Anya
Which is good, of course. But he says he doesn’t trust anyone else to have friends. I just thought that maybe your dad was in the same boat?
Well, when she puts it like that, I can’t help but agree.
Matteo
I mean, you’re not wrong. He basically only has us. And yeah, there are a lot of us. But maybe having a friend who you didn’t give life to might be nice for him.
Matteo
We should probably get them girlfriends next though. My dad is pushing mid-fifties and hasn’t had a lady in far too long. Or is that too ambitious?
I hope my joking suggestion doesn’t come across the wrong way. I’m sure she has tough feelings where her father’s love life is concerned after her mother…but she said she didn’t want me to walk on eggshells around her. I’m just going to have to trust for now that she’ll tell me if I say something stupid.
And learn to beg profusely for forgiveness if I do.
Anya
It might be too ambitious for now. I know very little about romance, and I don’t see him opening up to anyone anytime soon. Maybe after we secure the friendship it will come easily, though.
Matteo
I can dig it.
Matteo
Also, I do believe we’ve just hit a friendship milestone of our own, Miss Morozov.
Anya
Have we?
Matteo
We’re conspiring together. That’s some serious friendship shit right there, if I do say so myself. Want to rob a bank next? Plan an art heist?
I picture her laughing at my ridiculous suggestions and make myself smile at the phantom sound. I wonder how soon I can suggest we try video-chatting to make the idea real. Maybe I’ll give it a month.
It would be nice to see her face again and watch the way she reacts to what I’m saying. I like the idea of it, of feeling like we’re in the same room rather than over 2,500 miles away from one another.
Anya
I’m afraid I would be a particularly bad robber. Too much anxiety, I think.
Matteo
That’s okay. I have plenty of blind confidence to spare.
And experience being a criminal, but I don’t think I need to point that out. Plus, most of my crimes involve violence, murder, and tax evasion. I’ve never actually robbed a bank. I bet I’d be really fucking good at it though.
Anya
How does one spare confidence to a friend?
I chuckle, coming up with something quickly.
Matteo
