Free The Making of Matt by Nicola Haken Page A

for the church.”
    “Is it really that bad?” Matt asked, fiddling with his cufflinks. Putting the imaginary atmosphere between us aside, I stepped in and fastened them for him.
    “It’s a fucking circus out there,” Sawyer explained, disgust dripping from his voice. “Fucking parasites.”
    “The press don’t bother me,” Matt said, shrugging. “It’s what we signed up for.”
    He made a valid point, but I still thought they should let him live such a difficult and emotional day in private. Sure, he owed his success to the public and the media, and he thanked them for that every time he left the house. I’d never known Matt turn away a fan requesting an autograph or a photographer wanting a quick exclusive. They made him who he was today and he knew that better than anyone, which is how I couldn’t fathom why the jackholes wouldn’t show him the same courtesy and let him grieve in peace.
    Like Sawyer said, a full team of security guards arrived after twenty minutes or so. The scene was surreal as we made our way out to the waiting cars. At one point it felt like I was an extra in a Men in Black movie, just waiting for Will Smith to jump out on me at any moment. As a general rule, Matt lapped up the attention he’d receive when out in public. He truly was born to be famous. He shone in a crowd, reveled in the sound of his name being chanted. Not today, of course. Today he walked briskly with his head down, taking cover behind one of the bodyguards who had more muscles than the ocean.
    Me? I hated the attention at all times. Like seriously fucking despised it. Having people I’d never set eyes on before approach me, toss my name about and try and talk to me like they knew me made me uncomfortable. I was in no way unsociable, I just preferred to meet people for myself rather than them shoving themselves right up in my face. Suddenly, because people knew my name, they thought it acceptable to touch me, hug me, stand so close while talking to me I was considering wearing a condom full time to protect myself against accidental penetration.
    “That was Neil,” Sawyer said, lowering the phone from his ear and interrupting my internal rant. “Time to go, guys.”
    Matt was already in the back of the car and I climbed in next to him. Before the driver brought the engine to life, we sat in such deep silence I could almost hear his heart sink into his stomach.
    “We’re all here for you, buddy,” I said, laying a reassuring hand on his knee and squeezing lightly.
    Nodding weakly, he forced a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Thanks.”
     
    **********
     
    Matt sighed heavily, bracing himself on the back of the door after watching the last guest drive away. We were back at his condo after what I imagined to be the longest day of his life.
    “It was a beautiful service,” I said, loosening my tie as I relaxed back onto the couch.
    “It was a funeral,” Matt snapped. “Boring and depressing.”
    “I’m sorry.” Sorry for my dumbass comment, sorry he’d lost his mom, sorry I couldn’t take his pain away.
    “No, no.” Matt shook his head. “ I’m sorry. It’s been a long day. I shouldn’t have snapped. Truth is, today would’ve been impossible without you.”
    I offered a small, understanding smile before nodding when Matt held up a bottle of vodka he’d just removed from the liquor cabinet. He meandered toward me, taking a swig of the emotion numbing liquid straight from the bottle before passing it to me.
    “What are we? Fifteen?” I joked before pulling a generous sip.
    “Exhausted, that’s what we are.” Sighing in agreement, I took another gulp before handing the bottle back to Matt, who was now sitting next to me. “Thank you for everything today. Especially for mingling on my behalf.”
    “I said I was here for you and I meant it. Although, you do owe me for forcing me to talk to Adam. The way he looked at me…”
    Matt grinned like he knew exactly what I was talking about.