Unspoken Memories (Unspoken Series) (14 page)

Since this is making me sick, being half upside down I just
yell at him, “Put me down Matt, I can walk perfectly fine.”

“You know you can’t. You’re such a light-weight. You got
drunk off two beers,” he says chuckling.

I don’t like that. “Hey, you’re the one who gave me those
beers, and I’m not drunk. Just really tipsy,” I retort with a hiccup.

Trey only laughs at me and tells Matt, “At least we know
she’s a cheap drunk.”

I scowl at Trey as best as I can, but I don’t know if it
really looks like a scowl from this point of view.

As I’m bouncing over Matt’s shoulder I watch the view below
me, taking in how his jeans are perfectly molded to his ass. Feeling brave, I
reach down and tightly grab one of his butt cheeks with my right hand, liking
the feel of it.

I suddenly feel him grabbing my ass in return, and I yelp
from the pain.

“If you touch, so will I,” I hear Matt say as we finally
reach the car.

He stands me on my feet, holding me by the shoulders, and
looks straight into my eyes. “If you feel like puking you’d better do it now,
‘cause if you do it in my car it will be the last time you ride in it.
Understood?”

Even though I know he wouldn’t hurt me, his tone is
frightening me. It also makes me pull my head back away from him with my eyes
wide. With the look that he gave me, I’m pretty sure he means it, and I don’t
plan on crossing that line.

I begin to analyze whether I need to throw up or not, and
once I’ve determined I’m good, I nod my head and get into the back seat of the
car. I sit back, leaning my head on the seat, praying that I don’t lose my
stomach on the way home.

It turns out that even with Matt’s speed racer driving, I’m
able to hold my cookies just fine. We arrive at the house and I slowly climb
out of the car and make my way in, going straight to my room. I throw myself on
the bed wanting to fall asleep already. As I’m about to, I hear the door open
and with the hall light I see Matt’s silhouette make its way in.

“Here take these and drink all of this.” I sit up as he
hands me two pills and a full glass of water. I swallow both and hand him back
the empty glass, tossing myself back onto my pillow. I feel him begin to take
my shoes off, and then he reaches for the buttons on my jeans, sending me into
high alert. My body goes rigid and my hands stop his, not knowing what he’s
planning on doing.

“I’m just taking your pants off so you’ll be more
comfortable. I really doubt you want to sleep in them.”

Since my head is still spinning, I close my eyes and lift my
hips as he continues to remove my jeans. Once he’s done, he starts to pull the
blanket from under me, and then brings it back up to cover my body. Still lying
there, I feel him give me a kiss on my forehead before saying, “Goodnight
beautiful.”

I hear his footsteps walk away, and then I hear the clicking
of the door. I’m left to sleep away my tipsiness.

WAKING UP THE next day to the sun
shining through my window makes me realize that I really need to get some darker
curtains for days when I just want to sleep in. I reach over to the bedside
table, looking for my phone, and realize it’s not where I usually put it before
I go to bed. This wakes me up in a panic. The last thing I need is to lose my
phone after just getting it. I scramble off the bed and notice my jeans draped
on a chair that is in the corner and I immediately rush to them searching the
back pocket where I usually put it, and it’s there. Thank god. I’ve come to
love my baby.

I quickly hop into the shower, hoping it will help wake me
up. Once I’m done dressing, I head out into the living room and instantly
notice that there are several guys sitting around watching TV. They notice me
walk in and some of them give me a casual head nod in hello. This is the first
time since I’ve moved in that we’ve had any guests, so it surprises me to see
them here.

I walk straight to the kitchen and pour myself a bowl of
cereal. I’m facing the front of the house, looking out of the window, wanting
to take in the view. I’m about to take my first bite, when I hear Matt say into
my ear, “Good morning beautiful, how you feel?”

I turn around to face him, which makes me bump into his
chest. I’m surprised by how close he is and I accidently spill some of the
bowl’s milk on his chest.

“I’m sorry,” I say to him as he’s backing away.

He just chuckles, grabs a dishtowel and wipes his shirt. “Don’t
worry about it,” he tells me.

“Why would you ask how I feel? You didn’t really expect me
to wake up with a hangover from two beers, did you?” I irritably snap at him.

He shrugs his shoulders and walks away, leaving me standing
there, eating my cereal. I look over in the direction of all the guys in the
living room and although there are only about five or six of them, you can tell
how close they are.

They’re joking with each other about their summer. What they
did or didn’t do, and I stand there staring in Matt’s direction. I wonder what
he usually does for the summer. Did he go home to visit his sister or would he
stay here and hang around? It was obvious he wasn’t in any big need of money.
How he had it was another mystery to me.

