“Hey, man, we need to get out of here. Those chicks are only gonna get worse,” he announced, grinning wildly. “I think a couple of them are already on the phone to their friends.”
“Sure,” I agreed, gulping down the last of my latte and picking my backpack up from the floor.
“What’s with the bag?” Matt asked curiously, tucking his dark-blond hair behind his ear.
“I’ll explain later.”
Raising an enquiring eyebrow, Matt led us out of the coffee house, stopping a few times along the way to kiss a few girls on the cheek. When we reached his car, more girls were surrounding it, but instead of being frustrated Matt stopped yet again to chat with them all.
“Don’t you miss your privacy?” I asked when we finally got into his car.
“Not often. Those fans are the reason I get to live the life I do. I owe everything to them.” Matt brought his impressive engine to life with a soft purr and I wondered where he was taking us.
“Wow. I think that’s the sincerest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
“I’m not a total douchebag, despite what Sawyer tells you. So again, what’s with the bag?”
“I need a new place to stay.” I shrugged. “Not having much luck so far.”
“What’s happened? You had a fight with Ry?”
“Kind of. If I’m honest I don’t really know what the fuck happened.”
“You pissed him off?”
“I told him I liked him,” I admitted, regretting that entire conversation.
“As in, like him like him?”
“Yeah.”
“Oooooh,” he said, drawing out the word. “So why did that make him mad at you?”
“I have no idea. Think I just pushed him too far.”
“Too far?”
Dropping my head, I sighed. I didn’t have the right, nor did I want, to delve any further into Ryder’s life, especially seeing as I didn’t actually know much about it.
“Think he’s just got a lot going on right now.” Like the fact he may or may not have been… raped.
“I’m sure you guys’ll work it out. You rim raiders are known for being dramatic,” he joked, exhaling a laugh. “Like, fucking hell, how long was Sawyer being a pussy about loving Jake for? I swear you guys live for the fucking drama.”
“Oh yeah, we love it. Nothing beats a good bout of angst.”
“You can stay at my place until Ryder pulls his head outta his ass.”
“No really, you don’t have to do that.”
“Where else you gonna go?”
“Um, I haven’t gotten that far yet.”
“Then you’re staying with me.”
“Well, if you’re sure, thanks, Matt. But only until I find a place of my own. I’ll be out of your hair real soon, I promise.”
“Don’t worry about it, man. My place is big enough for like fifty people.”
What was I thinking? Living with Matt would be interesting I guessed, and I was sure I was about to see more naked women in the couple of nights I planned on staying there than I’d ever seen in my entire life.
“I really appreciate it. Thank you.”
“You should still try and talk things out with Ry. You’re good friends. You two just seem to ‘click’, you know?”
“Yeah.” I thought so too, not so long ago. “I think he just needs some space for a few days.”
“He’s such a fuckin’ chick at times.”
“Christ, don’t let him hear you say that.”
“Yeah, he might hit me with his purse.”
I laughed. “You’re such a dick.”
“I pride myself on it.”
In that moment Matt pulled onto the long, private road that led to his luxury house. I couldn’t help but sigh as we drove through the canopy of trees lining the curved road. When I first came to LA with nothing, I didn’t expect things to be easy, however I did expect to be able to work hard enough to fend for myself. Yet now here I was, being taken in and pitied for the second time.
“Okay,” Matt said when we stepped out of the car. “Choose any room when you go inside. You know which one’s mine, right?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. He took me on a tour the first time I came here after bringing his drunk ass home. “I’m guessing I want to choose the one farthest away?” I teased, winking.
“You wanna know something depressing?” he asked.
I nodded, raising a dubious eyebrow.
“I haven’t fucked a chick in almost three weeks. Three fucking weeks.”
“Why?” I pressed, my jaw dropping slightly open in utter disbelief.
“Must be gettin’ old,” he answered, laughing without humor. “Guess I’m kinda, I dunno, bored.”
“Wait. You’re bored of women? Did I hear that right?”
“I’m bored of the effort it takes chasin’ ‘em, and the effort it takes gettin’ rid of ‘em the next day.”
“So what have you been doing with your time?” I asked, still slightly flabbergasted as he punched various numbers on the keypad by the door.
“Hangin’ out with Alex, sleeping, reading…”
“Reading? ‘Kay now I know you’re fooling around.”