Page 64 of Breaking Matt
I wasn't sure if having more people watching over me made me feel any safer. All it took was one lucky shot getting past their defenses and I was as good as dead. "I'll be moving my stuff into Matthew's room."
It wasn't a surprise but I couldn't help the way my stomach squeezed at the thought of him taking over Matthew's room. It was stupid—a totally emotional way of thinking. It was just a room, and he needed to stay with me in the apartment to keep me safe. It was a logical move.
I gave him a brief nod before I turned to go back to my room. I needed some time out away from prying eyes.
Lying on my bed, I stared at my phone. I wanted to call the hospital to find out how Matt was doing. Was he awake yet? Did he know I'd left and cut him out from my life? The urge was too much to overcome. I dialed the number. It led to a brief conversation—they couldn't tell me anything more than the fact that he was awake and his vitals were good.
"Thank you," I said before I disconnected the call.
He was awake. I wanted to be with him, holding his hand and taking in the fact that, despite taking a bullet, he was safe and alive. I had to fight the urge to throw caution to the wind and go to the hospital to be with him. I kept reminding myself I was doing the right thing, even if it sucked. Loving someone sometimes made you have to make the difficult decision to put their own wellbeing above your own.
There was a brief knock at the front door and I got up to see who it was. Mark was already opening the door as I stepped outside my room. Tracy's glare hit me full force as her eyes met mine.
"Come in," Mark told her, and she stepped past him. He closed the door while I stood and watched her approach me.
"How's he doing?" I asked, trying to break the ice.
"How do you think?" she said angrily. She put her hands on her hips and turned to face me. "He took a bullet to save your life and when he woke up, you were gone."
"That's enough, Tracy," Mark told her, a crease on his forehead. She gave me one last glare before she turned it to Mark, who was standing beside her.
"It's the truth," she said, but he shook his head.
"You don't know everything," he said with a hard look in her eyes.
It was better for her to hate me, because revealing the true reason I'd shut her brother out of my life would give him hope, and he would fight to become a part of my life again. I couldn't let that happen. All that mattered was keeping him alive; my heartbreak was a small price to pay for that.
"Then tell me everything," she challenged. Mark gave me a look, but I shook my head.
Let her believe I was the horrible person who had abandoned her brother when he was most vulnerable. It didn't matter. Tracy saw the look that passed between us, but she didn't say anything.
"I packed Matt's stuff," he said, and then he walked away from the two of us and into the living room. Tracy followed him and I stayed where I was.
He handed her the bag and she took it from him.
"Thanks," she said. Their eyes met for a moment before she pulled her gaze away from him.
She made her way to the front door. Just as she passed me, she stopped for a moment.
"Stay away from my brother," she warned. "He deserves better than you."
Her words cut right though me, and I wanted to explain my actions—but I didn't. I kept my composure as I watched her leave the apartment. Mark closed the door behind her and then turned face me.
"She doesn't understand why, but I do," he said, his eyes sympathetic.
His words should have made me feel better, but they didn't. I felt like the worst kind of person even though my intentions had been for the best.
Chapter Twenty
Aweeklater I was sitting on the sofa, flipping through the channels but unable to find anything to keep my attention longer than a few seconds.
"You're giving me headache," Mark said from the chair beside me. "Pick something."
I shot him a glare. I was feeling moody from cabin fever. Being holed up for a week in my apartment was driving me nuts and I could feel myself becoming bitchier than usual.
"If you think this is a picnic for me, think again," he quipped in response to my death glare.
I pressed my lips together to keep from saying something that would just make things more difficult. I had to remind myself Mark was doing a job and it wasn't his fault I was in this situation.
