Page 21 of Keep Me
“That’s not exactly what happened and you know it.”
She was throwing a pity party, and yeah, she may have had a point, but none of that mattered now. We weren’t together. We hadn’t been official since I caught her cheating on me. Her reaction to my annoyance only proved the point that it wasn’t the first time either.
Deep down, I knew there was something wrong with us. I didn’t feel the spark or the heightened emotions I do with Britt. My friends were just better at spotting how miserable I was.
“I’m busy tonight. Call me in a couple of days,” I said without looking back.
My hand was on the door, and just as I was about to open it, Olana whimpered. “I don’t think it can wait,” she murmured. I glanced over my shoulder, taking her outfit in. She was drowning in one of my T-shirts with a pair of leggings. She was definitely thinner, and her eyes were sunken. As much as I hated to admit it, she looked unwell, and there was this niggling feeling in the back of my mind that something might be wrong… like my mom.
“I’m sorry,” she croaked out, and I couldn’t move. The guilt of pushing her away festered inside me. What would my mom think? Treating a girl I’d dated for years like she was nothing, especially when she didn’t look healthy.
I shook the thought out of my head. That was always her play. My mom. Olana had treated me like shit since the start of college, and I’d been trying to end it with her for years, but every time I thought we were over, she’d somehow convince me that things would be different. They never were.
And I was done living a life that only served her.
“I’m sorry, Olana, but I’m busy tonight. We can talk in the morning.”
Her chin quivered, and I tamed my curling lip. The constant guilt trips, the need to control every moment. It was all coming back.
“But I don’t have a hotel room.”
I stared at her in disbelief. No hotel room. So, was she expecting to sleep in mine? “I’ll have to sleep in the car if you don’t let me in, and I’ve got something really important to talk to you about.”
Britt flashed through my mind, and my fingers twitched as I thought about the feeling of her soft curves against my body. Curves that I’d only started exploring and had no intention of stopping. She was expecting me, and the longer I spent down here, the less time I’d get up there with her.
“Matty. Please. It’s important.”
I stared down the hall and bit my bottom lip, knowing if I didn’t hear her out, she’d follow me straight to Britt’s room and ruin any chances I had with her.
“Fine,” I gritted out. I’d give Olana five minutes to explain why she was here, then I’d leave her in my room to sleep while I went back to Britt. Win-win.
Her lips quirked but quickly tapered down. She thought she was fooling me since I was letting her in and could wriggle her way back into my life. I couldn’t blame her for having that thought process. It was the way it had always worked between us.
But not this time.
I’d finally tasted Britt, and there was nothing better in this world, so I’d hear Olana out, but that was it. I vowed to spend the rest of my time with Britt, and that was exactly what I’d do.
Chapter 5
I adjusted my gray sweater and smoothed my ponytail down before gently knocking on the door to the room.
207.
I thought this was Matty’s room, but no one was answering, so I was doubting myself.
Nerves racked my body even though I’d been trying to shake them off all morning. I shouldn’t be anxious about seeing Matty again. He was in my room a few hours ago, all up in my business, but the fact he never came back led me to all kinds of conclusions.
Something had to have happened for him to leave me half-naked and waiting for hours.
All my texts had gone unanswered, and the guys hadn’t seen him, so the most logical explanation was that he’d fallen asleep before he could come up to my room. It had been late, after all.
The door unlocked and I stepped back, my heart beating faster than it should. I felt like I was in fight or flight, but I stayed because Matty had to be on the other side.
When the door opened, my stomach dropped. I knew I should’ve listened to my instincts.
“Olana?” I choked out. I wanted to shrivel into my sweater and melt away, but I was so stunned I couldn’t move. This had to be a nightmare, right? When did she even get here? She wasn’t at the wedding. She wasn’t invited, and he had told me they’d broken up.
So many questions were running through my head, and Olana was smirking at me like she’d won some competition.
