Beneath His Cold Charm

35

Losing Control

★★★

Matt stood off to the side of the room, watching the party unfold. People danced, laughed, and let loose, but all he could focus on was Zoey. He didn't understand what was happening to him. Ever since the sleepover, something had shifted. He found himself thinking about her more—wondering if she was okay, wondering how she was dealing with all the crap her dad put her through. It was infuriating. It was confusing.

And it was dangerous.

He wasn't supposed to care this much. That wasn't who he was. Matt Struniolo wasn't soft. He didn't get involved in other people's problems, and he definitely didn't catch feelings for girls like Zoey Williams. She was too... emotional. Too fragile. She had too many issues that he didn't want to deal with.

Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself.

But as much as he tried to ignore it, there was something about her that kept pulling him in. The way she smiled despite everything she was going through, the way she fought so hard to keep it all together even when it was clear she was falling apart. It made him want to protect her. To be there for her.

And that terrified him.

He had always been good at keeping people at a distance—good at building walls to keep everyone out. It was easier that way. No one could hurt you if you didn't let them get close. But Zoey... she was breaking through those walls, and Matt didn't know how to stop it.

He clenched his jaw, shoving his hands into his pockets as he watched her from across the room. She was standing near the dance floor, looking a little lost in thought. He couldn't help but feel protective of her, even though he knew he shouldn't.

And then that guy approached her.

Matt felt his whole body tense up as he watched the exchange. He couldn't hear what the guy was saying, but he could see the way Zoey's expression changed. She was uncomfortable, that much was clear. And then the guy reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Before Matt even realized what he was doing, he was moving. His feet carried him across the room, and before he knew it, he was standing between Zoey and the guy, his hand on the jerk's shoulder.

"Get your hands off her," Matt said, his voice low and cold.

The guy backed off quickly, but Matt could still feel the anger burning inside him. He wanted to do more—he wanted to make sure that guy never bothered Zoey again. But instead, he kept his cool and let the guy walk away.

When he turned back to Zoey, the fear in her eyes hit him like a punch to the gut. She was trying to act tough, but he could see right through it. She wasn't okay.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer than he intended.

Zoey nodded, but Matt could tell she was still shaken. He wanted to say something more, something to comfort her, but the words got stuck in his throat. This wasn't like him. He didn't do this. He didn't care like this.

But for Zoey, he did.

He wanted to pull her close, to tell her that everything was going to be okay, but instead, he just stood there, feeling more lost than ever. What was happening to him?

As Zoey walked away to join Emely, Matt stayed where he was, his mind spinning. He couldn't keep doing this. He couldn't keep letting himself feel like this.

But as much as he tried to push it down, the truth was becoming harder to ignore. He liked her. He liked Zoey Williams, and that scared the hell out of him.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. The music, the laughter, the party—it all felt distant, like it was happening to someone else. Matt was too busy wrestling with his own thoughts to focus on anything else. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to deal with this?

He glanced over at Zoey again, watching as she laughed with Nick, Chris and Emely. She looked happier now, more relaxed, but Matt couldn't stop thinking about what had almost happened. That guy had crossed a line, and Matt wasn't going to let something like that happen again.

But it wasn't just about protecting her. It was more than that. He cared about her—more than he should. More than he wanted to admit.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

He had to get his head straight. He had to figure out what the hell he was doing. This was supposed to be easy. He was supposed to be the cold, detached one—the guy who didn't get involved. But Zoey was changing all of that. She was breaking down his walls, and Matt didn't know how to stop it.

He wasn't used to this. He wasn't used to feeling so conflicted, so out of control. But when it came to Zoey, everything was different. She made him feel things he didn't want to feel—things he didn't know how to deal with.

Matt sighed, leaning against the wall as he watched her from a distance. He wasn't ready to admit it yet, but the truth was there, staring him in the face.

He was falling for Zoey Williams.

And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop it.

★★★