I don't know when or how I got outside, but within five minutes of breaking passed the door and into the lot, I collapsed and threw up all that I'd eaten prior to getting here. My emotions all washed over me as soon as I swiped the back of my hand across my mouth and I started sobbing uncontrollably. I thought for sure after my outburst Mateo probably went home, not wanting to deal with my drunkenness and the consequences of it, but I smelt him not even five minutes after vomiting behind the bush. He caught my forearm and slowly pulled me into him until he was able to sweep me off my feet without risking hurting me. I tried to find the words to apologize, but all that continued to escape me was choked sobs until he set me down in the back of an UBER and walked around to join me on the other side.

"You're okay." he assured, rubbing my shoulder. "We'll be back in a few and I'll make sure you get cleaned up."

I didn't deserve his kindness after what I'd snapped, but he didn't seem to be one for holding grudges, and I was too exhausted mentally and physically to try and speak further.

I wasn't sure how long it took to get back to the beach house, but when we finally pulled up, Mateo scooped me out of the back, thanked the driver, then carried me into the house. As soon as we were through the front door, I heard Bren's voice clear as day.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice closer when he spoke again. "Teo? Is she good?"

"She finally lost it on Sarah." Mateo replied, hugging me tighter against him. "She got sick in front of the building and has been crying since."

My brother was quiet for a while before I heard him ask, "Kate's not back yet. I sure as hell am not seeing my little sister—"

"I got it, man." Mateo answered, having already went over this in his head. "She's my girl. It's not like I haven't seen her."

But he hadn't.

"Kate was good?"

"Yeah, man. She was with a bunch of chicks when I left. When I got there she was with your mom."

Bren might have said something else, but we were moving again before I had the ability to try and comprehend it.

"I'm going to need you to stay up for another," a pause, then, "ten minutes or so, Mads. I need your help."

I squirmed slightly and he lowered me on to the top of the toilet seat, handing me my tooth brush a few minutes later. Reconsidering, he also handed me the trash bin, as if he were sure that brushing my teeth would cause me to get sick again.

Luckily, it did not and after brushing twice and rinsing with mouthwash, I sniffled and looked to the bath tub.

"Turn around so I can unzip you."

"No."

He massaged his temples. "Mads, come on."

"I don't want you to see me naked. Not like this." I crossed my arms like a child. "I already had a shitty night, Mateo."

"Mads, right now all I care about is getting you cleaned up. Your body or how attractive it might be is the last thing on my mind."

I tried to deny him again, but my body had its own mind and shifted so he could catch the zipper in the back. As soon as my dress had been discarded on the floor, he started the water and turned back around as I was unclipping my bra.

"I got it." I assured.

I very much did not have it. As soon as I tried to step into the shower, I tripped over the side. Mateo was prepared and caught me before I could slip and set me in. I immediately gasped once the warm water hit my back, but it didn't last long. Sometime during the water hitting me and Mateo discarding his shirt so it would be soaked, I started crying again.

"Remind me to never let you drink again."

I sniffled in response.

"If it's anything, I'm glad your mom finally knows."

That earned a sob out of me. I'd completely forgotten Mom had been witness to the fight.

"Hey, hey, no." Mateo obviously wasn't too familiar with comforting a drunk, emotional female, but he tried his best. "Look, I'll just keep my mouth shut."

He helped finish getting me cleaned up, before sending me to the bed in one of his shirts and a pair of his boxers. I knew he had no patience to dig through my packed luggage, so it was probably the best alternative.

"Mads, breathe." he moved so he was only inches from me in the bed. "You're okay. It's okay."

I shook my head, my entire body still trembling.

"Inhale. Exhale. Deep breaths."

I followed his order and did breathing exercises with him for close to ten minutes before I finally stopped shaking and was able to get a full breath out.

"You asked me Wednesday night if what I said to Sarah was a lie." he was trying to distract me now. "I'm only telling you this now because I know you won't remember much, if any of it tomorrow."

I turned my head to the right and stared at him, basking in the warmth of his body and stare.

"It wasn't a lie. God, Mads, if you had any idea how often I thought and still think about you, you'd think I was crazy." he caressed my cheek with his knuckle. "I think I first realized I had feelings for you when we were in middle school. You were almost thirteen, I was almost fifteen. We went to one of those dumb parties and one of my friends dared me to kiss you. They thought it was the funniest shit, me kissing you. Maybe it was because you were Bren's sister, I don't know."

"I was scared. I thought you'd freak out and run away or go off and tell all your friends I sucked. But you just stared at me after the kiss and started laughing nervously. Obnoxious laughing too. I should have been embarrassed or insecure over it, but I laughed too. I told Bren that night and he about knocked me out and warned me off. I killed it then, before it could grow. But high school, Mads, the second I saw you with that. . . with Ashton I hated it. I hated him."

He leaned forward and pulled strands of wet hair from my damp cheeks. "You were and always will be too good for him. When I heard what he did to you at your wedding I nearly dropped everything to drive my happy ass to him to kick his ass."

I closed the distance between us and snuggled against the warmth of his neck and chest. "You don't have to worry about him now."

"As much as I wished that were true, it's not." he said, lips inches from my ear. "You're just now starting to accept what happen and move on from him. Once you learn to love yourself again, Mads, I might stand a chance."

"I love you." I whispered. "I hate you too. But lately, it's been a lot more love than hate."

He chuckled, his chest vibrating against me. "That's kind of our entire relationship, Mads."

"Don't go." I couldn't even filter what was leaving me at this point. "Don't leave me."

"I'm here, Mads. I'm not going anywhere."

I lifted my head a little. "Not ever, Mateo. I don't. . . I don't want to go back home because I'll be alone again. In that big apartment by myself, staring at four walls closing in on me."

"We'll figure it out, Mads." Was all he said.

"I don't want to be here." I confessed. "This wedding is going to break me, Mateo."

He caught my chin with his index finger and moved it a fraction of an inch so he could stare into my eyes as he said the words, "Or it'll make you stronger."

"What if I'm tired of being strong?"

He hugged me tighter and rested his chin against my head. "Then I'll be here to catch you and help you through it."