other.
Matt learned that Alfie got unusually quiet when something was bothering him and was not likely to just say what was bothering him. Matt learned that it was usually small things that the man overthought and that just like Matt, when he studied too hard, Alfie needed Matt to remind him to breathe and relax.
Admittedly Alfie was easier to get out of his overthinking marathon by just gripping him by the shoulder, kissing the man all over his face with butterfly kisses until he was near giggling and then dragging the man to the couch, pushing him to sit down on the three-seater couch, in the middle. Then he would go to the kitchen to make some tea and scour the pantry for some cookies.
Alfie would always smile at him with gratitude. He would then snuggle up to Matt. Matt would have one leg on the couch with Alfie snuggling up to him. They would stay like this until they both fell asleep.
Life was honestly good.
Matt’s father had tried to contact him by cellphone, email and some of his old friends who came back to him with their metaphorical tails in a submissive manner. Matt was quick to tell them that they had shown their true faces and that he wanted nothing to do with them. He had a new life and love. His mother was happy. He had a good relationship with his lover's family, who, according to Alfie, adored him.
It was, however, to be expected that his father would have one last-ditch attempt at getting something out of Matt. It was what his dad did that surprised him.
It was a calm day when the bell above the door rang, gaining both Matt and Alfie's attention. Matt groaned softly, making Alfie look at him with concern.
There standing at the door giving the store the same look like Matt's father was a man on the tall side. He had dark brown hair that was graying at the temples. His suit was obviously expensive and on the thinner side as spring had fully settled in. Alfie could easily spot a designer suit. The man smelled of expensive.
All in all, an arrogant man with too much money and a too big of an ego.
Next to him was a typical rich daddy's girl, Instagram influencer wanna-be. Matt noted that she had changed her hair color from the platinum blonde to a hazel brown. It didn't look bad, the girl was pretty in the traditional way, meaning, just like all the other pretty girls on the internet.
She had on the latest fashion, from head to toe. She took off her sunglasses and sneered as she looked at the bookstore interior. Her father seemed to have more manners as he kept his face from showing what he was really thinking.
The man saw them first, his face had yet to change. His daughter, however, looked at Matt and smiled a flirty smile.
"Hi Matt, so nice to finally meet you," she said as she walked to the counter. She then tried to go behind the counter, but Alfie stepped in her way. "I am sorry, but only employees are allowed behind the counter." Alfie had his no-nonsense voice and face on the play.
The girl-woman pouted and batted her eyelashes at him, but Alfie remained unmoved. She sighed with a tilted back head. She then moved to stand before Matt with the counter between her and him.
"What do you want Bella?" Matt asked, his arms crossed. Alfie had learned that Matt would only cross his arms when he was waiting, but it was a “slouched at ease” posture. The other was when he was mad. He still had a more relaxed posture. The last reason Matt crossed his arms, he was very uncomfortable. Alfie knew it was that one now as Matt was nearly as stiff as a board, and his lip twitched to hold back the grimace his face wanted to pull into.
"Well, I wanted to finally meet you. Of course, I mean, I have heard so much about you from your dad. Well, you sound like one hell of a guy," she said, leaning forward and smiling in a flirty manner. Matt just looked at Alfie with a look in his eyes that said, “See what I was talking about?.”
Alfie racked his brain for an excuse to get the two out of his shop, but nothing came up.
"So, I was wondering if you would like to get lunch with me?" she asked, placing her elbows on