45 - Jessica

Oh my, gosh! So sorry, ladies. I thought I already updated here on Wattpad. I forgot all about it (I'm not active on here in the past few weeks). I usually update on Sundays/Mondays on my Inkitt account then update on here the next day. That's usually my routine. So, if there's no update here on Wattpad on Tuesday or Wednesday, just remind me. Maybe reach out to me.

Again, I'm sorry.  Enjoy!

***

Jessica

I woke up to the total darkness of my bedroom and a silence that strangely made my ears ring. I crawled off the bed and drew the curtain with half-closed eyes. I was expecting a bright stream of sunlight but instead saw the faint glow of sunrise coming from the horizon.

No, shit.

I actually woke up at the crack of dawn. I must've slept really early last night.

I slumped back to my bed, trying to recall everything that's happened last night. I groaned. "Oh, no. Matthew." I scrambled off the bed and hurried to the living room.

The couch was empty.

There was no trace of Matthew. In fact, there was no trace of anything. I think my apartment was a lot cleaner than yesterday. Or I'm just still a little foggy from my hangover.

I shuffled to the kitchen, wondering if Matthew stayed the night. If he did, where in the world is he now? Did he leave because I was a mess last night?

I looked down at my dress. Ugh, I'm still wearing the same one from yesterday. I marched to my bedroom, threw my dress into the hamper, and grabbed an oversized t-shirt from my drawer that said, 'Barbie girl.'

When I returned to the kitchen, all I wanted to do was press my face onto the cold kitchen counter to ease my headache. So, that's exactly what I did as I wallowed in my loneliness.

Matthew must've left and hung out with Harper.

God, I loathe the thought of that.

Also, I'm still feeling betrayed that my friends matched Matthew with someone other than me. They've been teasing me relentlessly the past few days, and then they decided Harper and Matthew are compatible all of a sudden.

In conclusion, I don't like my friends right now. Especially Harper. That saucy little minx can get any guy she wants. She's got a sweet attitude to go with her irresistible sex appeal. I mean, I would cave in if I were the guy!

"You're up early."

I froze. I slowly lifted my face off the counter and squinted at the guy walking toward me with a paper bag and a couple of coffees to-go.

Is this Matthew?

Is this real?

Or another one of my hangover-induced mirages.

"This mirage brought you fresh bagels and coffee. He also brought you a couple of chocolate cupcakes, in case you wanted something sweet."

Damn, I must've said it out loud.

Up close, Matthew's hair was a little damp and there were beads of sweat on his forehead. I realized he must've gone for a run. "Where'd you been, you little stinky?"

He faked a hurt look. "I brought an Advil, too. Be nice to me." He paused for a minute and grinned. "Barbie girl."

I narrowed my eyes. "I see, I'm rubbing off on you. I can't decide if that's something nice or not."

He chuckles.

I cross my arms across my chest. "Besides, the triplets gave me this shirt last Christmas. I refuse to feel ashamed."

He took the food out of the paper bag and laid it neatly in front of me. "How's your head?"

"It'll be all right once you give me that Advil you were talking about." I stick my hand out in front of me.

He put one on my palm.

"Thank you." I beamed and decided to offer him my bathroom, "You can shower in my bathroom."

He arched a brow. "Did you use the rubber ducks yet?"

"Hey, I told you those were for the kids." I didn't mean to send him the rubber ducks when I sent him the pictures of my bathroom.

Matthew laughed. "Okay. Save me some of the bagels."

"Oh, I need to make a disclaimer, though. You're going to smell like cocoa butter all day."

He gave a glance over his shoulder. "I'd smell nice, then."

Despite my headache, I let out a giggle. Meh, I have had worse hangovers before. I took the Advil, burned my tongue with the steaming coffee, and ate the cupcakes.

I opened the fridge to see if I had some leftover baked goods from yesterday. I caught sight of the burritos and almost did a happy dance. I had the strangest dream about burritos last night. I think this is the reason why.

I heated them up in the microwave and started digging in. By the time Matthew came back to the kitchen, I was halfway through my burrito.

He glanced at my burrito and then my face. "You found the burritos."

"Sorry, I fell asleep on you and the burritos last night."

"It's okay." Matthew took his seat next to me and took a sip of his coffee.

I smelled my cocoa butter soap on him. For some reason, I felt a sense of satisfaction.

Matthew's hair is a little unruly when it's wet. Now that I see it up close, his hair is curlier than usual. Despite that, he looked very polished.

"How was your sleep?" He asks.

I smiled. "It was great, I think. Still confused why I ended up waking up this early in the morning, but okay."

"Maybe because you fell asleep at six." He hid a smile behind his cup.

My jaw dropped to the floor. "Six? My gosh, what a loser."

"If it makes you feel any better, I fell asleep at seven."

A laugh bubbled up in my throat. "Yeah, that definitely makes me feel better."

My appetite made a little pause as the memories of yesterday's party came back. I was itching to ask my questions out loud. However, I wanted to ask him about Harper in the most subtle way.

What were you doing with Harper during my housewarming party?

Nope, I think it's too obvious.

Didn't you know that Harper is making a move on you, you adorably clueless man?

Oh, God. Too aggressive.

