Matrimony: Malee & Mateo

By Laikyn Meng

All Mum's The Word Books can be read as Standalones.

Malee and Mateo are inevitable. They have been fused together by unlucky circumstances. While Malee is always a hopeless romantic, Mateo knocks them back to reality. A desperat

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Orange 9 Publishing Company LLC
• Release date: Aug 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798868907739

Book preview

Chapter 1

Malee

A re you going to make me beg, or are you going to finally admit you have a thing for a certain mysterious man? My sister, Kamala, applies more lipstick than our mother allows us to wear. Which is any, we aren’t allowed to wear any.

I don’t know what you are talking about. I flip the page in my book and continue reading about Egyptian fantasy romance.

Malee, come on, it will be fun. She wiggles her eyebrows at me and shakes her shoulders.

My sister is wild and fiery. I am silent and stoic. Being born first must have given her all the confidence in the world. Because I didn’t have a prideful bone in my body. Yet, Kamala’s blood birthed self-assurance in new dimensions.

But what if we get caught sneaking out? I tried to reason with her; the last time she snuck out; our parents didn’t know. But they smelled cigarette smoke on her coat and grounded her for two weeks for merely being in the presence of someone who used nicotine.

But it was always Kamala. She was the one who was the instigator. Smoking, drinking, having sex, parties. Kamala wanted it all; she wanted it at level one hundred.

Stop worrying and get dressed.

I am dressed.

You can’t be serious. You seriously aren’t going to wear those. My sister scrunches her nose up at my pajamas.

Why? Will your boyfriends be embarrassed I wear silk pajamas to bed?

No, I bet they would be embarrassed to know I sleep in the nude. Her smile lights up the room.

You are disgusting.

Disgustingly sexy, right?

Get over yourself. Reading the same line over again.

Grab a coat, let’s go.

I’m not going, Kamala.

Be sure to wear your bunny slippers; I bet the guys would love those. Kamala doesn’t wait for me as she climbs out the window. I watch the door the whole time, terrified my mother will burst through and start smacking us with the belt on her robe.

Before Kamala starts yelling my name because she doesn’t know how to be quiet, I hurry, put on my gym sneakers, and head out the window.

I turn and pull down the window slowly, hoping it won’t squeak. When I make sure it is secure, I turn around and see my sister running across the road.

Why are you taking so long? Hurry, they’ll be here any minute! She screams from where she is standing, waving me over.

I think half of our neighbors would nark on us if they didn’t feel bad for us. Our neighbors saw how controlling our parents could be. Kamala took full advantage of their pity, while I always felt insecure and ashamed about it.

Stop shouting! You’ll wake up someone up! I glue myself to her side, knowing full well I will not go down without her.

Who is being loud now? She smirks at me like she is the queen of cool. I roll my eyes because I know she is, and I am not jealous of not having the spotlight.

A car pulls up, and before I can refuse, I am in the backseat sitting on Mateo’s leg. Kamala’s friend, Tatum, whispers in her ear, and my sister laughs at the secrecy. She sits in the front seat with her back against Mario’s chest.

We go over a bump, and my tiny figure flies high and lands right on the prime spot of Mateo’s groin.

"Oh, Dios mío," Mateo grumbles under his breath. I would apologize, but I am also afraid I might squeal. So, I didn’t say anything because I had no idea what he said to me. But dang, it felt nice against my neck.

Mateo’s hands hold my hips, so we don’t have a repeating battle with my butt, smashing his balls. I giggle out loud at the thought.

Everyone in the car stops dead and waits for me to say something. I don’t know why they care. I even made a sound. Usually, they ignore me, which is my favorite part of being included.

Sorry, um, there was cross back there. Probably where someone died in a car accident. But they spelled a word wrong. Wow, not funny at all.

Damn, Malee, that is pretty fucked up. Got a secret psycho on your hands there, Mateo. Valentino gives Mateo a wink through the rearview mirror.

Mateo immediately takes his hands away from my body, and I squirm a little, loosening up.

Why don’t you keep your eyes on the road, jackass. Mateo’s voice is so calm. I swear I worry he might be upset with the joke about him and me.

The others return to their conversation, and I stare out the window. The lifeless roads make up our teenage memories and lead them astray.

I’m sure they don’t actually think you would ever like someone like me. I am sorry if the teasing made you mad. I tap my fingers on the handle of the door.

I don’t get mad. Mateo lowers his voice, and it is a bold rhythm I have memorized every time he speaks to his friends.

