“What’s wrong?” Mae all but shrieks. “What’s wrong she asks! What’s wrong is that I’ve been trying to call you since last night, and you weren’t picking up. Do you know how worried I’ve been? Somebody breaks into your house, and you don’t even bother to let your best friend know?”
I wince at the accusation, guilt slamming into me. “I’m so sorry. With everything happening, it didn’t even cross my mind to check my phone.” My brows pull together. “Wait, how do you know?”
Did the news get out already? I mean, this is Bluebonnet Creek; people would have noticed the police cars in front of my house, and before you know it, the news would’ve spread around town.
Shit.
I probably should have called my parents as well. Told them what had happened so they don’t hear it from a stranger, but I was so out of it last night?—
“Wait, did you say you heard about itlast night?”
“Last night? I meant this morning,” she corrects quickly, a trace of panic in her voice. “I heard this morning there was a break-in at your place last night.”
“Maaaae…” I drawl.
I’m not buying it, not for a second.
“Jessyyyyyy…” she returns, not budging a bit.
“You’re hooking up with Nico, aren’t you?” I challenge, not willing to give in. I’m right; I know it. There’s just been too much sexual tension between those two. And Nico was there last night with Matthew.
“Better question is, have you hooked up with lover boy yet?”
I roll my eyes. “You can evade my questions as much as you want. We both know the truth. You’re sleeping with a cop.”
“You’re delusional.”
“Mmhmm…” I can’t help but hide my smirk. “Whatever makes you sleep better at night.”
“I’m sleeping perfectly fine, thank you very much,” she sasses back without missing a beat, but then her voice turns sober. “But seriously, how areyoudoing?”
“I—”
I suck in a long breath as I stare at the ceiling, trying to process my feelings. I’m a little bit afraid but a lot more annoyed. And freaking horny. My whole body is still wired up from my interaction with Matthew from minutes ago. This damn shirt feels too tight. My skin all flushed and tingly. And there is nothing I can do about it.
Not that I’d admit any of that.
“Fine. Having Matthew around makes me feel safer. I don’t know how I’m supposed to go back home once they finish processing my house when I know he was in there. Touching all of my stuff.”
Just thinking about it makes me shudder.
“That’s so fucked-up, Jessy. I swear, when I see him, I’m going to knee him in the nuts.”
The vividly painted image pops into my head, making me chuckle softly. “While I’d love to see that, please don’t. I don’t want you getting into trouble. But there is one thing you can do for me. I need some clothes. God knows when I’ll be able to go back home, and even so…” Yeah, no. I think a shopping trip is going to be in order, and soon. “Can you bring me some of your clothes? I’m at Matthew’s. I can text you the address.” I graze my teeth over my lower lip before I add, “Or, you know, you could just ask Nico.”
“Har-har. If you want it, you better text me, or you’ll be walking around naked. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing…”
“Mae—” I try to protest, but it’s already too late. I pull the phone from my ear and look at the screen. “She just hung up on me.”
Shaking my head, I text her the address before checking my phone for any other notifications. Mae wasn’t joking about trying to get ahold of me; there are dozens of missed calls and texts from last night. But no text from any of my family members. Small mercy. I shoot a quick message to our family group chat, letting them know the bare bones of what happened, that I’m okay, and that I’m staying at Matthew’s for now.
After that’s done, I get up and slip out of the room in search of Matthew.
Hell, maybe I’m just being presumptuous. Sure, he brought me here last night, but it was late and he was trying to be nice. Maybe I should just see about staying at Mae’s or with my parents until things calm down.
Pushing the door open, I find the main space empty. I scan the living room, taking in the wooden tones and cozy furniture, when my gaze lands on the bathroom door.
It’s slightly ajar, the sound of running water coming from inside.
