Chapter 10
CHAPTER
TEN
Mateo
Florian is sleeping, and I tiptoe from his bedroom. Our bedroom. Florian thinks I’ll be spending the night with him there.
I sit on the couch, then take out my phone.
MATEO: SOS.
GINA: OMG! Finally. You went dark.
MATEO: I’m OK.
GINA: Apparently!! You’re dating a super-hot NHL player who deeply adores you!
I cringe.
Florian told me he loves me.
But then, I told him I loved him too.
Can I go to hell for that? No, surely not, it’s not that terrible to say you love someone.
Hopefully.
It’s just that—I’ve never said that to anyone before. No one except Gina. And my parents.
No one romantically.
And now I will not only have to tell Florian that his boyfriend whom he, inexplicably, has decided he loves and has confirmed loves him back, is not in fact his boyfriend, is no one close to him, and that he has come out to his family and paparazzi.
Shit.
MATEO: He lost his memory, Gina. And he got… confused.
GINA: What???
MATEO: Don’t tell anyone!!
GINA: I won’t. But seriously?
MATEO: He woke up from a coma, and I was there. It was a natural assumption.
GINA: If I woke up from a coma, and a woman was there, I wouldn’t assume she was my girlfriend.
MATEO: Well, that’s you. It’s not his fault.
GINA: Hmph.
MATEO: I need clothes.
GINA: Oh, yeah?
MATEO: He thinks I spend a lot of time here! He’ll have questions if I don’t have things.
GINA: Lol.
MATEO: I need at least a toothbrush.
GINA: You want me to bring you clothes.
MATEO: Goddess!
GINA: Fine.
I text Gina Florian’s information, then I pace Florian’s living room while I wait for her to come. It’s nice. Of course it is.
It’s a one-bedroom apartment in a luxury tower in Seaport. Every appliance is new, every counter and cabinet gleams, and the whole place radiates expense.
I thought he would be able to sleep in one bedroom, I could sleep in the other, making some lies about crushing him in his sleep or something like that.
I pace the living room some more and wonder how upset Florian will be when he remembers all my lies.
The apartment is beautiful but not decorated. There’s not a single art print or poster or even postcard on the wall.
I look out at the tightly packed gray buildings outside. It’s started to rain, not uncommon in the fall in New England, and rain patters against the large, paneled glass.
I sink to the ground, then pick up my phone again.
There are more messages.
And not from Gina.
ENZO: You’ve been secretly dating Florian???
I stare at the message from one of the Blizzards’ hockey players.
We’re not close, not really, but Enzo and I joined the team at the same time last spring. He promptly went and married Axel Knight, one of the players.
But he’s friendly when I see him.
I stare at the message from Enzo.
DANIELA: Call me.
Fuck.
I call Daniela.
“Hi Daniela!” I say as brightly as I can muster.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, Florian’s out of the hospital,” I say. “Isn’t that amazing! And I’m here at his home helping him.”
“You’re all over social media,” Daniela says sternly. “Why did Florian announce that you two are dating?”
“Um…”
“Mateo.”
I hesitate. Part of me wants to confide in her. She’ll tell me to do the right thing, I’m sure. She’ll tell me to text Annika, get her over here, then leave the apartment.
That would be proper.
Of course, I will have told someone on the Blizzards staff that I’m a lying liar, but maybe they’ll understand when I explain about the heart monitor and everything. I didn’t expect to see paparazzi.
But then I imagine Florian waking up. I imagine him learning everything.
And I can’t do it.
The Florian I knew did not want to be out. I’m not leaving him to deal with all of that by himself. No. I’m not.
“We’re dating,” I lie.
“Mateo… You asked me for his address.”
“Because I couldn’t remember!”
“Mateo—”
“I mean, obviously, I know what building he’s in. I visit all the time. I just didn’t know for the rideshare company!”
“Oh.” She sighs. “So, you’ve been secretly dating Florian Richter.”
“Yes. He said so himself.”
“You know, I wouldn’t have expected that. He always seems to run in the other direction when he sees you. Chemistry is not what I think about when I think about you two.”
I wince.
Daniela doesn’t also mention that he makes about a hundred times my salary. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. But he’s a multi-seven figure NHL player, and I’m a multi-five figure massage therapist.
I can feel Daniela’s skepticism on the phone.
I inhale.
I need to be strong. For Florian.
“It’s possible that Florian and I aren’t the best actors.” I cringe. Did I just insult Florian?
Daniela giggles though. “No kidding. Acting discreetly does not mean running away from the person when you see them. Well. I suppose I’m happy for you, Mateo. I guess you’ll need some time off to look after him?”
“Well, he does have his family here…”
“Not the same as a boyfriend,” Daniela says.
I sigh. “That’s what everyone says.”
“Because everyone is smart. Please tell Florian that we’re all rooting for him to get well soon. And Mateo, what’s the amnesia like?”
“You heard about that?”
“Yes.”
“The doctor says that he will probably recover fully.”
“Good. Head injuries are dangerous.”
For a moment, I allow myself to think into the future. Will Florian’s life consist of regular appointments to assess his brain? Will he need surgery? Surgeries? And what about later on? When he is old and gray and perhaps his parents aren’t around to help him?
“Mateo?” Daniela asks. “Are you still there?”
“Yes,” I say. “It should probably be fine. I hope the team won’t be too sad when they wait for him.”
Daniela gives an awkward laugh. “You’re so sweet, Mateo.”
Something about her voice sounds off.
“Daniela? Is there something I should know?”
“Of course not.”
“Daniela.”
“Anyway! It was nice speaking to you!” Then Daniela clicks off.
I stare at the phone.
Weird.
What does Daniela not want to share with me? Is it something to do with Florian’s career? Are they trying to replace him?
Fuck.
Florian needs to get back to normal as soon as possible.
I get up from the couch. I tidy the kitchen, then tidy the living room, as Florian continues to sleep.
My phone pings. Gina is downstairs.