With every spoonful that goes into my mouth, I keep staring
at him, unable to control myself. Already knowing what he looks like half-naked
doesn’t help either. The desire running through me right now from looking at
him is burning high. It sends a current of electricity coursing through my
veins, that I want him to extinguish with his body.

Thinking about last night and wondering what would have
happened if I’d pulled Matt into bed with me doesn’t help. Would he have stayed
and satisfied both our lust? Or is that why he’d walked away? I know I wasn’t
over the limit drunk, but I had enough alcohol in me to give me the
encouragement I needed to follow through with the act.

No, I can’t think like that. Tipsy or not, Matt knew exactly
how much he could have taken advantage of me and he didn’t. Which only proved
that he had no intentions of ever doing so. He didn’t see me that way, and to
be honest, I don’t think he ever will.

As if sensing that I’m thinking about him, he looks up in my
direction for a split second, and stares right back at me. He flashes me one of
his wicked grins.

This is exactly what causes me to have these illicit
thoughts, his sexy eyes and wicked grins that leave nothing for the
imagination.

Knowing that he’s purposely trying to bait me again, I turn
my body around and proceed to rinse out my bowl. As soon as I’m done, I feel a
presence behind me and my body goes stiff, not knowing who it is. I quickly
glance over my shoulder and relax as soon as I see Matt standing behind to me.

“Sorry about the guys. Trey invited them over without
telling me, or else I wouldn’t have them stay,” he says, nodding his head in
the direction of the rowdy crowd filling the living room.

I look at him. “It’s okay. It’s his house too, I’d already
said you shouldn’t have to change your life because of me, but you keep doing
it anyways,” I say as I lean against the counter, trying to put as much
distance between us as it allows.

By the reaction on his face, I can tell he isn’t happy with
my response, but he just nods his head. “Okay. Well, heads up, now that
practice is starting up soon, a lot of guys might be coming over afterwards. If
you ever feel overwhelmed, all you have to do is let me know and I’ll take care
of it.”

I shrug my shoulders at him. “I mean it beautiful, if you
ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable just let me know.” As I’m looking into his
face, my hands are twitching from wanting to touch him. I don’t know what is going
on with me, but I have to try to get myself under control.

I simply nod my head again and thank him before I walk back
in the direction of my room. At least there I won’t be torturing myself looking
at Matt.

KNOWING THAT I needed to get out of the
house more often, I set up a shopping date with Kelly for the next day. My hope
is that keeping a distance between Matt and me will help get these crazy
feelings under control.

When she arrives the next morning, to say that I’m excited
is an understatement. I finally get to get out of the house without Matt and
with a girl, someone I can relate to. As we’re in one of the stores, preparing
to pay for our items, I begin to hear singing coming from somewhere around me.
It’s Big Poppa blaring near me, the ringtone is softened, but relatively close.

“Who would have that annoying ring tone?” I say, scrunching
my nose to Kelly. I start looking around the store trying to find where it’s
coming from.

Kelly’s face makes a frown at me as I look back at her. “Umm,
Abi. I think it’s your phone,” she says, pointing at my purse.

Oh crap, it is my phone.

The ringtone stops, and then within a few seconds starts up
again. I frantically start digging in my purse looking for my phone, wanting to
shut it up. Once I’ve found it I look at the screen and see Matt’s smiling face
staring back at me.

That fucker.

I’m going to kick his ass when I get home.

I quickly answer the phone in an effort to shut the ringtone
up. “Matthew Garcia, you are in big trouble,” I say quietly, scowling into the
receiver.

He’s laughing on the other end of the line, knowing exactly
how pissed I would be when I heard it. “Love my new ringtone, beautiful?” he
mocks me.

Oh hell no, this shit is getting changed as soon as I can
find a song to describe him, maybe something about being a heartbreaker or a
tease. “What do you want Matt?” I snap at him in irritation.

I know I shouldn’t be snapping at him, but I can’t help it.
He always manages to do these things and get away with them when it comes to
me. Wait ‘til I get my hands on his phone, he’s going to regret it.

“I’m out running errands, I just wanted to make sure
everything was okay. Do you have enough cash or do you need me to bring you my
card?” he asks me.

I’m done shopping. I’m pretty much wiped out. “No, I’m fine,
I think we’re done for the day,” I say, looking over at Kelly and she nods her
head in agreement as she’s paying the cashier.

“Alright, sounds good. If you need anything just give me a
call. I should be out and about for the next couple of hours.”

