Chapter 28: Good Morning, Handsome
Josh checked the ropes of the stage and gave a reserved smile. Perfect. He turned to walk back to the sound booth. He was starting to have a blister on the back of his foot that was driving him crazy. The sooner he finished this program and got to take his shoes off the better.
"Josh?" A voice called from behind him.
"Geez, Mari!" Josh exclaimed, tripping over his chair and banging his head on the doorframe.
"Are you okay?" She laughed nervously. "Gosh, Josh, we gotta stop meeting like this."
Josh winced and put a hand to his head. "That'll leave a nasty bruise."
"How's your hand?" Mari asked gesturing to the brace on his left wrist.
"Functional," Josh shrugged, touching a hesitant finger to the black and blue lump that was forming on his forehead. "Did you want something from me?"
"Not exactly," Mari shrugged. "Just wondering if you knew where Cath was."
"Why would you think I'd know?" Josh laughed.
"Because," Mari shrugged, "you're Matt's best friend, I'm assuming he tells you stuff."
"Ah," Josh scoffed with a sad smile, "so I've graduated from 'I.T. Guy' to 'That Dude Who's Friends With Matt'. Great."
"I didn't mean it like that," Mari said with a frown.
"I think they're on a date somewhere."
"Oh," Mari sighed despondently. "Has she...said anything to you...about me?"
"No," Josh mumbled fixing a couple of stuck switches.
"It's over," Mariah moaned. "She hates me."
"Probably," Josh said distractedly.
"Did she tell Matt about the kiss?" Mariah could tell that Josh wasn't paying attention. She decided to have some fun with that fact. "Did she tell him that she's pregnant?"
"Yep."
"Does Matt know that the baby is Caleb's?"
"Sure."
"And he knows that she's planning to marry Caleb?"
"You know what?" Josh said suddenly, turning his head upward. "You were wrong."
"Wrong about what?" Mari asked with surprise.
"You know, girls aren't the only one who have some mold to fit into." Josh said calmly. "Guys do to. We're expected to be 6'5" and ripped and have perfect hair. You were wrong to call me a blob fish, to think that the way I looked made me less human than you. If this is your way of apologizing, then fine, I accept. But I won't make you suffer by waiting around by a monster like me any longer."
"Josh, you don't understand. Catherine accused me of liking you. I had to say something to keep her from knowing," Mari sighed.
"Nice," Josh sighed. "I really gotta work on this."
Mari grabbed Josh's arm. "Josh, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry...I like you, okay?"
"Come on, quit it!"
Mari gave a sigh. "Listen. You're not my type. I'm not attracted to you, but that doesn't mean you're not meant for someone somewhere. I don't hate you, not even a little bit, and believe me, I've tried. I've got Jeremy and he's brilliant, but I can't talk to him. I don't have any friends beside Cath, and I lost her too. I like you, alright? You're a great guy, and I know I can trust you. I'm sorry if my whole loathing you think ruined any chance of us being friends, but-"
"Mari," Josh scoffed, "you could have any friend in the world."
"I could," she shrugged, "but I'm choosing you."
"To...talk to?" Josh questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Mari nodded, reaching out a hand. "Friends?"
Josh gave a defeated little sigh and attempted to look away from her sparkling eyes. "Fine," he grumbled, quickly shaking her hand and then turning his back to her to resume work at his station.
"Alright then," Mari said with a relieved little sigh.
"I'll tell you if I run into Cath," Josh noted with a reserved smile as she turned to walk away.
"I have to run something to Matt. I'll see you later," she smiled.
—————
Catherine's eyelids slowly fluttered open. She looked at her phone. "God, we fell asleep," she whispered. "Carlos is gonna kill me." She was going to get up, but Matt's strong arms were wrapped tightly around her torso. Instead, she laid her head back on his shoulder and watched him sleep.
Soon, Matt opened one tired eye and moaned. "Good morning."
"Good morning, handsome," Catherine smiled.
"Handsome?" Matt scoffed. "You may need your vision checked, Miss Daei."
"I don't care what you say. You're perfect in my eyes," she said as she pulled him closer.
Just as Catherine was about to kiss her boyfriend, the elevator door opened and Mariah stepped out. "Oh," she stammered, noticing the couple on the couch. "I...um...Matt, I have the thing you wanted."
Matt cleared his throat and starkly gestured for her to come in.
"Matt, what's she talking about?" Catherine questioned.
Mari looked to Matt. "I don't think he even knows half the time."
