Matt paced back and forth in his sister Alice’s apartment, his every step punctuated by the sharp click of his polished shoes on the wooden floor. His jaw was set, his dark eyes stormy with frustration. He ran a hand through his neatly cropped black hair, mussing it slightly, only to smooth it back down moments later.
Alice watched him from her perch on the couch, her expression a mixture of concern and exasperation. She had tried reasoning with him for the better part of an hour, but Matt was as unyielding as ever.
“Matt, you need to calm down,” she said, her tone firm but gentle. “This isn’t going to help anyone, least of all you.”
“I don’t need to calm down,” he snapped, his voice low but seething. “Do you know what today is, Alice? It’s Emily’s wedding day. And that Derek—” He spat
