Realizing she’d missed so many meals hurt his heart.
But those days were over. His babygirl had the whole world at her fingertips now.
“You’re just in time. Our special dinner guest is almost here,” he told Annika.
Stepping closer to her, he could feel the warmth from her body. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and hold her all night.
Soon.
“Oh. Who’s coming over? Are they coming in the back?”
Matteo smiled as he shook his head. “Not in the traditional sense. See that light right there?”
He pointed to an approaching orb that seemed to be floating in the dark night.
“Yes,” she replied.
“That’s our special guest.”
“I don’t understand,” she admitted as the light came closer.
“Just wait, honey. You will.”
He almost moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist but caught himself before following through.
Don’t move too fast. You want her to feel safe here.
A minute later, the light arrived, revealing itself to be a drone. The humming noise it emitted was quiet but still audible as it hovered directly in front of Annika.
“Ollie!” she cried, reaching out.
The drone’s claw released its passenger and Ollie fell into her arms.
“How? Where…” She was speechless, it seemed.
“We have our friends to thank for this,” Matteo told her. “Meet Harrison and Stryker.”
The two men had been standing on the patio, off to the side, the entire time, along with Iris, Cami, and Lana. Matteo figured Annika had been so mesmerized by what was going on that she didn’t even notice them all, because she jumped a little as Harrison and Stryker stepped forward.
“Nice to meet you,” Stryker said. He flashed a grin as he held up the drone’s controller. “Happy to give Mr. Ollie a ride.”
“Yeah. Good meeting you, Annika,” Harrison said.
“You’re a movie star!” she cried.
Harrison nodded as he smiled bashfully.
Matteo had been around the guy now enough to know that it wasn’t false modesty; he was still genuinely a little embarrassed when people made a big deal about him.
“We’re both in the industry,” Harrison said. He jerked a thumb toward his best friend. “Stryker is a director.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that!” Annika said, still clearly excited.
“Hey, no big deal,” Stryker told her. “No one ever recognizes directors unless it’s Scorsese or Spielberg or someone like bigand well known. I actually like it that way. Let’s me keep a low profile, unlike Mr. Bigshot here.”
Harrison laughed. “Please.”
“I love movies,” Annika said. “That’s why I originally came to Hollywood. Not to be in them or anything. I’ve never been pretty enough for that. But to work at a studio. It’s my dream!”