Am I going to get discarded now that Harper's in the picture?

Now, that's just wrong.

Will you go out with Harper instead of me?

I bit the tip of my tongue. I just made myself feel sad. If it were up to me, I'd just beg him to be with me. Maybe, chain him to my bed if he refuses.

Man, my thoughts are leading me onto a dark path.

A knock on my door mercifully snapped me out of my thoughts. Matthew and I exchanged confused looks.

"Are you expecting someone?" He asks.

My brows furrowed together. "No. Not at this hour. Probably one of your brothers who left something yesterday?"

He shrugged. "I'll go see who's at the door. You stay here."

I nodded. "Okay. You make sure it's not a psycho killer."

I have a long row of names on my approval list. It could be one of friends or family.

I heard him chuckle, followed by his footsteps, then the sound of said footsteps coming back now accompanied by several more.

It wasn't until I was taking a huge bite off my burrito that the guests finally came into view. I froze.

"Mom? Dad?" I still had the burrito in my mouth, so I don't think it sounded like that to them.

Then my grandmother came in last.

They weren't the least bit surprised to find their daughter/granddaughter with a burrito in her mouth. It was more like the fact that I was already awake (sure, it wasn't that early anymore, but still). And also, Matthew is in my apartment. With me.

"Hey, kiddo. Your grandma thought we could give you a surprise visit." My dad beamed at me.

Ugh, surprise visits. Suddenly, I remembered why I stayed at those ratty apartments. It was to avoid visits. My mother hated my previous rotting apartments and she didn't want to be anywhere near them.

I put down my burrito, some Spanish rice scattering all over the counter and on the plate. "Hey, Dad. What's up?"

"Well, you know, working hard. How about? Hardly working?"

There was a pause—more like an awkward silence. Mostly, because my dad's jokes had always stink. Not one of his many strong suits.

I forced a laugh. Then, I turned to my grandmother because I didn't want any more of his dad jokes. And he was embarrassing himself. "Grandma, should've given me a heads up."

She waves dismissively. "It wouldn't be a surprise now, will it?"

My mother had her eyes trained on me. She had that familiar look on her face whenever she saw a wrinkle on my shirt, a stray hair on my cheek, or a stain on my sleeve.

"I have to say, we were more surprised," he says gesturing to Matthew.

Matthew and I exchanged panic looks. I babbled an explanation... and kept babbling on.

So did Matthew.

We were talking at the same time, so we didn't make any sense.

My grandmother guffawed. "Okay, hush, you two. I want a tour of your apartment." She didn't turn to me though. She clutches a hand on Matthew's arm, and he has no choice but to give the tour.

I snuck him an apologetic smile before my grandmother and father took him away.

My mother stayed behind.

For a moment, we just stood in silence. Then, her heels made clicking sounds as she approached me.

My mother held a steady gaze.

I gulped. Usually, I can easily act tough around my mother, but not when she has those crazy eyes. "Hi, Mommy."

She retrieves a nice, clean handkerchief from her purse. She then swiped it across my mouth—not with a maternal gentleness. It was more like a harsh graze.

"Aww." I shot her an accusatory look.

She sighed, like I was still a child, griping about everything there was in my life. "You had bits of Spanish rice in your mouth."

"You could've just told me," I snapped.

"Well, you wouldn't do it right," she snapped back.

Our green eyes clashed in a glaring battle.

I was too determined to back down even when my eyes started to sting because I wasn't blinking anymore.

She sighed, surrendering at last. She ran a hand over her tight bun. As if a strand of red hair would ever dare stray. "I can't believe you walk around looking like a five-year-old around Matthew."

"Okay, another aww."

She didn't seem to hear because she just took in my kitchen with her stiff poker face. "A decent apartment," she murmurs, as if she needed to hear it out loud.

There was a genuine surprise in my mother's face.

I snorted, turning to my burrito again.

I heard my mother click her tongue. She was watching me again.

I locked my eyes on her as I chewed in the most un-ladylike possible. I must've done a great job because her left eye practically twitched.

I scrunched my nose. "Sorry, did I not breathe the oxygen right?"

My mother clicked her tongue. She unfolded her handkerchief and started tucking it on the collar of my shirt.

I gave her a blank look because she just made me wear a freakin' bib.

There was another glaring contest coming on, but Matthew, Dad, and Grandma came back.

My dad let out a sigh of relief. Sort of like a 'good, they hadn't killed each other while I was gone' sigh.

"Jellybean, I'm having a benefit at my mansion this weekend. I invited Matthew and he already said 'yes.' So, you'll both come."

I opened my mouth to protest, but I'd go anywhere if Matthew was there, so I just closed it back up.

Even if it means I'll be around my mother. Said mother seemed to have her own bubble now.

She just picked up every little grain of rice off the counter and put them in a clean pile on the side of my plate.

She then examined my kitchen with intense focus, then, drifted away to other areas of my apartment.

My dad followed her with his gaze, then turned back to me with an awkward smile. "Your mommy's just a little... something right now, sweetie."

Matthew and my grandma have a conversation of their own. Probably about more charity events she could whip up in the future.

It's only me and my dad.

And his dad jokes.

Happy reading, ladies! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.