“No, she doesn’t, but I don’t know her that well yet. And wethoughtI knew Willow. It’s just, if things go south again, I don’t want to lose these friends. They’re the best I’ve ever had.” Olivia’s eyes pleaded with him as she reached up to grab his shoulders. “Besides Matt, you’re still in high school. Rosie is in college, and she lives in a different state.”
“Right. Just forget I said anything.” Matt turned back to dish himself a big helping of chocolate ice cream while Olivia disappeared back down the stairs to rejoin her guests.
What was he thinking anyways? None of the girls in his high school would talk to his chubby ass. Why would acollegewoman be any different?
Three years ago …
Rosie sat squeezed into the backseat of Nadia’s old Chevy between Jade and Mia as they sang along to the latest Taylor Swift song on the radio. It had been a while since she’d been back to Olivia’s parents’ house, and she was grateful her brutal clinical rotation schedule had allowed her this weekend of relaxation. Junior year of nursing school was no cake walk. She needed this.
“Hey guys, get this! Matt just asked if hisgirlfriendcould come to the party tonight!” The car erupted into a chorus ofoohs. “I think he’s serious about this one.” Olivia’s eyebrows rose high on her forehead as she turned around to waggle them suggestively.
“Sounds like it. We need to see if she’s good enough for our Little Matty.” Jade elbowed Rosie in the ribs waiting for her agreement.
“You all haven’t met her yet?” Rosie asked.
“Nope. She still needs a squad evaluation.”
Rosie giggled. It had been so long since she’d seen her friend’s little brother. “Where does Matt go to school again, Olivia?”
“Virginia Tech. He hasn’t declared a major yet, but I know Dad’s hoping for a business degree.”
“Ah. So he’s local.”
“Local enough. He lives on campus, though.”
“Nad, how much longer? I need to pee!” Mia whined.
“Can you hold it ten minutes? We’re almost there.”
“Fine,” she grunted. “Just stay out of my way once we get there.”
Ten minutes later they were pulling up to the big mansion Olivia called home. Well, their apartment on campus washome, but this was where Olivia had grown up. Car doors slammed; the girls stretched their stiff legs while Mia bolted for the front door, which was where Olivia’s parents were waiting to welcome them. Rosie scrambled to climb out after Jade, but she tripped over her own feet and the driveway rushed to meet her. She squeezed her eyes shut in terror, sure she’d eat gravel, but her descent abruptly stopped, leaving her hovering in mid-air.
“Got ya,” a voice grunted from above her. Two thick arms hoisted her up under the arms and she stumbled again against a thick chest in aMillennium Falcont-shirt as her savior set her on the ground.
“T-thank you,” she rasped to her rescuer, suddenly unable to take her eyes away from a pair of intense blue eyes and a handsome round face staring back at her. He looked vaguely familiar, but Rosie was certain she’d never seen this burly nerd before. The other girls often drooled over muscular guys, but he was more Rosie’s style. The kind of guy that would cuddle on the couch between make-out sessions. Not that she had any experience with that. Or time to date.
A woman cleared her throat behind him and her rescuer dropped his hands, turning abruptly to a tiny wisp behind him. She had long black hair and wire-rimmed glasses, and her arms crossed over her chest in outrage.
“What? Can’t let my sister’s friend face-plant the minute they get here,” her rescuer said before the skinny girl stalked away, and he followed her into the house.
His sister? Wait … blond hair, blue eyes … this was “Little Matty?”
“Little Matty” wasn’t so little anymore.
His girlfriend, who she later found out was named Gail, kept up the jealous routine throughout the whole party. She never let Matt answer any questions about them, always answering for him. When Mr. Lundholm told Matt to help Olivia and her friends with their suitcases, Gail grabbed onto his arm and pouted. It was so obnoxious that the squad just carried the bags in themselves. And her behavior at the pool was downright atrocious.
She berated Rosie for bringing a textbook out at the pool and made fun of her for not coming out from under the umbrella. Gail herself was very pale and didn’t even bother with sunscreen. When Rosie rattled off the statistics on skin cancer, Matt had pulled out the lotion and offered to rub it on Gail’s back, like a good boyfriend. Rosie felt vindicated; at least Matt would listen to her. But Gail immediately turned on him and screamed that he was “taking her side.” She’d apparently rather get sunburned than admit someone else had a point.
During dinner, while Gail was in the bathroom, Matt approached her while she stood in the kitchen getting a glass of water. “I’m really sorry, Rosie.”
“It’s not your fault.” It really wasn’t his fault his girlfriend was apparently raised with no manners.
“I shouldn’t have brought her.” Matt sounded so embarrassed, Rosie couldn’t help but feel bad for him. What was that cuddly teddy bear doing with a banshee like that?
“Hey.” She reached up — way up — to put her hand on his face. The contact made her skin zing, but she schooled her features. She meant this to be sisterly, nothing more. “I’ve only just met her, so I can’t say much. But I will say, you deserve someone who treats you kindly.”
His gaze met hers, and some kind of understanding arced between them. Lord, those eyes! She just wanted to sink into them and drown. Then he sighed, his mouth turning down, and he seemed to press his cheek into her hand for a moment before jerking his head away like she’d burned him. “Thanks.”
