Page 65 of Breaking Matt

We had already established that going back to college was too risky. Mark had upped my security. My father had organized that I could continue some of my classes from home. It was only a temporary solution for a couple of weeks. I could only hope it would be enough time, even though realistically I had a feeling it would take longer.

Mark's phone rang and he answered it. He frowned as he listened. "What does he look like?"

He nodded and then ended the call.

"Are you expecting someone?" he asked, standing up and returning his phone to his pocket.

"No, why?" I answered, confused as to why he was asking me that. I shifted to the edge of the seat, putting the TV remote down.

The doorbell rang. The sound shot through me and my eyes shot to Mark.

"How did you know?"

"Cameras."

He walked to the front door and I followed behind, feeling anxious. An uninvited guest.

"It's Ryan," he stated after looking through the peephole.

I frowned and looked through the peephole, confirming it was him.

"Ryan," I answered cautiously as I opened the door, not feeling very friendly that he was showing up uninvited. Mark stood behind me.

"Sarah," he said with a nod. I crossed my arms and refused to allow him inside.

I had already learned not to give an inch with this guy—otherwise he would take it and make it into something it wasn't.

"What are you doing here?" There was no reason for him to be here. The last I had seen he had been dating someone else, finally leaving me alone.

"I heard about what happened," he said, his eyes going over my shoulder to Mark, who was still watching from behind me, before he looked back at me. "I wanted to see how you were doing."

I arched my eyebrow at him, convinced there was an ulterior motive.

"Things didn't work out with Summer." And with that, he had confirmed my initial suspicion.

I had an uncomfortable feeling about where he was headed with this. Matthew's presence had kept him at bay, and now that he wasn't here, Ryan was trying his luck again.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said stiffly.

His eyes shifted past my shoulder again.

"Where is your boyfriend?"

I wasn't sure what to say. I looked back at Mark, hoping he would help.

"He is recuperating," Mark answered. "He should be back in a week."

"Yeah, I heard he got shot. It's crazy."

I nodded. I don't know if it was the idea that Matthew was still a fixture in my life that made him back off. But it would only be a temporary reprieve, because I knew Matthew wouldn't be returning. It was another thing I had to worry about on top of everything else.

"Thanks for stopping by," I said coolly. I was intent on this encounter coming to an end.

"Take care," he said, still lingering.

I closed the door and leaned against it.

"He is a persistent idiot, isn't he?"