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“You need anything else before we go to sleep?” Sylvie asked Griffin, who was leaning against the kitchen counter in the loft. “How about I get you a glass of water in case you get thirsty?”
Matt and Griffin had come back to the loft a while ago, and the second they stepped through the door, Sylvie had spotted the deep frown on her boyfriend’s face. When their eyes met, Sylvie knew he wasn’t ready to talk about it just yet, so she had kept quiet. Griffin had been just a bit too cheery as he sat down next to her and teased her about her choice of entertainment—HGTV, of course.
An hour later, the teenager had yawned next to Sylvie, so the paramedic had nudged her boyfriend in the side and nodded towards the bedroom. Matt had understood her silent suggestion and gotten up from the couch to excuse them.
“I’ll be fine. I know how to work a faucet,” Griffin replied with a boyish smirk on his face. It seemed more genuine, and it settled Sylvie’s worry for the kid.
However, she still grabbed a glass and filled it up, holding it out to him. “Just in case then.”
A grateful smile covered the boy’s lips as he grabbed it from her. “Thanks, Sylvie.”
“You’re welcome. Have a goodnight,” she said before turning towards Matt, who had braced his hands on the small side of the kitchen counter.
He still had a rather thoughtful expression on his face, his eyes stuck on the kitchen counter. When Sylvie approached him, she placed her hand on his forearm, rubbing it gently to pull him out of his thoughts. He glanced up at her then, his eyes scanning over her face and then straying to Griffin.
“Night, Griffin.” He gave the teenager a brief nod, blinking at him once. With one last forced smile on his face, he turned towards Sylvie, his hand landing on the small of her back.
“Night, Matt.”
The men’s eyes met once more before Matt gently pushed Sylvie towards the hallway. Even though they had only been together for a couple of weeks, their nighttime routine made it seem like they’ve been together for years. They brushed their teeth, changed into their PJs and slipped into their respective sides of the bed. At least on days where other activities hadn’t led them to the bedroom before.
When they slipped under the covers today, Matt laid down on his back, stretching his arm out towards her. It was an invitation she’d never refuse, so she scooted towards him and cuddled into his side. Her boyfriend tugged her closer in an instant, his arms banding around her tightly until her cheek came to rest on his chest. He placed a kiss on her head, his hand rubbing over her back.
Sylvie usually loved his gentle caresses. They lulled her to sleep because they made her feel safe and loved, but today, his motions were absentminded, and Sylvie could feel his brain rattling with thoughts. He wouldn’t be able to sleep this way, but instead of broaching the subject, she stayed silent and opted to trace mindless patterns against the material of his shirt.
His heart was thumping steadily against her fingertips, and his chest rose and fell with every breath he took. For a while, they silently laid next to each other, and Sylvie soaked in the comfort of her boyfriend’s embrace.
“Griffin is not just here for a friendly visit,” Matt broke the silence, letting out a vast sigh. “It’s bad, Sylvie.”
Sylvie’s heart sank at his words, and she flattened her hand against his chest, rubbing soothing circles against his shirt. “Talk to me,” she whispered as she placed a kiss over his heart.
Matt swallowed, his hands stopping their motions and resting against her back instead. “Heather’s back in jail, and Ben’s spinning out. Their life is a mess, and Griffin doesn’t know what to do anymore.”
“Their mom’s in jail?” Sylvie asked perplexed as she angled her head up to look at Matt. “Who’s taking care of them now? I know they’re not little kids anymore, but they still need someone to look after them.”
“Heather’s sister is their legal guardian right now, but she’s in over her head,” Matt told her with his eyes trained on the ceiling. “Ben’s been making trouble for years now, and it’s getting worse. He skips school, stays out late and is involved with a bunch of questionable folks. Their aunt can’t handle it, and Griffin can barely keep him away from any serious trouble.” He huffed. “He shouldn’t have to. It’s not his responsibility. He’s just a kid.”
Sylvie shifted in her spot, propping herself up on her elbow to get a better look at him. “Did he say how long Heather’s gonna be gone? Is it just temporary?”
Matt pressed his lips into a flat line, his jaw tightening. “It’s her fourth DUI. It’s gonna be a while this time. Besides, even if she gets out, she needs help. Griffin said they moved a lot, and the last thing I know is that she moved to Florida to be closer to her family and get a fresh start. Now they’re in Oregon. That’s all the way on the other side of the country.”
