Breaking Matt (Loving Bad Book 3), page 1
Breaking Matt
Regan Ure
Contents
Title
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
About the Author
Copyright 2017 Regan Ure
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblances of characters to actual persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. The author, Regan Ure, holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Cover Design: © L.J. Anderson, Mayhem Cover Creations
Formatting by Mayhem Cover Creations
ISBN: 978-1-911213-22-2
I dedicate this to my stepfather, Jeff.
Chapter One
I was sitting in the college cafeteria eating a sandwich while paging through a book. I finished the book and closed it. Checking my watch, I figured I still had a few minutes before Courtney would be meeting me so we could head together to our next class. I packed my book away and discarded the rest of my lunch in the bin nearby before sitting down again. Feeling tired, I rubbed my forehead as I surveyed the cafeteria. It was after lunchtime so it was fairly empty.
There were a few tables with some students grabbing a late lunch. My eyes drifted to the lone guy sitting and leaning back, openly watching me.
When my dark-brown eyes met his striking green ones, I felt a connection cross the distance between us like a shock of electricity vibrating through the cells in my body. Despite feeling a little unsettled by the immediate reaction to the way he looked at me, I refused to look away or show how much one look from him had affected me. I met his gaze with open interest. Most guys would look away, feeling intimidated, but this stranger didn't.
Instead he held my gaze. I didn't have a preference for looks when it came to the guys I got involved with; it was more a confidence, a way about them, that attracted me rather than them having blue or green eyes, or light or dark hair. I liked my guys strong enough to handle me.
I was honest enough to admit I knew I was high maintenance. It was probably why I was drawn to guys with a strong personality, because I needed someone to stand up to me. If I could walk all over the guy I tended to get bored quickly.
My body trembled slightly as I held his gaze and his smile deepened, showing off his sexy dimples. My stomach dipped at the open appreciation in the sweep of his eyes over me. He was gorgeous, and for a moment I was momentarily stunned at the physical reaction I felt with just a look from him in my direction.
He had brown hair with streaks of blond that reached just past his ears. But his most striking features were his eyes and dimples.
"Sarah." A familiar deep, annoying voice pulled me away from the sexy stranger.
"Ryan," I greeted stiffly, turning to the person who had interrupted me, leaving only a hint of friendliness.
His brown eyes were boring in comparison to the sexy stranger who had held my attention only moments before. Ryan smiled confidently. It only increased my irritation with him. I stiffly returned it, trying not to be blunt and rude but it was hard. It wasn't wise to encourage him with falseness. I had made it clear we were over. Most guys got the message and moved on swiftly with someone else—but not him. He was holding on to the hope we would get back together, but it wasn't going to happen. No matter how many times I told him, he still had trouble understanding. It had been a month already. How much longer would it take before he realized I was never going to get involved with him again?
"I didn't see you at the party on Saturday," he said, leaning forward with both hands on the table. He was used to girls falling at his feet. I was an anomaly. We'd hooked up for a couple of weeks before he'd become too needy, which had sent me running in the opposite direction. Ever since, he had been showing up all the time, trying to get me to go out with him again.
His closeness was making me uncomfortable. Sitting down with him looming above me made me feel intimidated and I didn't like the feeling. I collected my stuff and stood, evening the playing field.
"I had plans with someone else," I told him vaguely. The truth was I had been out with Courtney, but I wanted him to believe I had been with another guy. I hoped it helped drive the point home I was no longer interested.
My mind was pulled back to the stranger I had been looking at before Ryan had interrupted.
"I miss you," Ryan said, his voice softer. I shook my head as I hitched my bag over my shoulder.
"Don't." I didn't want to cause a scene.
Usually I was pretty good at choosing guys, but I had made a mistake with Ryan. He was too sensitive to have gotten involved with me. He had developed feelings I hadn't returned and it hadn't taken me long to grow tired of his clinginess.
"Sarah...we were so good together," he argued softly, straightening up to his full height. I had to look up at him for our eyes to hold.
"I don't know how many times I need to say this," I said. "We're done. It didn't work out and you need to move on."
His jaw tightened as he silently watched me.
"I'm sorry," I said. The truth was that I wasn't, but I needed to handle him with care. I didn't want this situation blowing up in my face. This wasn't the first time I had made a mistake with choosing the wrong type of guy, one who developed emotions even though I was upfront and clear about what I wanted out of the relationship. "But don't waste your time on me. Go and find some nice girl."
He was handsome in a preppy kind of a way. He had neatly cut brown hair that emphasized his toffee-brown eyes, making him nice to look at. I knew there were few girls who wouldn't jump at the chance to be his girlfriend. That fact only irritated me more. Why was he bothering me when he had his pick of girls?
