Chapt 18

After taking a moment to calm the electricity that was running throughout her veins, Claire headed to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. She headed upstairs, wondering where Matt was. She had expected him to be waiting on her at the door, ready to drill her for details. Walking up the stairs she stopped at his bedroom door, pressing her ear against the door to see if she could hear him snoring. All she heard was music so she eased the door open. She didn't knock just in case he was asleep.

"Matt, I'm ho… OH! Um.. I uh, Matt! PJ! Um I just um.. Oh my God! I am so sorry! I'll uh, I'm just gonna go. Oh dear God." Claire was a stuttering mess after her eyes landed on Matt and PJ, both naked, sweaty, and obviously nowhere near finished making up. She backed out of the room, closing the door. Her head fell against the door and she took a deep breath. "I'm really sorry again you two," she called before heading down the hallway to her own room.

That had definitely been a first for her. She giggled to herself as she closed her door behind her. Shaking her head, she did her best to put the image of her best friend in the throes of passion out of her mind. Thinking of Joe was a perfect distraction. She showered again, feeling sticky and dirty from sweating throughout the day, and towel dried her hair. She slipped into her boy cut briefs, her favorite style, and an oversized t-shirt before she crawled into her bed. She pulled the covers to her waist and reached for her phone. No message from Joe yet. Her eyes were growing heavy but she didn't want to give in to sleep before she knew he was home.

Thirty minutes later her cell phone vibrated to life on her chest, rousing her from the light sleep that had overtaken her. "I'm home, safe and sound. Heading to bed with you on my mind, I can't wait to talk to you soon. Thank you again for today. Goodnight Claire."

Claire smiled through a yawn and rubbed her sleep filled eyes with the backs of her hands like a sleepy toddler. "Thank you for everything today. Goodnight." She hit send and sat her phone on the bedside table before snuggling down into the covers and closing her eyes. Sleep was quick to find her and she slept peacefully, more so than she had in weeks.

It was nine thirty the next morning when Claire walked into the kitchen, humming some old soul song. She started some coffee brewing and turned to the refrigerator to put together a breakfast for herself and Matt, PJ too she thought. She looked up, glancing out of the window and noticing only Matt's car in the drive. Had it been only his last night? She had to admit she hadn't paid any attention at all to what cars had been in her drive the night before. She started bacon sizzling in the pan, and turned to see Matt walk in.

"Hi sunshine," Claire said brightly. "Where's P…"

Matt held up her hand to cut her off. "I know how it looked, but Claire believe me it was not what it looked like." Claire started to speak but Matt again cut her off. "While it would be really nice to think that we were working on things, all last night really was, was two guys who both hadn't been laid in far too long taking care of their needs."

Claire opened her mouth and closed it again without a word. She turned back to the stove and started scrambling eggs. Concentrating heavily on the eggs she said, without looking up, "Ya know Matt, I don't judge you for that. In fact, well, I mean, I can understand needing those desires fulfilled and can only imagine a day when self-fulfillment isn't enough. I feel better knowing that you turn to someone who you know, someone who cares about you and that you trust instead of just some random guy off the street. There's no shame at all in what happened with you and PJ."

Matt came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, kissing her cheek. "That is why I love you. So how was yesterday?"

She told him all about her day, and how she really liked Joe. "He's amazing Matt. He opens doors, and he, well he doesn't mind anyone knowing that he was there with me. He made me feel special without doing anything at all."

"That's what you need Claire, it's what you deserve. I'm so glad that you're being treated how you should be." They talked more about Joe and what Claire had hoped to see happen with them and then Matt cleared the table and started to load the dishwasher. Claire stood, stretching out her short frame.

"Thank you for getting the dishes," she said as she smiled and ran up the stairs to grab a gym bag. When she got back downstairs she kissed him on his scruffy cheek and took her keys from the hook by the back door. "I'm heading to the gym. I'll be back."

"Alright, be safe Claire." Just as she started to walk out the door he remembered that Nic had wanted her to call him. "Oh! Hey, by the way, Nic called you yesterday. Like three times actually. Said to call him, something about wanting to see would you be at Raw this week. I think the guy has ended up with a thing for his friend. Just saying."

Shaking her head Claire laughed. "No way no how Matty boy. I'll be back later. Promise, and I'll call him. I love you."

"I love you to babe."

Oh how Claire loved the relationship that she and Matt shared. No one would get it unless they just knew them. She could see easily that many would misconstrue what there was between them, but then again, if they didn't understand then they weren't meant to be in her life.