This time I really do laugh.

I am pretty sure I have seen you throw a few punches into people’s faces, Mateo. I lift my hands and make fists in the air.

Stop it; you look stupid. This time he laughs. Maybe that is how I say hello, Malee; ever think of that? Mateo squeezes my side, but I pretend I am not ticklish and puff out my cheeks to hold my breath.

We arrive at Mario’s house after a short time through our small town. Tatum starts to holler, and I am amazed at the high notes on this chick.

Finally! I’ve got to piss! Tatum jumps out of the car while two other buddies follow her out.

Just don’t do it on the lawn like last time, Valentino calls after her.

Go to hell, Valentino! Tatum keeps running toward the house, with everybody else slow to keep up.

Kamala pulls Mario out, and it hasn’t occurred to me that Mateo and I are alone in the car. And I haven’t moved off his lap, and he hasn’t shoved me off yet.

So… I pucker out my lips, still facing the front of the car.

So. Gosh, I swear if my sister is the queen of cool, Mateo is the mother freaking master of cool. I am sure there is a small jealous part of her wondering why he digs me and not her.

We are in the same confused boat when it comes to that scenario.

Guess I should get off your lap.

If you want. And I feel Mateo shrug against my back.

Guess we should go inside and join the others. I can only fear the things my sister will tease me about if I stay out here much longer, alone with this boy of all boys.

They’ll be fine for a few more minutes. But, Malee?

Yeah, Mateo? I turn my head to face his, and his hand brings my face to his. Our lips match together, and there is a need I never knew existed until he showed me.

I blink when the short kiss breaks and stare at him.

My leg fell asleep.

Huh? Still in a trance, watching his lips.

My leg, it’s dead. You are still sitting on it.

I open the door and fling myself out, far away from him. I land on the ground, not even embarrassed by how far I jumped to get away from him.

Well, you didn’t have to be a freak about it. Mateo stands up out of the car and shakes his leg. He closes the door and leans against the car like he doesn’t have any better place to be than right where he is with me.

I’m a freak about everything. It helps keep the bad boys away. I am still sitting on the grass in my pink silk pajamas. Feeling extra good about myself.

I’m probably not bad enough for it to work then. Mateo snickers and stares across the field to a few lights in the distance.

What’s out there? Noticing the attention, he keeps his eyes on the place.

My grandpa’s house.

Do you live there? Going from the house in the distance to watch his face as he responds.

No, I live next door. Behind the tree line next to the river. Mateo doesn’t look to where he mentioned; he stares down at the ground, lost in thoughts.

I wonder what his thoughts are telling him. I wonder what secrets he keeps from me.

Hey, Mateo?

Yeah, Malee?

Why did you kiss me?

I wanted to. And he pushes off the car and walks inside his cousin’s house while I still sit, admiring the grass. I watch Mateo the whole time until he disappears behind the house.

I can hear their laughter from here.

But I don’t rush to meet up with my sister and her friends. They aren’t my crowd; I don’t even have one. You can’t count the other strange girls who sit at the end of the library table at lunch talking about trading cards.

I was a loner. It was nice; I can imagine being the center of attention every waking minute must be hard for Kamala. I prefer books; she likes boys, specifically between her legs.

I slap a hand over my mouth at the thought crossing my mind. Looking to my right and left, hoping no one read my mind. My mother would scalp me and wash out my brain with the expensive soap.

My eyes witness the stars twinkling. The sky laid out for miles, not a cloud in the sky. I soak up the minutes I have alone. At our house, there are rare seconds when my sister isn’t bugging me, our father or mother isn’t demanding something, or our little brother thinks he is a gift from God.

Even on the chilly night, I scan my eyes over the blanket of galaxies. It makes me hopeful, makes me believe in wishing. So when I see a satellite, I pretend and close my eyes and wish.

I wish for freedom. I wish for passing grades. I wish to get into a good college and make my parents proud. But I also wish for love. A love I can pretend was written in the books I read. I wish for the type of love that never wavers, a one-and-done type of romance for life.

What are you doing? Mateo asks as he opens the car door.

My heart might attack itself.

Nothing. I wasn’t doing anything. I sit up and decide to stand, wiping off the dirt behind me. I was just wishing on satellites.

Satellites? Mateo reaches into the backseat and grabs something, putting it into his pocket.

There weren’t any shooting stars.

Makes perfect sense.

What are you doing?

"I lost a bet, so I was