The Elaborate Parent Trap

Chapter Seventeen

It was the fourth night of being away and Matt was hating it. The concert went great, but he was really missing River, Chris and Jade. He just wanted to go back to the hotel and call her, but he promised he would stay for the party tonight. Little did he know, he would end up regretting it...

"Jason! Please tell me you got the gorgeous brunette I pointed to." Johnny asked as they approached.

"Of course, I did. We got one for each of you like always." Jason replied and Matt Berry grinned.

"Not for this guy." Brian laughed smacking Matt on the chest taking his attention away from his phone as he looked up and smirked. "He's preoccupied with a cute little blonde back home." Brian laughed.

"Yeah right." Matt Berry snorted.

"No really." Zack laughed. "She's already got his balls in a vice grip." Zack snickered.

"We're not even in America. Chill bro, she's not gonna find out." Jason smiled, bring over a cute little brunette. "Rebecca, Matt. Matt, Rebecca." Jason introduced them as the woman smiled and sat herself in Matt's lap.

"Hi, handsome." She greeted.

Matt pushed her off his lap and stood quickly. "Look, I'm sorry but I'm really not interested. I'm taken and my girl is back home with our kids." Matt told the woman.

Sadly, Matt did not notice the nosey person snapping photos off to the side of the room. The woman looked guilty as she apologized to him, "I'm so sorry. I'm no homewrecker. Your girl is a lucky woman. I'm so sorry and I really wish you the best."

Matt nodded and looked over at the twins shaking his head. "I'm going back to the hotel to call my girl and say goodnight to our kids," Matt told them irritated now.

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Matt was finally coming home tomorrow, and it had been a long six days for Chris. She loved spending time with River and Jade, but she missed Matt terribly. Matt called every night to say goodnight to the kids and her but she was so excited to have him back home soon. Echo was watching the terrible twosome while Chris stocked up on groceries. Chris had gathered everything she needed and was standing in line at the check out when a magazine cover caught her eye.

It was a photo of Matt, with some pretty little brunette perched in his lap... She saw the magazine and it felt like her world shattered. Her gut sank as dark thoughts began to enter her mind. Voices telling her she was not good enough, and she knew she could never keep a man like him satisfied. She reached out and snagged one, tossing it onto the conveyer with her groceries. Her emotions were running wild, but she had to keep them in check as when she arrived home, she would bid the kids goodnight before putting the groceries away and curling up in her bed.

When she did arrive home both kids were already in their jammies and Chris had told Matt to call Echo to bid the children goodnight so that had already been done. Chris hugged them tightly, kissing both of their heads as Echo took them upstairs to tuck them in. 

When Echo returned, Chris kept her emotions in check as Echo bid her goodbye. Once Echo was gone, Chris grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge and trudged upstairs to her bed. She changed into her own pyjamas and laid down. She unscrewed the lid from the bottle and took a swig.

She decided to check her phone and saw she had five texts from Matt but that only brought on more pain... She threw the phone into a corner and stuffed the magazine in her nightstand drawer. She felt herself sinking deeper into her head, so many thoughts swirling, her head spinning as she continued to drink away her misery.

By the time she fell asleep, the bottle was empty and her heart was crushed...

The next morning, Echo stopped by and entered the house. She could hear the kids in the living room and walked in seeing the kids eating handfuls of Cheerios from the box. "Hey guys. What's going on?" He asked.

"Mommy is still sleeping but River and I wanted to watch cartoons," Jade explained.

Echo was very puzzled by this. Chris was always up in the morning, something wasn't right. "I'll be back okay? I'm gonna go check on her." Echo told them, turning to head up the stairs. She made her way down the hall to her friend's bedroom. She found her curled tightly around a pillow in her bed. "Chris? What's going on?" She asked.

"The kids are fine," Chris mumbled, her voice sounding small and broken. "I've been checking on them," Chris told her.

"That doesn't answer my question babe. What's going on?" Echo asked and she heard a sniffle from the bed. She rounded the queen-sized bed to see her friend with tears falling fast down her cheeks. "Tink, what the fuck?! What's wrong?" Echo panicked.

"He lied. He doesn't want me Echo. God, he's in Europe fucking some little brunette." Chris cried quietly to her.

"What are you talking about Tink?" Echo asked confused. "Matt wouldn't do that, he adores you."

"Then explain this," Chris said grabbing the magazine from her nightstand and shoving it into her hands. "I thought he was different I was wrong..." Chris cried.

"What is wrong with me? Why do I always go for the assholes? I should have learned my lesson after Mitchell." Chris whimpered as Echo rubbed her back, still staring at the magazine cover.

"Can I punch him when I see him?" Echo asked but when she got no response she just let her friend cry quietly. "Do you want me to take the kids? I can text Matt and tell him I have the kids." Echo offered her.

"Would you mind?" Chris asked quietly.

"No sweetie. I'll take them and tell Matt to get him from me." Echo told her.

"Thank you." Chris whimpered.