I had a thing for him since day one, but we used to hate each other so much that we both were blinded and didn’t see what was right in front of us. I wonder if things would have been any different if we hadn’t hated each other. It really was love at first hate.

Taking a bite of my Grandma’s freshly baked cookies, I smile to myself. This is pure heaven. She still makes them how she used to when Brody, Gabby, and I were little. They still taste the same. It makes me wonder if she’s been buying them all those years.

“Where were you? What are you thinking about, darling?” she asks as she takes a sip of her tea.

“Thinking about all the things that happened this past year and remembering the good old times when Brody, Gabby, and I were little. You were making those same cookies.” I smile.

“I know. Things have changed for the better. I didn’t like that John, and you three surely have grown up so much. It’s crazy.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that you hated him?” I frown.

“It wasn’t my place. Besides, I thought that me being a bit nasty to him would be enough.” She chuckles.

“He noticed for sure. I used to say that you were like that with all of my partners.”

“You little rebel.”

“I know. I hope you’ll like my new boyfriend.

“I’m sure I will, darling.” She smiles at me before taking a sip of her tea.

“Everybody does so you should.” I grin.

“I’m sure they do. He sounds lovely from what you’ve been telling me.”

“He really is.” I sigh happily before taking another bite of cookie.

“You look happy.”

“I am. Will you ever give me your secret recipe for these cookies? I want to make them for dinner tomorrow.” I grin innocently.

“Good. Darling, you’re anything but innocent, Matthew, but no, I’m not giving you the recipe. But I can bring some over. I made enough for everybody.”

“Damnit!” I frown.

“You still think I don’t make them, do you?”

“How did you know?”

“I know everything,” she whispers and winks.

“Are they store bought?”

“No, how dare you doubt me.” She shakes her head and takes a bite.

“What? You never know. They always taste the same. They taste like heaven!”

“I know they do, and that’s because I’ve always used the same recipe and always make sure to measure everything. I’m just that good.” She grins at me.