The Butcher Read Free

and this is one of them.”
    This had hurt Sam, probably more than she was letting on, but she said she understood and let it go. For a while, anyway. But as the weeks passed, and she listened to him talk about the house and all the renovations he was planning, she became more and more vocal about why it was exactly the right time for them to live together, and how she was certain they were ready to take the next step.
    â€œWe love each other and we’ve been together for three years. I’m clean, I’m financially responsible, and I still have sex with you three times a week,” Sam said. They were lying in her bed, naked and sweaty. “I don’t understand what you’re so worried about. I’m not even asking for a ring.”
    Her timing was irritating. She knew damned well she’d just drained him of all usable body fluids, and now she was hitting him up with this conversation yet again.
    â€œI’m not worried.” Matt was careful with his tone. He was in no mood to argue. Frankly, he didn’t have the strength. “It’s not about you, or us. It’s about me . I need to do this. After ten years of busting my ass with nobody’s help, things are finally going in the direction I want them to. I need to keep doing things on my own.”
    â€œSo I don’t get a say at all?” Sam’s hair was plastered to her face, her cheeks still flushed. Despite her aggravation, he thought she looked sexy as hell.
    â€œHonestly, I don’t see why you would.” Matt hated the wounded look on her face, but he felt cornered and vulnerable. He pulled the sheets over his exposed body. “Don’t take it like that. That’s not what I mean. All I’m trying to say is, this doesn’t change anything between you and me.”
    â€œBut what if I want things to change?” she said in a small voice.
    â€œYou’re still my girlfriend. I’m one hundred percent devoted to you. But there are things I need to do first before we change things.”
    â€œIt’s always about you.” Sighing, she turned away. “I don’t know why I’m even surprised.”
    He flinched. She wasn’t wrong, and he wasn’t sure how to respond. “Just be patient,” he finally said. “We’ll get there.”
    Pushing the sheets off her naked body, she headed to the bathroom. “I’m already there.”
    A few days later, Sam had brought Jason into the ongoing argument, and that was the last straw. Jason Sullivan was Matt’s closest friend, but Sam had known him longer; they’d been friends since childhood, and he was like a big brother to her. A big, overbearing, intrusive brother. She’d told Jason everything, and of course their mutual friend, who at times wasn’t so mutual, agreed with Sam. Jason, normally a laid-back and open-minded guy, seemed awfully opinionated about Matt and Sam’s relationship.
    â€œThere are a lot of financially good reasons why you guys should move in together.” Jason sounded infuriatingly reasonable. They were in their usual fifty-yard-line seats at CenturyLink Field, courtesy of Jason’s three years playing quarterback with the Seahawks. Though his friend had retired from the NFL four years ago, football fans still recognized Jase, and going anywhere in public with him was always an ordeal. The Hawks were down 17–14 to the Niners, and Matt could not believe that Jason Sullivan, of all people, would initiate a conversation about his relationship during a football game. The sacrilege . He munched on garlic fries and tried to drown out the annoyance of his friend’s well-meaning voice.
    â€œShe’s got cash on hand for the renovations you want to do, she can pay half the bills, and she’s almost as good a cook as you are,” Jason said,using his fingers to tick off each point as he went. He sounded a lot like Sam. “And she’s a neat freak,