Chapter 8 8

Nina's POV

It's 7 a.m., and the sun is burning holes in my fragile eyes. Mornings and I have never gotten along. If I had my way, I'd avoid the glorious sunlight altogether. Unfortunately, the grinning menace sitting beside me had other plans.

Matt needed a ride to a party at some fancy hotel. He offered me the spot as his plus-one, and when I refused, he bribed me with food. If I'm being honest, I think he just needed a ride.

But seriously, who throws a party at 7 a.m.? That's just weird. Then, he had the audacity to pester me about how we don't hang out enough, complaining that I put my fiancé before my friends. Annoyingly, that wasn't entirely false.

As I drove, we caught up on life-most of it irrelevant, but that's how it always is with Matt. He's the sweetest yet most annoying guy I've ever met. He loves teasing me, and I never know how to react. Half of me giggles like a schoolgirl because a guy like him is paying attention to me, while the other half wants to punch him square in the face. I'm a woman of complex emotions.

I know a few things about Matt: when he presses his lips together and rubs his chin, he's deep in thought. Once he's in the zone, a fire could break out, and he wouldn't even notice. He plays soccer in his free time, and he's annoyingly good at everything-math, science, football, swimming. You name it, he excels at it. I hate people like that.

His coffee order is straight black, homemade if possible. I'll never understand the appeal-it tastes like burnt regret. Recently, though, he admitted to adding a teaspoon of almond milk. The satisfaction I felt when I got to say, "I told you so" was immeasurable. He rolled his eyes, of course.

When we arrived, I stared up at the hotel. Fancy. Matt motioned for me to follow, so I did. But the moment we stepped into the hotel room, something felt off. It was dead quiet. Matt checked his phone and suddenly burst out laughing.

"It's 7 p.m., not 7 a.m."

"What the hell, Matt? Who schedules a party at seven in the morning?!"

I smacked him hard on the head. He pouted like a kicked puppy before ordering me breakfast as an apology. As we ate in comfortable silence, a loud scream and a slamming door shattered the peace.

I paused mid-bite. "Do you think someone's fighting outside?"

Matt, shoveling eggs into his mouth, shrugged. "Maybe. Wanna check it out?"

I debated for a few seconds before nodding. Morning drama? Count me in.

But when I stepped into the hallway, my stomach dropped. He was standing there-half-naked, hickeys and bite marks scattered across his skin. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I took a shaky step forward.

"Kevin?"

His mouth hung open, his eyes wide with shock. My gaze flickered to the beautiful blonde draped in nothing but a bedsheet behind him.

"How could you do this to me?" My voice cracked.

"Honey, listen," He threw his hands up in surrender, his shirt and shoes falling from his grip.

"Listen?!" I let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, I'd love to hear your explanation."

"Babe, it's not what it looks like!" He reached for me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

I shoved him off, my bitter laughter echoing in the hallway. "Oh really? Because her chasing after you, practically naked, and the fact that you're covered in hickeys scream otherwise. How could you, Kevin?"

His eyes darkened. "What about you, huh? What the fuck are you doing at a hotel with another guy?" He jabbed a finger at Matt. "I knew something was going on between you two."

I froze. Was he seriously turning this on me?

"You have no right to say that."

"No right?" His voice dripped with fury. "I don't think-I know. I see the way he looks at you. The hugs. The matching necklaces. The gifts. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"We've been over this! Matt and I are just friends!"

"Bullshit! He wants to fuck you. Maybe he already has."

My hand flew up before I even registered the movement. The sharp smack echoed down the hallway, leaving my palm stinging. "Don't you dare say that about Matt."

Kevin sneered, clutching his reddened cheek. "Still defending him? Tell me, Nina. How good was his dick?"

"Shut up!" I shrieked.

"Don't think I don't know. Those 'friend' trips? New York? The vacations? He was there, wasn't he? Just admit it."

His voice dropped into something dark and venomous, a tone I had never heard from him before. Cecelia rushed out, her eyes darting between us.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Kevin's expression shifted. "You're not alone with him?"

"Unlike you, I don't sneak off to hotels with someone else and then lie about it," I spat.

He grabbed my arm. "Baby, look. It was a mistake. One minute I was drinking, the next I blacked out. I swear!"

Tears welled in his eyes, his grip tightening. "Please, boo. Please believe me."

My heart ached. I wanted to believe him. I really did.

A warm hand wrapped around mine, pulling me back. Matt. His voice was low, unwavering. "Do you think you still deserve her after what you did?"

Kevin's eyes darkened. "This is between my fiancée and me."

"Ex-fiancée," I corrected coldly, ripping the engagement ring from my finger and throwing it at him.

The ring hit his chest and clattered to the floor. "Boo..." His voice was barely a whisper, filled with so much pain it nearly broke me.

But I turned away, stepping into the elevator. The moment the doors slid shut, tears spilled down my cheeks. Sliding to the floor, I let the sobs take over.

Was I not enough? Was he sick of me? Did he ever love me at all?

When we reached the lobby, Matt was already beside me. "Let me take you home."

I nodded. We drove in silence, the raindrops tapping against the window mirroring the ache in my heart. When he pulled to a stop, I forced a weak chuckle.

"Thanks for the ride, but this is my car, you know. Return it soon."

Matt studied my apartment building, his expression unreadable. "Do you want to stay at my place tonight?"

My stomach twisted when I noticed the lights on inside my apartment. Kevin was in there.

I turned back to Matt and nodded.

Without a word, he reached over and wiped a tear from my cheek before driving away, his warm hand covering mine.