He cuts me off before I can get the words out. “Pshh, never too busy to see their favorite uncle and their Anya. Besides, Irina is technically their great aunt or cousin or something. I don’t know how extended family titles work. We just use whatever feels best.”
“I will gladly take any title,” Irina replies, sounding excited by the prospect.
There’s more sounds of walking, and half of Matteo’s face vanishes as he moves around. “I’ll take this, thank you. I need to borrow this cute face, thank you very much. Be right back.”
“Matteo, you can’t hold them both and your phone at the same time,” a feminine voice protests.
“Ana, will you ever cease underestimating me?” He huffs. “I can bench press them and juggle their toys at the same time.”
“That doesn’t even make any sense?—”
“Bye, I’ll be back in a minute,” he sings. More quietly he begins to talk to what I can only assume is the twins as he walks away. “Auntie Ana doesn’t know how silly she sounds doubting Uncle Matteo, does she?”
In a matter of seconds, the video becomes clear again. Matteo has his phone propped up out of his hands, on what judging by the background surrounding him, is the kitchen counter.
As if holding them up to display them for us, he has Isobella scooped on one arm and Cesar on the other. His black T-shirt has gone tight as they sit on his hips, the fabric stretching to account for their weight. And his large, muscular arms make them look even smaller than they are.
“Sayhello, children, you’re on live.”
His voice startles me out of my staring and Aunt Irina immediately coos through the call. “Oh my gosh, they are absolutely precious. I wish I could reach through the phone and pinch their little cheeks, ugh. Isobella, isn’t it? She looks just like my Nadya did at that age.”
“Yes, Isobella and Cesar,” I answer for her, feeling warm and fuzzy as I watch Matteo kiss each of their heads. “Did they have a good day today?”
“Oh yeah,” Matteo confirms, rocking from side to side to keep them entertained. “Lots of fun today. We did water time, tummy time, and snack time all before the morning has even ended. Kids have so many times, don’t they?”
“They sure do,” my aunt agrees. “I’m so envious that your house is filled with such little babies still. I miss the baby days. My Nadya is twelve now, such a big girl. It’s so unfair how fast time moves in some instances and how slow in others.”
“Tell me about it,” Matteo agrees with a chuckle. “I feel like just yesterday Jade found us, and now she’s married with twinbabies. And at the same time, I met Anya only a week ago and I feel like I’ve known her my whole life.”
My breath catches, hearing that he feels almost the same as I do.
“Oh, hold on,” Matteo says, spotting something out of the corner of his eye. “Mama has come to take the babies. I must hand them over or face the consequences. I’ll send some more pictures and videos that you can share with Auntie Irina though.”
“I like him,” my aunt mouths as he disappears from view.
“He’s hard not to like,” I confess in a blushing whisper.
Matteo comes sauntering back into view and I have to avoid looking at his full frame. He’s so handsome and muscular, you can see it even when his skin isn’t visible. I never thought much of men’s bodies outside of ballet. Like, I understood there was a beauty in strength, but I didn’t find myself seeking it out to gaze at.
And once I developed my undeniable fear of men, there was no pondering their bodies at all. Still, somehow I keep wanting to look at Matteo. To appreciate his physique as well as his face.
It’s unnerving.
“Sorry that was such a short meeting. Cesar is actually calm enough for a nap today so Jade is making damn sure it happens.”
I laugh, nodding in understanding.
“Cesar likes to fight sleep,” I explain to my aunt. “He’s very interested in never missing out on anything that may be going on around him. He’s a curious boy. And sassy. You should hear how he talks. So sure of his words, even when they’re naughty.”
“Naughty?”
“Oh yeah,” Matteo agrees, grinning. “Didn’t that husband of yours tell you that he dropped the F-bomb at the wedding and Cesar mimicked him all too happily.”
“He did not,” Irina gasps.
“He did,” I confirm, hiding a smile. “Thankfully Uncle Lev didn’t teach him the word, just gave him an opportunity to show us that he knew it.”
“Well,” my aunt huffs. “I think I’ll leave you two to your talking so that I can go chastise him for swearing in the company of babies.”
