I stop.
I feel her smiling on the other end of the line.
“I should have asked him to stay,” I say.
“Yes.”
“Maybe he would have said no.”
“Maybe,” she agrees. “But I do think he really likes you. He’s sweet. And he… He genuinely cares. That’s important. He came to Nashville for you, right?”
“Yes,” I say. “That was nice.”
“I bet.” She laughs.
Sometimes Annika is so annoying.
But if she’s right…
My eyes round. Maybe Mateo could be here with me.Permanently.
“You need to give him the option,” Annika says. “If it is one.”
“It’s one,” I say. “It definitely is one.”
“Good. Then go talk to him.”
I say goodbye to Annika, then go to call Mateo.
Except…
I chew my lower lip, then put the phone down.
CHAPTER
FORTY-THREE
Mateo
The eucalyptus scent fills the massage room, just like it always does. I am right where I am supposed to be. The fountain bubbles in its familiar manner, and I turn on my favorite massage music.
This is calm and peaceful. This is home.
I miss Florian.
But it’s fine. I think we’re good. We have plans for Christmas. And Florian already sent me a text last night saying he missed me and already sent me a text this morning welcoming me to work.
He is really sweet. And completely far away.
And perhaps…
I frown.
At some point, he won’t be sending me texts every day. At some point I’ll simply be a name on the phone. Maybe he’ll even meet other Mateos, and I will be Mateo from Boston or Mateo the Massage Therapist so he can differentiate us.
No.
No way.
