“It’s who?” Ivan asks, his voice going low.
“Your father didn’t tell you?” I ask innocently. “He gave her my number himself. We have permission to be friends now.”
Something feral flashes behind his eyes, and I swear he’s about to get up off the floor to hit me. But before he can move, Dmitri clears his throat, sounding like a warning.
His anger turns to his older brother. “You knew about this?”
“I knew it was a possibility,” Dmitri tells him with a firm nod of his head. “Anya asked to be allowed to contact Matteo. And it seems that Father has decided.”
“Well, that’s just great,” Jade finally says, clapping her hands together to pull into her chest. “Matteo is the first friend I ever made, and I’m so glad Anya gets to experience that for herself.”
Whatever rage has been bubbling up in Ivan was effectively silenced by Jade’s enthusiasm and her reasoning for it. His brotherly protective nature activated instantly, but he knows me better than he used to. I’d honestly be a bit hurt if he genuinely thought I was capable of doing anything untoward to his sister.
“You’re going to make me all weepy,” I warn, swallowing back genuine emotion.
Being Jade’s friend and brother has meant just as much to me as it has to her. She grew up without all of us, hidden from our whole family by her straight up evil “mother.” But I grew up as the youngest of nine, never quite finding the close relationship that some of my brothers shared. I usually got along with almost everyone, but I was never anyone’s best friend.
Remo and Nico had each other as twins. The same for Elio and Emilio. Apollo, Leon, and Cassio were always the closest as the three eldest. Armani went ahead and attached himself to cowboy Colton as a kid. And then there was me.
Until there was Jade. Once she showed up? We were fucking inseparable. I attached myself to her side like glue, and she never once pushed me away in favor of someone else.
When she developed such a close bond with Ivan, I wanted to hate him—to kill him, even. But it didn’t turn out to be so bad. She has enough room in that big-ass heart of hers for the both of us. Somehow she never runs out of love to give, which is one of the reasons that she fits so fucking perfectly in this enormous family.
“Very well said, sweetheart,” Dad tells her, patting her thigh.
“Good, now that that’s settled,” I say, scarfing down the last of my sandwich. “I have friendship brewing and this is very delicate work.”
Jade scoffs, but I ignore it, seeing two new messages arrive back to back.
Anya
My psychiatrist, that’s who I meant by someone.
Anya
I don’t know why I do that. I shouldn’t try to hide it, like it’s embarrassing. Force of habit, I suppose.
Brave girl.
Matteo
You’re right, you shouldn’t try to hide it! I don’t think it’s embarrassing at all to take care of yourself however you need to.
Matteo
Besides, it’s a judgment-free zone here. That’s what friends are for, right?
Chapter Five
Anya
I’m supposed to try and do three brave things every week. Talking to Matteo Moretti, even over text, feels like I’m doing three thousand brave things. Exhilarating and terrifying things.
My father gave me the Italian boy’s phone number—along with a lecture about not pushing myself and letting him know if Matteo does anything to insult or frighten me—two days ago. I don’t know how soon after the wedding he obtained it, but it took me forty-eight hours to digest that I possessed it. I almost crumbled up the piece of paper and tossed it away simply to rid myself of the anxiety that comes along with not knowing what to do.
From our short time together at my brother’s wedding, I knew that Matteo was a confident person. He could probably walk into any room and find someone to strike up a conversation with. I had no idea why someone like him would pick me of all people to try and befriend.
Furthermore, I had no idea why the concept intrigued me as much as it did. I knew I wanted to see more of my niece andnephew, yes. But it was more than that. I could ask my father for more pictures. He would get them without a question.