“Thanks, I’ll let you know,” I tell him.

He whispers into the phone right before he hangs up, “Bye
beautiful,” which makes my irritation fly completely out of the window like it
usually does.

He always knows how to do that. One minute I’m pissed at him,
the next I’m melting at his feet, even if it’s over the phone. Today’s shopping
trip was so I could avoid turning to mush with him around, and he’s managed to
do it over the phone. I need to grow a backbone and fast. Wanting to distract
my lovesick mind, Kelly and I keep shopping.

We hit another store with no incident. It’s when we decide
to take a casual stroll of window-shopping that the chaos begins. People begin
to recognize me and begin to approach. I try to be nice, wave, and smile while
I continue going about my day. But as more and more people keep approaching me,
Kelly and I agree that our shopping expedition is over and decide to leave.
Then the crowd starts to grow, and they even begin to follow me, not leaving me
alone. I panic, not knowing what to do, as they start trying to pull me in
different directions demanding autographs, or pictures. When I to cover my face
from the flashes they get angry. Kelly sees the panic in my eyes, but as she
tries to ward people off me they start to get aggressive with her.

“Back off bitch!” one girl yells at Kelly while trying to
shove a pen and paper in my hands. “It’s just a signature!” the girl says.

Another person moves up next to me asking, “Can I take a
picture with you?” and then proceeds to take the self-pic of us without me
giving her an answer. I move away, feeling like I need my space. “What, too
good for a picture?” she says when she sees me scowling at her.

I can’t believe how rude some of these people can be. I hear
everyone shouting at this point as I’m pushed in different directions and
surrounded by flashes. A couple of security guards show up and usher me into
one of the stores, where they shut the doors, and try to calm people down as
they yell through the windows.

A lady inside ushers me towards the back of the store out of
view of the crowds. She ends up being the owner of the boutique and asks, “Are
you ok?”

I see the concern in her eyes as she’s wringing her hands
and looks back and forth between the front doors and me.

I can hear Kelly talking into her phone, “Yes, they just
started attacking us. It really scared the crap out of me, David. Yes, she’s
okay. What do I do?” she asks into the phone, nodding her head at the same
time. After telling him which store we’re taking refuge in she hangs up and
walks over to me.

Looking really agitated and worried at the same time she
throws her arms around me to calm me down and asks, “Are you okay?”

The only thing I can do is nod my head and keep the tears at
bay. The last thing I want is to give these rabid fans the satisfaction of
knowing that I cried.

Rubbing my arm with her hand to comfort me, she says, “Had I
known this was going to happen Abigail, I wouldn’t have suggested we come.”

Now I feel guilty because she looks like she’s blaming
herself for this whole ordeal.

“No, it’s not your fault. I never thought this would happen
either,” I say. “This never happened when I was at a race or the Market with
Matt.”

We sit there hoping that the crowd will eventually grow
bored and leave. Less than ten minutes later, I hear banging on the door and a
guy shouting, demanding to be let in. I automatically tense up and Kelly and I
both look over to the doors. We see Matt trying to resist being pulled away
from the doors by the mall cops, so Kelly and I both walk over to the doors
asking the owner to let him in.

She rushes to unlock the door. I notice that there are still
a few people standing outside, as if they are waiting for me to come out. The
security guards finally let go of Matt when Kelly lies to them, stating that he
is my brother here to pick me up.

As soon as Matt clears the door, he rushes to me and
immediately takes me in his arms and I start crying. The tears I have been
holding begin to come out like a dam that has been broken.

“Shh, shh. It okay, I’m here now,” he says, rubbing my back
to calm me down.

Matt looks back at the crowd still waiting outside and then
at the storeowner. “Don’t you guys usually have a back exit or something?”

She nods her head, then leads us to the back of the store,
into what looks to be an office. Once we’re all inside she points to a door
that is against the back wall and has an exit sign above it. Matt nods his head
at her then faces me.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back,” he says right before he
turns to leave. As I’m about to follow him, I notice that he is jogging to the
front of the store, exiting it.

I’m left confused why he would leave me here. I’m still
scared and I want to go home.

After what feels like forever, but in reality must have only
been maybe five minutes, I hear pounding on the door that is against the wall
under the exit sign. I jump in fear, thinking that the crazy people have found
me again and are now trying to get in through the back door.

“Kelly, it’s me, Matt. Open the door,” we hear Matt shouting
as he’s banging once again on the door.

