Page 41 of Wherever You Are

They all watch me like this is a college-aged flick that they’re very much invested in, and quietly, I push the door open.

“Rightthere, Mattie.God,” she moans, not even hearing me crawl out of the closet.

I stand up. “Oh.” I shield my face with a hand, blocking out the scene of a twenty-something dude going down on a girl in a miniskirt and floral crop top.

Should’ve stopped them sooner, Willow.

This is my penance. My dues that I must pay. “Um,” I start to say.

She gasps at the sight of me. “Mattie. Mattie!” Bed squeaks as they shift.

“Can you please leave?” My cheeks are hot. “This is my room.”

“Were you hiding in the closet watching us?” Mattie accuses heatedly, slurring some of his words, American accent and drunk-self clear.

“The fuckingnerveof that asshole,” Rose says loudly on the computer, which is faced towards my body. Not the strangers.

I drop my hand from my face.

They’re staring at the computer with confusion. So they definitely heard Rose.

I try to play it off as nothing. “Uh…no,” I tell them. “I was in the closet to block out the party. It was loud.”

“You don’t owe them a fucking explanation,” Ryke growls.

Mattie makes a noise of shock. “Is that Ryke Meadows?”

I should’ve muted the video chat.

The girl fixes her askew skirt as she stands, ignoring her hookup buddy or boyfriend or whoever.

Mattie squints, trying to place me. “You’re that girl.” He sways as he rises off my bed. “What’s her name, Dina?” he asks the brunette. “You know the dorky one with the glasses? She rarely talks and she’s always hanging around the hot blonde Calloway?”

I’m standing right here.

I don’t back up. Trying to hold my ground.

“I don’t know,” Dina says, putting her hair into a ponytail. “She asked us to leave, let’s go.”

“Thank you,” I say too softly. I’m not sure anyone can hear.

Mattie holds out a hand. “Wait, hold on.”

I shake my head. “The party is out there.” I motion to the door, laptop in my other grip.

“Come on, don’t be like that,” Mattie says, sounding kind. He offers me an amicable smile. “I’m even wearing the underwear Ryke, Lo, and Connor modeled for charity this summer.”

Dina snorts likeyeah right.Like he’s lying, and then she exits the room.

Leaving me alone with him.

He watches the door click shut.

My heart rate speeds. “Um…could you please go? I’m kind of busy.”

Mattie smiles back at me. “Do you have time for a drin—”

“Open your fucking ears!” Lo yells so loud, my speakers crackle. “She told you a hundred goddamn times to get out of her room. So get the fuckout before I make your life alivinghell—you’ll wish all I did was break your dick in two.” His voice is dripping in acid.