"You're special," he said. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and I had to stop myself from saying something bitchy.
I gritted my teeth briefly, trying to find the right words to deliver my next message.
"I'm sorry, Ryan. I'm not interested."
I left before he could stop me or say anything else. I walked quickly, trying to get out of the cafeteria and put space between us. For a moment I remembered the sexy guy with the striking green eyes. He was exactly what I needed. I was on the prowl for my next guy and he would do nicely. Besides, it would help ensure Ryan realized I wasn't interested in him.
I got my phone out and called Courtney.
"Where are you?" I asked, walking hurriedly to my next class with a quick look over my shoulder to make sure Ryan hadn't followed me. Thankfully there was no sign of him.
"I'm on my way," she said, sounding a little out of breath.
"I had to move," I said, pressing the phone closer to my ear as I weaved through the students toward my next class.
I had already decided to wait outside there for her.
"Why?" she asked.
"Ryan."
There was no need to elaborate.
"Ugh! It's been a month already. Surely by now he would have realized it's not going to happen."
"Apparently not," I mumbled, feeling more annoyed that I had to make a point of avoiding him.
"I think you may have to be careful with this one. He is definitely stalker material." I didn't want to hear that. It was the last thing I needed. There was a hesitant pause. "Maybe you should mention it to your parents?"
"No way!" I shook my head. "You know what my parents are like."
I had spent half an hour on the phone with my mom reassuring her everything was going well and that I did not need a bodyguard. To a normal person it would be overkill; but in my family, having a bodyguard was like owning a pet.
My mother came from a very wealthy family and it was considered a reasonable precaution to ensure our safety. It didn't help that my father worked as a district attorney. He dealt with some unsavory characters and made enemies, which only increased my mom's insistence that I needed someone to watch over me.
"What if it gets worse?" she asked.
I frowned slightly. It wasn't something I had considered. Ryan was persistent—but dangerous? No, I didn't believe it.
"He's annoying, but harmless."
"Okay, fine. Where are you headed?"
"Our next class," I said, the door already in sight as I walked closer.
"I'll be there in five." She ended the call.
Despite saying to Courtney that Ryan was harmless, I wasn't really convinced he was going to leave me alone. I needed to move on to my next guy to ensure any hope Ryan still harbored would end with the realization that I had someone new in my
That would work.
What is he doing here? I thought when I noticed the sexy stranger from the cafeteria in my class fifteen minutes later.
I didn't remember seeing him in this class before. Maybe he was new. I allowed myself to watch him silently while he sat a couple of rows in front of me. He wrote something down before he leaned back, keeping his focus on the lecturer.
He was just my type. Hot and confident. It was a lethal combination I had a weakness for. I didn't want a nice guy—I wanted someone who would set me alight and keep me wanting more.
I was already daydreaming about having his strong hands with long slender fingers tightening their hold on my body. My body warmed with want. A few girls gave him a brief smile or a look over their shoulder, making it clear they were interested. He smiled back.
My forehead creased when I felt a moment of jealousy. They were treading on a guy I had already marked for myself.
Courtney gently poked me in the ribs and gave me a questioning look. I smiled and looked to the sexy guy. Her eyes followed mine.
"Nice," she whispered under her breath at me. I nodded slightly in agreement.
I was already coming up with a way to approach him and what I would say. I wasn't really nervous; I was more excited. I enjoyed the chase of getting the guy I wanted.
The rest of the class dragged on, and when it finally came to an end, I felt a jolt of excitement. My eyes were fixed on my target as he put his book away and hitched his backpack over his shoulder. Broad shoulders: another thing I liked.
"Go get him," Courtney said softly from behind me as I walked up to him, not giving any of the other girls who had shown interest in him the chance to make their move.
He turned and stopped when I walked up to him.
"Hi," I said, giving him a wide smile.
"Hi." His voice was strong and calm. Everything about this guy fit in with what I was looking for.
"Are you new?" I asked as we started to walk out of the class side by side.
"Kind of," he said. "I started a month ago."
"I'm Sarah."
"Matthew Weiss." The fleeting look he gave me was enough to make my stomach dip.
There was no way I wouldn't have noticed him if he'd been in my class for the last month. But I let it go.
"You free on Friday?" I asked as I gave him a sideways look.
"Sure," he said. "What do you have in mind?"
There was a thrill of attraction as his eyes briefly met mine. Oh man, this guy was hot. I didn't want to come on too strong because some guys were intimidated by that, so I decided to make a play but keep it light.
"There's a party on campus on Friday," I said. I told him where it was going to be. He nodded.