“That must have been rough for the boys,” Sylvie agreed, furrowing her brow. “Sounds to me like Heather was never able to move on from Andy. It’s not an excuse for her behavior or anything she put her kids through, but losing someone this important must be terrible. I can’t imagine how she must feel. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”
At her words, Matt’s eyes snapped to hers, and he reached out to cup her cheek. “You’d learn to move on and carry on with your life.” His gaze turned gently then, and he added, “But I don’t plan on going anywhere, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
Sylvie bit her lip, shaking her head. “You better not. I’m not ready to let you go any time soon.”
“Noted.” He tugged her face down to his, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Sylvie replied as she lowered her head onto the pillow next to Matt’s. She reached out to card her fingers through his hair, and Matt closed his eyes. Worry was still etched on his face, but the tension was slowly leaving his body. “What are you thinking about?”
“I wanna be mad at Heather for neglecting her children, but I get what you said. Griffin looks so much like Andy. He even acts like him. It’s like seeing a young version of Andy, and I can’t imagine how hard that must be for her.” He shifted onto his side until they were facing each other, reaching out to rub her arm. “But despite all of that, she should have put the boys first or at least tried to get help.”
“Who knows? Maybe she did. We both know the system is broken. Getting help from the government isn’t always easy. There might be more to the story than we know,” Sylvie offered as she tugged at the collar of his t-shirt. She studied his face for a moment longer before asking, “What do you wanna do now?”
“I don’t know,” Matt answered honestly, his hand trailing up her arm and into her hair. He played with the ends, sighing. “It’s… I just…”
She could see the turmoil in his eyes, tension making its way back into his body. His jaw twitched, and with each passing second, he seemed to get more uncomfortable.
“Hey,” Sylvie soothed him as she slid closer to him, placing her hand on his cheek and pressing her brow against his. “It’s OK. We’ll figure it out. Whatever you decide, I’m here.”
It had almost been a year and a half since Matt had uttered those same words to her, and Sylvie could still remember them clear as day. A lot had happened since then, but their unconditional support for each other hadn’t changed. If anything, it had strengthened since they had gotten together.
Matt nodded against her forehead as he brushed a kiss to her lips. “Thank you,” he whispered, bumping his nose against hers. “I think I needed to hear that.”
Another sigh left his lips, and he relaxed in his spot once more. His hold was still tight, and his hands kept running through her hair and over her back, but his mind seemed at ease.
“Anytime,” Sylvie assured him with another peck to his lips.
Today wasn’t the time to take it any further, so she closed the distance between them until her front was glued to his. She squished her knee between his legs and lowered her head until it was resting under his chin. Upon hearing his rhythmic heartbeat, she closed her eyes and buried her nose against his collarbone, inhaling his unique scent. This was her safe space.
Her boyfriend seemed happy with their position too, laying a kiss on her head and then resting his cheek against her hair. “Are you OK? I know you’re bummed about Hawkins not signing off on your project.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m not giving up. I know it’s a great idea that could really help the CFD and the community, and I just need to find a different way to get it started,” Sylvie said in a determined voice. “If Hawkins can’t see the potential, then he’s probably not the right guy for the project anyway.”
Matt chuckled lowly, the vibrations of his laughter resonating against her cheek. “If you set your mind to something, nobody can stop you. I’ve witnessed that firsthand.” He paused to press a series of kisses to her head. “It’s his loss. You’re incredible, and this project will help many people. I’m proud of you.”
Her heart warmed at his words, and a giddy smile crossed over her lips. Matt’s support meant a lot to her, and it somehow made all the lows of the project seem like minor bumps. His support made everything easier, and she hoped she gave him the same feeling during his troubles.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” She asked then, bringing them back to the Darden boys and the center of Matt’s worry.
“No, this right here is more than enough for now,” Matt whispered, bending back to kiss her nose and then her lips. “I just need you. Maybe we’ll figure the rest out tomorrow.”
With a nod, Sylvie brushed a kiss to the underside of his jaw, staying quiet. She had a feeling Matt already knew what he was going to do. Matt Casey would never stop to help the people around him, least of all his family. He had taken care of the boys once, and they were deeply ingrained in his soul. His heart had long decided the route of action, and there was no doubt in Sylvie’s mind that his mind would catch up soon.
Big changes would come their way, but she knew that as long as they were facing them together, nothing would break them apart.