My gaze rakes over my reflection once more. My makeup is subtle and I’m just wearing a simple sweater and jeans. It’s not too late for me to change into a pair of sweatpants. I could pretend to be sick and just tell Matteo I can’t make it.
Before I get another chance to think over my possible plan, my phone lights up again. I’m half expecting another text from Ellie, but instead, it’s Matteo calling me.
“Hey,” I say, answering on the second ring.
“Hey, Sunny,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Is this a bad time?”
“No, no,” I sigh again. “Ellie bailed. She has to stay late at the office tonight.”
“Bailed?” His tone shifts and his voice is quiet, almost as if he’s hesitant to ask. “You’re still coming, though, right?”
I swallow. “I mean, yeah. But I feel weird showing up by myself and sitting alone.”
He’s silent for a second. “I’ll come get you. You can ride to the arena with me.”
My eyes widen slightly as I stare back at myself in the mirror. “I don’t want to trouble you. You have a game in?—”
“Two hours,” he interjects. “I’m walking out my door now. I have plenty of time.”
“Matteo,” I start, shaking my head to myself. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t,” he responds, his voice softer. “I want to. I’ll be there in fifteen.”
My heart kicks into overdrive as we end the call and suddenly, I’m moving like a whirlwind around my apartment. I wasn’t anticipating leaving just yet, so I quickly make sure everything is in place, double checking my outfit before grabbing my purse and heading down to the lobby.
I head out onto the sidewalk in front of my building to wait for him and he shows up in record time, pulling his dark SUV along the curb. The passenger door pushes open from the inside and Matteo is leaned across the center console, a smile tugging on his lips.
“You goin’ my way, beautiful?”
A giggle escapes me and my purse swings as I jog over to the car, hopping into the passenger seat. The car smells like him, woodsy and bold. He’s wearing a black sweatsuit with the logo for the Hillford Hawks over his left breast.
“Hey,” he says, mischief dancing in his eyes as I slide in.
I’m a little breathless. “Hi.”
His eyes linger, his gaze raking the length of my body as a slow smile creeps across his lips. “You look amazing.”
Heat spreads across my cheeks. “It’s just jeans.”
“Yeah,” he muses, pulling away from the curb. “But it’s you in jeans.”
“Thanks for giving me a ride,” I say, settling into my seat and securing my buckle.
He reaches for my hand, sliding his fingers between mine, resting our hands against my thigh as he runs his thumb along my skin.
“I’m just glad you’re coming.”
A warmth settles in my chest. “Me too.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, his thumb stroking mine as we head to the arena. My stomach does a somersault as hepulls into the parking lot for the players. A sudden nervousness settles over me.
This isn’t weird, right? We’re not together, we’re just friends showing up at the game. It doesn’t mean anything else.
I glance down at his hand still holding mine, resting against my thigh.
I swallow roughly. Yeah, totally doesn’t mean anything.
“Are you okay, Sunny?” he asks as he pulls into a parking spot, putting the car in park and killing the engine. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