I calm down, relieved that it’s only him. Kelly and I both
head to the door and when she opens it I couldn’t be happier to see Matt. Even
though he said he’d be back, I still felt hurt that he left. I get even happier
when I see his car behind him in what looks to be an alleyway. Matt looks
slightly out of breath, like he usually does when he’s done running, and he has
a couple of drops of sweat on his forehead. He must have run all the way to the
car since he was only gone a couple of minutes.

He comes into the office, grabbing me by the waist with his
arm, leading me back outside into the car. Kelly is slowly following behind us
and climbs into the car, leaving me to sit in the middle of the front seat,
between her and Matt.

As soon as Matt is in the driver’s seat, he puts the car
into drive, and we take Kelly to her parked car. As Kelly exits Matt’s car, I’m
about to scoot over into the passenger seat, but Matt grabs onto my thigh,
shaking his head. I don’t need any words to know that he wants me to stay
sitting next to him, and I really don’t want to move either. After we make sure
Kelly is safely in her car, we drive off, and finally head home.

The whole time I am sitting next to Matt I have my head on
his shoulder, staring out of the windshield, happy that I am finally out of the
nightmare that just happened.

Matt’s hand is still on my left thigh. He didn’t move it
after Kelly got out, but had started rubbing his thumb back and forth on it,
sending a calming sensation.

When we finally arrive home Matt reaches to grab my hand. He
exits the car, pulling me out of the driver’s side with him, heading straight
into the house, and leads us to the couch. The minute we both sit down, the
events of the day finally catch up to me, and I start crying all over again. I
drop my head into my hands, but Matt grabs me by the waist, and pulls into his
lap. He’s embracing me tightly, letting me cry into his shoulder. The entire
time his hand is rubbing my back as he’s shushing me, trying to get me to calm
down.

I can’t believe that Bill was right when he said this would
happen. I had always thought that he wanted me to take a security guard so he
could keep tabs on me. I was just the ignorant one who refused to believe that
this could happen. It’s easy to do, since I didn’t know anything about my old
life. I had no clue what to expect, and I still don’t sometimes. I finally run
out of tears and I begin to calm down. I lift my head and notice that Matt’s
shirt is soaked with tears.

“I’m so sorry. I’ve cried all over your shirt,” I tell him.

“It’s okay, I’ll just have you do my laundry this week,” he
says with a light chuckle. I really doubt he would make me do his laundry, but
I’m relieved that he’s trying to make a joke out of it.

“When David called me and told me what was happening, I was
scared out of my mind. I felt like I couldn’t get there fast enough. I think I
must have broken at least ten different laws just to get there.”

I feel him sigh and he keeps my head tucked against his
shoulder, running his hand down my head and into the strands of my hair. “Please
promise me you won’t leave this house without me or Trey to protect you. I
don’t know how I would handle something happening to you.”

I can’t believe how I am feeling at this moment. My emotions
are all over the place, but the only thing I can say is, “I promise.”

I know I am taking the biggest risk ever by asking the next
question, but I do. “Matt, why are you being so nice and protective of me? I’m
nothing to you.” I brace myself for his response.

As he pulls us apart, he stares at me with eyes hurt by my
question. He sighs and runs his hands through his hair. He has a frown on his
lips as he starts to talk.

“The reason why I feel like I have to be so protective over
you is because I’m scared of losing you.” He looks out to the backyard, taking
another deep breath, he continues. “When I lost my sister, I felt like I lost a
reason to live, I had no one to protect anymore. She was everything to me, but
when you came to me that day claiming to have her memories, for a moment I
thought I was getting her back. As crazy as that sounds.”

I place my hand on his shoulder, saying. “It doesn’t sound
crazy, it sounds kind of sweet,” I tell him smiling.

Right then, I hear Trey, David, and Kelly walk in the door,
making me jump off Matt’s lap to stand. As they walk into the living room they
go straight to reflecting on how out of control my life was, leaving me
reassured that they didn’t see anything.

I once again had to promise, this time to Kelly, that I
wouldn’t go anywhere without someone to champion and protect me. David had
offered to put the football team on rotation duty, two at a time, against their
will if needed. Which makes Kelly and me laugh when she mentions that they
wouldn’t see it as a burden to protect me. This earned him a muttered curse
from Trey, stating that he wasn’t going to let half of them near me since they
were a pack of horny college guys anyways.

When Trey suggested that we have a couple of drinks, saying
we all deserved them after the day I had, I knew it wouldn’t be a good idea. I
finally ended up passing out from the four beers and God only knows how shots
of Patrón. The last thing I remember is putting my head on Matt’s shoulder
saying I was only going to rest my eyes for a moment.