Fighting for Love (Second Chances #4)(41)
I knew I shouldn’t cry, but I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. It was one thing to know that Matt had screwed a bunch of different women, but it was also another thing to actually see it in front of me. Yesterday it was a girl from his gym, now it was a damn envelope jam-packed with pictures of him doing God knows what with them. There was no way I could stomach looking through them all. The first three pictures were enough to last a lifetime.
It was disgusting to think that his lips had been on so many women, that his hands had touched them, and that he found enjoyment in screwing them all. What if he didn’t wear condoms every time?
“Shit, shit, shit,” I screamed over and over.
This is all a ploy to get you angry at Matt, I tried reasoning with myself.
Kyle was doing it so I would break up with Matt in hopes that it would affect his fighting. I hated to admit it, but if Kyle wanted me angry he succeeded. I refused to let him get the best of me, but what the hell was I going to do? If I called Matt and told him he would be livid, but if I didn’t tell him and he found out about it he would be even more pissed. The only problem was that I had no idea what he would do when he found out.
I wish I knew the right thing to do.
AFTER TAKING A SHOWER, I passed out on my bed and slept for what had to be at least four hours. I knew Matt wouldn’t be calling because he was with his sister, so I wasn’t worried about him trying to get a hold of me. My main concern was trying to avoid Kyle. I wanted to call him and just go off, but I couldn’t. It would only make things worse.
Wrapping myself in a blanket, I curled up on the couch with my leftover chocolate strawberries while watching The Phantom of the Opera. It was one of my favorite movies, and any time I could watch Gerard Butler on screen it would always put me in a better mood. I needed something to get my mind off of Matt and those pictures.
Just when the movie was getting to one of the good parts, I almost fell off of the couch when someone beat against the door with a loud, thundering knock. I waited for whoever it was to go away, knowing very well it could be Kyle trying to rub salt in the wounds. However, whoever it was didn’t want to go away. Another loud knock came … then another.
“Shelby,” Matt shouted, knocking again, “open up the door!”
Gasping, I froze in place and stared at the door, not knowing what to do. I wasn’t ready to see him, or talk to him for that matter, but I knew I couldn’t ignore him.
Keeping my blanket wrapped around me, I tiptoed to the door and took a deep breath before opening it wide. Matt paced along the front porch, breathing hard with his jaw clenched tight and fumbling with his phone. As soon as his gaze lifted to mine, he immediately stalked toward me. “What the f*ck, Shelby, I’ve been calling you all damn afternoon. Why didn’t you answer? I was worried about you.”
When I didn’t answer, he stepped past me and I shut the door. Wrapped in a blanket with my hair a tangled mess, Matt blew out a relieved sigh once he got a better look at me. “Oh, baby, you don’t look so good. Are you sick?” he asked, folding his arms around me.
“Yeah,” I answered halfheartedly. “I slept most of the afternoon. I didn’t think you would call, so I turned my phone off.”
Kissing the top of my head, he squeezed me harder before letting go. “Angel, I’m so sorry for getting angry and acting like an idiot. It’s not like you to not answer my calls, and with everything going on I got worried. Do you need me to fix you something to eat, or to get you some medicine?” he said sheepishly.
“No, I’m fine. Where’s Gabriella? Aren’t you supposed to be with her right now?”
Nonchalantly, he shrugged and furrowed his brows in concern. “I am, but when you didn’t answer your phone I had to make sure you were all right.”
Averting my gaze—because it felt like he could see right through me—I walked over to the living room and grabbed my phone off the coffee table. As soon as I turned it on, it beeped nonstop with messages. A couple were from Jace and Lexi, but all of the others were from Matt. Sighing, I put my phone in the pocket of my pajama pants, turned my back on him, and sat down on the couch. I didn’t want Matt to leave, but I also didn’t know if I wanted him staying either.
Bending over with my head resting on my hands, I murmured softly, “Matt, thank you for coming out here to check on me, but you probably need to get back to your sister. She’s going to really hate me now that you left her to come see me.”
He was silent behind me, but I heard his steps on the hardwood floor coming closer. Staring at the floor, he knelt down in front of me and gently grabbed my wrists, pulling my hands away from my face. With him looking at me with such love and adoration, it was so hard to be angry at him, but then those pictures flashed in my mind and it all came back.
“Dammit,” I hissed, squeezing my eyes shut. Pulling out of his grasp, I stood up and walked away from him, trying hard not to cry or lose my temper. I needed to tell him what happened and show him the pictures, and when I do I could only hope and pray he didn’t do anything stupid.
“What’s wrong with you, Shelby? Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?” Matt snapped.
I turned around, but before I could tell him, my phone vibrated in the pocket of my pink fleece pajama pants. When I saw the name ‘Kyle’ displayed on the screen, I was two seconds away from throwing my phone out the front door.