Free Flat-Out Matt by Jessica Park Page B

“It has exceeded my expectations.”
    “Okay, let’s talk about girls again.”
    “You’re interested in girls? I had no idea. I thought you were dating that Seth character.”
    “You’re a riot, Matt. Really. And for your information, Seth and I broke up.”
    “I didn't know.” Julie hadn’t mentioned this. Even to Finn.
    “I’ve moved on. Sort of. I don't know what’s going on. I have a crush.”
    Matt rolled his eyes. The stupidity around this freakish love triangle had just hit its peak. “Let me guess. My brother?”
    “How did you know?” Julie seemed surprised.
    This was both good and bad news. And quite confusing. “Let’s see? Could it be the way you go on and on about how fabulously interesting and entertaining he is? How you check your phone for mail every three minutes? Surreptitious, you’re not.”
    “Well, fine. So what? Anyway, we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about your floundering love life. Call Dana.”
    “I don't have time for a relationship.”
    “That’s ridiculous. There’s always time if you want it. Don’t you need a little romance in your life, Matty?” Julie nudged his shoulder with her hand.
    Yes, he did need a little romance in his life, but going out with her friend was not exactly what he had in mind. Matt would have to put this off as long as possible, but he could tell that she was not going to let it go. For right now, he was happy to have this perfect night with Julie.
    They stayed under the tree for a bit more, talking and joking, and then, because she was leaving for California and wouldn't be here for Christmas, they exchanged gifts. The geeky T-shirts that she gave him were perfect, and she clearly loved the Dunkin’ Donuts gift card that he gave her. When she flung her arms around him, laughing and hugging him tightly, Matt smiled.
    For a few brief moments, Matt got to hold Julie in his arms. And that gift? That would stay with him forever.

New Year’s Eve
    Flat-Out Love Chapter 22, MPOV
     
    Matt Watkins I think I'm supposed to consult a doctor now; my ego has been swollen for WAY more than four hours.
     
    Finn is God I wear a different deodorant scent in each armpit so I can always tell which way I'm turning if I get blindfolded and kidnapped by pirates.
     
    Julie Seagle To be fair, if you really also meant “No pants, no service,” the sign should say that.
     
    Matt was half asleep at eleven-thirty on New Year’s Eve. If he could just shut off his thoughts he could zonk out and wake up to a fresh year, a year in which things might get straightened out. Unlikely, but still. At the very least, he wanted to sleep and disappear.
    Matt wasn’t one for holidays, and this New Year’s was particularly lonely. His parents were away, but it wasn't their absence that made the house feel so empty, because in some ways it was actually easier when they were gone.
    The source of his loneliness was annoyingly clear to him. He missed Julie. She’d been in California for a week now, and he missed everything about her.  The e-mailing and chatting back and forth tonight as Finn while she was at dinner waiting for her father had been fun, and he was glad that she liked the necklace, but it didn’t compare to actually being around her. He was still a little surprised at himself for giving her the purple stone he’d found years ago, but it felt right for her to have it, although he wasn’t sure exactly why. It represented who he used to be before he got so shut down, maybe? He wanted her to have a piece of that, even if she didn't know it was from him? Overthinking why he gave it to her wasn’t going to do him any good, but he was relieved that it wasn’t a disaster.
    What was disastrous was that Matt had set things up so that someone else was wooing her and getting all the credit. Matt was an unbelievable jerk, he knew that. This wasn’t intentional, he would never have wanted this, but he had gone down a rabbit hole and was now having the most