"Are you going to be there?" he asked, coming to a stop to give me his full attention.
I faced him. "Probably." The directness of his eyes made me swallow.
He got his phone out of the back pocket of his faded jeans and looked expectantly at me. I gave him my number. His fingers brushed over the keys as he programmed my number in.
"I'll see you there," he said before he walked away, leaving me slightly surprised at his sudden departure. I watched with growing interest as he disappeared down the passageway.
Usually guys gave me their number, not the other way around. This one wasn't needy like Ryan. He was just what I wanted, and he would be enough to drive home to Ryan that I wasn't available anymore. It was a sure thing to get him to back off.
"And?" The voice of my friend brought me back from my thoughts.
"I really like him," I said.
"You and every other girl with a pulse," she remarked.
I shrugged. What I wanted I got—and I wanted Matthew. There wasn't any other option.
"I think he's interested," I said, still remembering the way he had looked at me. It was enough to make me combust on the spot.
"He took your number," she said with a one-armed shrug, like she considered it to be a good sign.
Leaving it at that, we walked out the front entrance.
"Ryan alert," Courtney whispered beside me. It only took me a few moments to find his familiar form on the pathway I usually walked to go home.
"Crap," I mumbled, looking around quickly to find another way home.
"I'll distract him," Courtney said with determination. "You can sneak around to the side."
"I'll call you later," I told her before I slinked away quickly. I wasn't in the mood for another run-in with my ex.
I caught a brief glimpse of Courtney strolling up to him confidently. She flicked her honey-blond hair effortlessly as she focused her hazel eyes on my ex. She had his full attention while I hurried around the side of the building.
By the time I got home I was more than annoyed. Ryan was backing me into a corner and I didn't like it one bit. I couldn't continue like this. Something needed to happen for him to back away.
I rubbed the back of my neck as I kicked off my shoes and sat down on the sofa. I closed my eyes for a moment as I relaxed, putting my feet up on the small coffee table.
My phone started to ring and I opened an eye to glare at my bag. It continued to ring and I got up to fish my phone out of it.
"Hi, Mom," I answered, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. I adored my mother. She wasn't just a parent to me—she was also my best friend.
"Hi, sweetheart," she said, and the sound of her voice washed over me like a protective blanket easing all my worries.
"What's up?" I asked. We usually spoke first thing in the morning. She rarely phoned me in the afternoon.
"Nothing. Why? Can't your mom call you in the afternoon?"
There was something up. I could tell by the faintest sharpness to the tone of her voice. We shared everything. Why was she keeping something from me?
My mind ran wild with possible reasons.
"You know I love talking to you anytime," I told her cautiously. There were so many times I was grateful she was my mother. It made up for the lack of closeness I had with my father. He was the head of the family and issued orders like a drill sergeant.
My mother always explained his shortcomings on the fact he'd been raised in a family where there hadn't been a lot of affection or emotion. It wasn't something I could imagine and I felt sorry it had stunted my father emotionally.
"I just wanted to find out how your day went," she said. She was lying—I could hear it in her voice. There was an edge of worry that most people wouldn't pick up on but I knew my mom too well to fall for it.
Was she calling to make sure I was okay? Was there a reason I wouldn't be? There was a part of me that wanted to know, but there was also the part that didn't. Ignorance was bliss.
There had been so many times there had been a threat that had never actually materialized. So many times I had been worried and scared of something that had never happened. I wasn't going to allow that to happen again.
So I let it go and didn't directly ask her what was going on. Instead, I walked around the room talking to my mom about what she'd been up to and what color she had decided to repaint the house.
I didn't tell her too much about my day other than the college work I was busy with. It was the ideal opportunity to mention Ryan, but I stopped myself. It would just stress her out more and I didn't want her to worry. Besides, I wasn't convinced he was anything other than an annoying ex-boyfriend who was struggling to get the message that I wasn't interested in him anymore. I didn't believe for one moment he would harm me.
Chapter Two
Friday Night
Ugh! I thought to myself as I ducked into a nearby room, closing the door quietly behind me. I was hiding from my ex. He was looking for me and I couldn't stand to be around him. Not for one more second. I had reached the end of my patience. If he found me now there was no telling what I would do and say to him.
Enough is enough! There would be no diplomacy or tact in what I would unleash on him. I leaned against the door as I briefly closed my eyes. This was beyond frustrating.
Even setting him up with a beautiful girl from one of my classes hadn't worked. Vicky had been interested when I had suggested Ryan. I was convinced she would be enough to capture his attention, but he hadn't even given her a second look. I crossed my arms as my feelings of frustration gave way to anger.
