“You wouldn’t listen if I did,” I huff, standing up from the table. “Thank you all for dinner, it was lovely.” Until it wasn’t. “But I’ve been home for hours now and I’ve yet to see my room. I want a proper shower and some alone time, if you don’t mind.”
“And will you be calling my future nephew before or after your alone time?”
“Or both?” Nadya quips.
I ignore the two of them, reminding myself that I love them and the fact that they feel like they can tease me is a good thing.
“Eat dessert without me, I’ll come and get some more later.”
My little cousin jumps up to almost shyly offer me a hug goodbye, and I gladly accept it before heading upstairs. Despite how badly I really do want to shower, I can’t resist dialing Matteo’s number first.
It only rings three times before I hear his voice.
“Hey, stranger,” he greets, voice full of warmth and welcome.
“I got my phone back,” I reply dumbly, silently cursing myself as I do. Of course I have my phone back. I’m talking to him on it, and we already texted.
“I see that,” Matteo says, a smile evident in his voice. It’s like I can see it on his face, even though we aren’t looking at each other.
Why aren’t we looking at each other?
“Do you want to switch to video chat?” I ask, not feeling half as shy as I might have before. I want to see his face again. It’s been too long without it. “I have to do some stuff soon, but I wanted to talk to you first.”To see you first.
“Hell yeah, we can switch over. Do you want to see the kids? It’s almost bedtime, but they’re still up.”
No,I almost burst out.I just want to be alone with him.
“Maybe tomorrow,” I tell him instead. “I think my mind is a little busy and I don’t want them to think I’m not happy to see them.” It’s not entirely a lie, but it’s not the whole truth either.
I’ve been waiting for too long to see Matteo again, to see the man who wrote me so many beautiful letters and so many entertaining emails to have our time now be interrupted by anyone—even those two babies who I adore.
When his face fills my screen, my breath catches. His hair is just as messily styled as it always is, and his eyes are just as strikingly blue. The smooth skin of his face almost glows and makes me wish I could reach out and feel it for myself.
“There she is,” he says, looking at me in return.
I squirm under his gaze, stepping back to sit on the edge of my bed. I didn’t look in the mirror before calling him, but thankfully I don’t have anything on my face or any makeup out of place.
“You look…” he starts, the soft words trailing off his tongue.
“Different?” I prompt, running a hand down the top of my thigh absently, soothing myself before I can read too much into his loss of words.
I gained a few pounds while I was gone, a healthy bit of weight that has filled out my cheeks a bit. Tiffany claims she can’t see the difference, but I can. I’m not upset about it—I actually like it, I think.
“Happier,” he says, finally settling on the word. “Not different, but almost cheerful. It looks good on you,meraviglia.”
I can’t stop the blush that floods my face. “That’s nice of you to say.”
“Just the truth,” he argues, smiling as he does. “So, I’m going to pretend I’m not dying to hear what you have to say about Nico for a minute. I don’t want one of my smelly brothers to be the first thing that we talk about.”
A giggle bubbles out of me and I shake my head as I laugh. “What would you like to talk about instead?”
Matteo chuckles, joining in on the humor before asking, “What are your plans for the rest of the night?”
“I still have to unpack,” I say, almost grimacing as I remember how much I have stuffed in my bags that needs to be removed and sorted through. “I have laundry to set aside to be cleaned. I have to shower too, and probably do some skin care. I don’t exactly feel dirty from staying at the facility, but I hate not showering before bed if I’ve left the house.”
“I get that,” Matteo says with a nod. “I shower a lot now that the house is full of babies. Nothing prevents sickness like keeping germs from spreading. Feeling clean is always good too.”
“One of the best feelings,” I confirm. “You? Any plans for tonight?”