Catherine got up off of Matt and walked over to her friend. She wrapped her arms around Mari. "I'm still mad at you, but I love you."
"I love you too," Mari whispered. "And I'm sorry. I made a mistake."
"I forgive you."
Mari smiled and moved to Matthew, handing him an envelope. "Sorry it took me so long."
"Thanks," Matt mumbled, setting the package aside on a nearby table and gesturing with his eyes for Mari to leave.
"I'll text you later, Cath. You've got some explaining to do," she said as she entered the elevator.
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Whatever." The elevator door closed and she sighed. "What's in the envelope?" She asked curiously. "Is that the birth certificate?" She walked over, lacing her fingers through his. She wondered why Matt would even need a birth certificate in the first place. Mariah told her about him wanting one, but she didn't say what it was for. Catherine wished that Matt would just tell her. There were a lot of things about him that she wanted to know and she intended to find them out. "Why does he have to be such a mystery?" She thought. "He makes me look like an open book." Catherine sighed as she looked at Matt. Mystery or not, he was her boyfriend and she loved him.
As she gazed at him kindly, she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. How could he say he wasn't? Not even the burn, the reminder of that terrible night that covered half of his face could make him unattractive. In fact, it seemed to do the opposite.
"Gosh," Catherine whispered.
"What?" Matt laughed.
"Oh, nothing," Catherine said, giving a dismissive wave of her free hand. She moved both hands behind his neck. "What did I do to deserve you?"
"You deserve better," Matt sighed.
"Better than you? No such thing," Cath smiled as she kissed his cheek. "I love you...You're handsome. Do you know that?" She put a hand to is burned cheek and caressed it lovingly.
"Nope," he said cheekily, "tell me more."
Catherine smirked. "Make me...I dare you."
"I don't think you could handle it," Matt grinned teasingly
Catherine smiled and released her hold on him, walking over to her buzzing phone. She answered the call asking, "Carlos, what do you want?"
"Nice way to greet your cousin," he scoffed. He began to rant rapidly in Italian.
Catherine rolled her eyes, and to Matt's astonishment, answered her cousin, matching his rapid pace in the foreign language. She ended in English, saying, "I don't care what you think, even if you are my cousin."
"Catherine-Rose!" Came Carlos's frustrated voice.
"I'd watch what you say. You're staying here in Paris for free, mind you," Catherine laughed.
"Fine," Carlos sighed. "I'll see you at the show tonight."
"Yep. Bye," Catherine said before hanging up the phone.
"What's the ranting about?" Matt laughed.
"He thinks that you're going to try something," Catherine sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Like what? Dying your hair?" Matt said with a chuckle.
"I think you know what he means," she replied, giving him a mischievous grin.
"Sure...Have you seen where Josh is?"
"You're cute when you're uncomfortable," Catherine laughed.
Matt's browned furrowed in thought. "I'll make an attempt to be uncomfortable more often, then."
"Nah. You're much cuter when you act normal," Cath smiled, biting her lip.
"Normal? I don't think I've ever been that."
"You know what I mean," Catherine laughed, kissing him gently.
"What are your plans for the day? I have to go to work. You can come if you want," Matt shrugged.
"Work? Does that mean you sit around watching chick flicks with Josh all day?" Cath teased.
"Nah, Josh and I hate em," Matt laughed.
"So, then, what's work?"
"Making fun of rom coms?" Matt chuckled. "No, I'm a composer."
Catherine's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"I had to do something," Matt said with an awkward shrug.
"Alright. I'll come. Just remember that I have a show tonight...oh crap."
"What's wrong?"
"The Point of No Return scene," she said, growing visibility nervous. "I just...ugh...The last time we practiced, I messed up pretty badly and I haven't gotten to practice since."
"You want me to help you practice?" Matt offered with a knowing smile.
"If you have work to do, I don't want to keep you," was what her mouth said, but her eyes plead with Matt to help.
"Let me go talk to Josh?"
"Sure," she smiled, trying to hide her fear.
Matt moved away and Cath quickly called her cousin.
"What's up?" He asked.
"I'm freaking out here. I have a show tonight and I'm afraid I'm going to mess up," she sighed.
"Can't you ask your boyfriend for help?"
"He's got work."
"Cath, you're gonna be fine. Enough said. I'm in the middle of making a sauce. I'll call you later."
"But-"
"Goodbye," he said and abruptly hung up.
