“Ask Matteo,” I advise. “He’ll tell you the same thing. Your brother’s wife…she has a big heart. She cares for her family and friends and wants to keep them all close. I’m sure she wants to know you, especially since she’ll be living here in the future.”
Anya considers that, playing with her hands as she thinks. “Maybe I’ll ask Matteo about it.”
“You should.”
“And about Matteo visiting?”
“If you want it to happen, we’ll make it work.”
Even if I can already feel my hair graying just thinking about it.
Chapter Eighteen
Matteo
Three Weeks Later
Ican’t remember what my days used to be like when they didn’t include talking to Anya. We’re constantly in contact, whether it’s texting, calling, or video-chatting. There hasn’t been a morning since meeting her where I wake up and my first thought isn’t wanting to hear her voice or needing to send her a text. She pops into my mind even before breakfast does, and if you knew me at all, you’d know how surprising that is.
Jade and Ana have started to talk to me about my new friend as well. Jade out of curiosity and longing for a connection with her sister-in-law, and Ana out of desire to tease me. I never thought that Cassio remarrying would result in another close sister for me, let alone one who acts more like another brother. I think she tries to push my buttons more than Apollo does.
My older pain-in-the-ass brother has been far too busy mentoring Yordan to get on my nerves as much as he typically would. I was almost jealous when I realized how much time andeffort he’s been putting into the kid, but I quickly got over it. Yordan needed him, and I didn’t.
Besides, I have more than enough stuff to occupy my time and energy. Like this impromptu meeting with Dad that I’ve just been summoned to attend. Normally, if anyone is being called to Dad’s office, it’s Apollo. Or even Nico, to be informed or what he’s needed for now that he’s taken over as our main enforcer since the passing of Uncle Cesar.
But today, Dad requested my presence and mine alone.
Knocking on his office door, I let myself in since it’s only half shut.
“Matteo,” he says, waving me in. “You got here quickly.”
“You called, I came,” I joke, giving him a mock bow as if he’s a king. And in some ways, he is. “Though, does it count as calling when you send Jade to summon me for you?”
“Would you have preferred I sent Apollo?”
I snort at his attempt at returning my humor. “Nice try. Overlord Apollo isn’t even home. I’m starting to think he doesn’t live here at all with the amount of time he spends elsewhere. Remind me to send Yordan a fruit basket or some shit for that.”
He huffs, gesturing to the leather chair facing his desk. “I’m sure he doesn’t need a basket of fruit. Now, sit. This will be quick.”
“Sit but this will be quick?” I ask, arching a brow but sliding into the seat nevertheless. “If I did something wrong, I prefer my reprimanding to be?—”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Dad cuts in, not allowing me to finish my quip. “I have a task for you.”
“For me?” I ask, head jerking back in surprise. “Since when do you give me responsibility? Did everyone else die and I missed the funerals?”
He rolls his eyes, unamused by my antics. “It’s not that kind of task.”
“Not an Outfit task, but a task for you?” My brows lift up slowly. “Are you finally letting me set you up? I knew you’d trust my matchmaking skills above everyone else’s. Tell me, Father, are we talking hookup or wifey?”
“Matteo.”
“What?” I ask innocently. “I need to know if we’re talking Tinder or eHarmony.”
“Matteo,” he repeats sternly, though he can’t hide his half smile.
“All right, all right,” I relent. “I’ll stop. What do you need, Pops?”
“I need you to go to California for me this weekend.”
