Chapter 35
Chapter
Thirty-Five
WREN
“ S ooooo, what the fuck is up, bitch?” Delaney's voice sounds through the phone, making me smile.
It’s the day after what I have decided to call the best date of my life. True to his word, we cuddled and watched a couple of rom-com movies until we both fell asleep. And this time, when I woke up, Matteo wasn’t gone. He had one arm holding me against him and one leg hiked up over me, almost like he thought I was going to try to leave. If only he knew I couldn’t even if I tried.
When we finally got out of bed, he made me breakfast, and we just enjoyed each other's company. We didn’t talk much, but the silence was comfortable. After breakfast, he said he had to take care of some things at the restaurant, so here I am, lounging out by the pool with Rob baking away nearby.
“I don’t even know bitch.” I laugh. I wish I fucking did. “How’s work without me? Do you miss me yet?”
“Bitch, don’t even ask me that. You know I can’t stand Stacey’s dumbass. If she has to ask me one more time how to put a jack and coke into the system, I’m going to lose it.”
“She irritates the fuck out of me. I’m sorry you’re stuck with her,” I say, hoping she can’t hear the smile in my voice.
“No, you’re not.” Delaney laughs. “So, when are you coming back?”
“I honestly have no idea,” I sigh as I sit up on the lounger. “I don’t think Matteo has made any progress on figuring out what’s been going on.” If he has, he hasn't said shit, which is going to really get on my nerves. I need to ask him about that. “He still has someone with me wherever I go. Bitch, I can’t even lay out at the pool by myself.”
“That’s kind of fucking hot. I love me a protective man.”
“Of course you do.” I snort. Delaney loves any man that gives the aura of fucking crazy.
“Do you think he will let you go out for your birthday?”
Ugh. I’m dreading turning thirty. I know people say age is just a number, but this one feels different. I feel like I need to start planning my funeral instead of celebrating. I’ve been very careful not to tell Matteo about my birthday coming up.
“He’ll let me go, but I know he’s going to demand that someone go with me.”
“That is seriously going to kill the thirtieth birthday vibes, but we’ll make it work,” Delaney decides.
“Do I even want to know what you have planned?”
“It’s a surprise, bitch. I just need your sexy ass to show up. And if that isn’t clear enough, I better see a minimum of three inches of cleavage.”
“Three inches of cleavage. Got it, boss.” I laugh.
“Alright, I’ve gotta go. I’ll text you the time and place. Later, bitch.”
“Byeeee,” I sing out just before she hangs up.
Opening up the book app on my phone, I lie back down as I scroll through my library, which is quickly filling up with more books than I could even possibly read in a lifetime. Do I want to find out what alien smut is, or do I stick to my usual romantic suspense?
“You know the boss isn’t going to let you go alone.” Rob breaks my train of thought.
“Were you eavesdropping on my conversation?” I ask, not looking up as I continue to scroll.
“It was kind of hard not to when you can hear the girl you were talking to from twenty feet away.”
I pause my scrolling to shoot him a glare. “Delaney isn’t loud.”
“Sure.” Rob snorts. “And I’m a likable guy.”
I really tried to fight my smile, but a laugh bursts out of me as I lay back down, ready to get lost in a fantasy world. “You would be more likable if you stopped walking around like someone killed your puppy.”
Much to Rob’s dismay, I spent the rest of my day by the pool. It wasn’t until I saw the sun starting to set that I felt like I should probably get up and actually do something with my life.
After finding the house empty with no Matteo in sight, I head up to the room to shower off the tanning oil I had put on and change into the same pair of leggings and a sweatshirt that I’ve been wearing on repeat since Matteo made me pack some clothes to stay. Throwing my hair up into a messy bun, I give myself a once-over and decide no makeup. I’ve never been one of those girls who put on a full face to run a small errand or relax for the night. I just don’t get the point. Don’t get me wrong, I am jealous of the girls who look constantly put together. They just look like they have their shit together and everything all figured out. Those types of girls probably never have to worry if they’re going to be short for next month’s rent, which is what I’m currently doing because I haven’t worked in weeks.
If my calculations are right, I have enough money in my account to cover about two months of bills, three if I really stretch it. I know Matteo keeps telling me it’s all taken care of, but I don’t want that. I don’t want him paying my bills because he feels like he has to. It makes me feel like a leach, and I hate that. I’m sure as soon as I’m able to go back to my place, this thing we have going on will die down. Not on my end, no. I already know it’s going to fucking destroy me when he finally wakes up from whatever fantasy world he’s living in.
“Hey, Rob?” I call out as I jog down the stairs. I know he’s around here somewhere. Matteo would never relieve him unless he was home.
“What?” Rob’s permanently annoyed voice sounds from the living room. I swear this man only has one emotion.
I find him lounging on the couch with some baseball game on.
“Do you think you could possibly take me to my apartment to grab a few more things?” I ask in the sweetest voice I can muster. Delaney would be laughing her ass off at how fake I sound. “I just want to grab a few things.”
Rob’s eyes quickly dart from the TV to me and back. “Sorry, Wren. I’m under strict orders to not let you leave unless he gives permission.”
My face scrunches up in disgust mixed with annoyance. “ Permission ?”
Rob lets out a long, annoyed sigh as he sits up from his lounging position. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
“I’m not making anything harder than it needs to be.” I don’t appreciate being talked down to like this. “I didn’t ask for this. And I sure as hell don’t need permission to go get more of my stuff when I’m basically a prisoner here.”
“I don’t want to be stuck here any more than you do. But the Boss gave the orders, and there isn’t shit you can do about it. He’s occupied right now and won’t be back for a while. I suggest you go back upstairs and do whatever the fuck it is you girls do.” Rob relaxes back in his chair as he grabs the remote and turns up the volume, dismissing me.
What a fucking dick.
Fuck him, and fuck Matteo. I’m sick of being locked away in this house. Matteo was clearly just talking out of his ass when he said I was free to come and go as I please as long as I had a man on me.
Both of them can kiss my ass.