a's

ppened at the club, but when

el room. I peeked over and saw Alice, completely passed

ng not to wake me. But as a wave of nausea suddenly rushed up, I clap

e sprinted toward the trash can. Un

over his shi

ill holding me, his cheeks puffe

I slurre

n again. "Yes?" he replied, voice trembling. He

I mumbled before ever

er. Slowly, I sat up, squinting at my surroundings through blurry eyes. Afte

ottle of water sat besid

les before heading toward the mirror. One gl

ng but one of Matt'

roat, and within seconds, the door bu

g, pointing at

hastily looked away. "Y-You d-did y

wkwardly. "Y-Yeah, I... I

the shirt tightly. "You what?!

d over my mouth. "I'm going to let go n

odd

then slowly re

arply-and sh

, he muffled my mouth on

lustered. "I just-" My words t

he muttered, "I

eyes. "That

ys, Alice and Neilson

cheeks. "Feel b

ed me into a tight hug

a pillow, wrapped tightly in the blanket. I had been staying in his hote

wa

stly, I didn't car

onal pain I had ever felt-worse t

riends through their heartbreaks. I never

He sat beside me and ran a rough but gentle hand

incoherent, earning

ht the look in his eyes-concern

owever, was gone. The day after Alice left, Matt had to work late

fury and heartbreak boiling over. Unable to contain it, I had t

loor, sobbing into the carpet. Defin

d and disappeared into the bathroom to change. When he

nge." He handed me a fresh sh

n wearing the same clothes for four

anged, and when I was do

y second breakdown. Being in his arms made the

n me?" I whispered, my voice cracking. "The woman he was

. "Don't ever say that again. You're beautif

eek, his thumb brushi

?" I mu

ice gentle. He leaned in and pr

o his chest. He rubbed soothing circles

. We were supposed to get married, have a big, overpriced honeymoon, then

ina. He didn't deserve

ng to end up alone.

guy wants to marry you, I will. We'll

uldn't be happy abou

's the one who told me she wa

ugh. "What if I wa

make a whole

, distracting me from my pain u

" Matt whisper

arms around him

"I wish I could sta

n grabbed a phone from his luggage and sat be

. "Matt, yo

nterrupting my meetings, mak

ed, entwining my

said last night, Short Stack. If you eve

'll keep that in min