My Brothers Best Friend [18+]

Chapter Eighteen

Matt had a girlfriend once. 

She was called Serenity but she was in no way serene. 

Serenity was an only child who got whatever she asked for as soon as she asked for it. On her sixteenth birthday her parents bought her a shiny sports car that gathered dust for two years because she couldn't pass her driving test. When she did finally pass on her fourth attempt, her dad upgraded the never-used-car for the newer model. 

They dated for eight long and painful months. 

Serenity was in Matt's year, two years above me, but I already knew her by name before Matt brought her home. Everyone in our school did. You couldn't walk five paces down the hall without hearing her whiny, screechy drama-filled voice. 

As soon as she began dating my brother she was sickly sweet to me, and so were her popular friends, but it was obvious that she didn't like me. 

I found her spoiled and petty and bitchy. Matt was drawn to her like a moth to flame. 

He didn't care that I didn't like her because my opinion didn't matter. Apparently neither did my mothers, who clearly hated her too. 

Matt has always been the type to do whatever (and whoever) he wants no matter the consequences. 

Serenity was his only relationship. He adored her but she kept him on strings because she was rich enough and pretty enough to do whatever she wanted. She didn't break up with him outright, she just started sleeping with one of his friends. Matt pretended the breakup was mutual, and that it wasn't cheating because really, they weren't even together. But they were. 

Sometimes I wonder if Serenity is the reason he's so atrocious with women. 

That one relationship is all that's on my mind as I cook breakfast for myself and Skye, who's nursing her hangover by persistently rubbing her temples on the couch. Every so often she groans and attempts a few sips of water. 

Skye is the complete opposite of Serenity. The letter 'S' is all they have in common. Serenity was loud, selfish and annoying. She wouldn't have deserved Matt at his very worst and yet somehow he managed to put up with her, and be respectful of her, for eight whole months. 

The thought of it makes me mad at him. Skye is so good for him, and obviously smitten over him, and yet nothing from Matt - nothing except an occasional allowance of a one night stand which obviously does nothing good for Skye's feelings. I grimace at his easy dismissal of her. 

"I'm sorry about this," Skye groans. 

"It's alright, don't even worry about it." She looks at me expectantly, as if I should tell her that this is a huge inconvenience for me. "We've all been there." 

"Where did you even sleep?" 

"Noah's room," I reply easily. 

Her eyebrows shoot up. She shuffles into a more seated position, peering at me curiously. I press my lips together and shake my head. 

"Noah and Matt shared his bed." 

"Ah." 

I finish serving up the eggs and carry them over to the living room, setting a plate down in front of her. She moans, squirts ketchup all over them, and eats like it's the best thing she's ever tasted. 

She occasionally gives me a look that has me feeling self-conscious in yesterday's leggings and Noah's shirt. But then I remember that there's vomit in her hair, and figure she must just be curious about Noah's clothes on me. 

We don't talk until we finish eating. She fixes herself up in the bathroom while I do the dishes, and doesn't come back downstairs for half an hour. 

When she reappears she looks a lot fresher, with brighter eyes and no trace of the smudged make-up she was wearing last night. She sits back down on the couch as I warm my feet in front of the fire.