"Jerk," Cath muttered. "Forget that I've got massive stage fright. No, just tend to your stupid sauce. Dang it, Carlos."
"What kind of sauce?" Matt teased, peeking his head around the corner.
Catherine looked up at her boyfriend, trying to fight the smile that was creeping it's way onto her lips. "I don't know," she said finally.
"Barbecue?" Matt smirked. "Ranch? Cheese sauce? Can't leave me hangin' like that."
"He's been driving me crazy with trying to perfect his pasta sauce. I've taste tested so much sauce that I don't want to ever look at another tomato," Catherine moaned.
"Tomatoes are gross anyway."
"Again, I'm Itailian. Don't you think I'd know that by now?" Catherine laughed. "What were you and Josh talking about?"
"How much we hate rom coms."
Cath rolled her eyes. "Ha ha," she laughed sarcastically. "Well, you probably want to get to work. Where do you work anyway?"
"Just from home," Matt shrugged. "Composing doesn't need anywhere special."
Catherine smiled. "Alright. If you want any help, let me know. I'm no stranger to composing pieces."
"Really?" Matt asked with great interest. "A fellow composer?"
"I had help from Lotte," Cath shrugged. "It's not a big deal. I think I still have the opera score somewhere. I'm sure it's rubbish, though."
"Nothing you created could be rubbish. Would you let me see?"
"Sure. It's in a box under my bed. Hey, why don't you come over tonight? Carlos's plane leaves right after the show, so once I see him off, we could spend some time together. You could even spend the night," she smiled.
"There's nothing I'd like more."
Catherine looked at her boyfriend with sparkling eyes. "I could make us dinner and then I can show you the small opera. We could even watch a movie after. I can make you watch a chick flick," she laughed.
"No, really, it's a moral code," Matt said sternly. "I dare not break it."
Catherine sighed. "Caleb watched chick flicks with me," she thought to herself. "Alright. We'll find something else to do. I could show you my music room. It's like an orchestra in there," she said with a smile.
"An electronic one or a real one?" Matt teased with a laugh.
"I've got tens of thousands worth of instruments and sound equipment in there," she said dead seriously. "Hey, won't Josh not like you spending the night at my place? Didn't he like almost cry the first time? If so, just let him know this time so that that doesn't happen." Cath didn't understand why Josh got so upset about Matt staying at her place. Couldn't he just let Matt have an enjoyable time every now and then?
"Alright," Matt laughed. "I'll tell him."
Catherine smiled. "Good."
"I'll be in the other room. You can come with me if you'd like," Matt invited, reaching a hand out to her.
She took his hand and laced her fingers through his. "One more thing."
"Yes, Cath?"
"Caleb kind of knows that you're alive," she said shyly. "I swear, I didn't tell him. He recognized you that day when he proposed to me and then you kissed me. I made him promise that he won't tell anyone."
Matt frowned. "Can we believe him?"
"I'm afraid we don't have a choice," Catherine sighed.
Matt gave an internal moan and tapped his finger nervously. "I'll need to talk with Josh."
"Alright. Are you sure you want me to stay? If you're really busy then I can just meet you later...I mean, I would like to stay, but if you don't want me to...I don't have to."
"No, you can stay. I just need to talk some stuff out with Josh," Matt said, a sick knot twisting in his stomach.
Catherine could tell that he was nervous. She put her hand on his shoulder and rested her chin on her hand. "Hey, it's gonna be alright," she whispered into his ear. "We can trust Caleb. I love you. I'll make sure that everything's okay. Don't worry."
"Josh is down here for a reason too, Cath," Matt said solemnly. "If they find me, it won't just be my life at stake."
Catherine sighed. "Listen, I don't care what I have to do. I'll make sure both you and Josh are safe, alright? I don't want you worrying."
"I'm always worrying," Matt moaned.
"No wonder you're so tense," she said, rubbing his shoulders. "Loosen up, kid. I'm making a new rule. No more worrying. I don't want you being stressed out all the time. It's not good for you. I don't want to be worrying about you worrying. It's a vicious cycle, Matt," Cath laughed. Her expression went serious as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind and said, "You can tell me anything. You know that, right? I'm always here."
"I know," Matt said with a laugh. "You've told me eight times today already."
"I'm just making sure you know," Catherine smiled.
"Alright," Matt smiled, grabbing his coat. "We're off then?"
"Where are we going?" Catherine asked in confusion.
"I like to go for a walk before I start work sometimes," Matt shrugged.
"Alright. Let's go."
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