Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
MATTEO
“Compromise was a precious artifact. It was neither carved from clay nor painted upon a canvas. It was a shared glance. A subtle nod. An understanding that as much as we didn’t want to admit it, our ideas were better when they were intertwined together.” - Julian Hart, Painted Inferno
FORD FAM CHAT
Elena
Good morning, big brother.
It’s Dad’s birthday Friday. You’re coming to dinner, right?
Bella
Yeah, right. They haven’t talked since their fight last month.
Mom’s pissed, by the way.
She said you’ve been dodging her calls, Matteo.
Elena
She’s going to be more pissed if he doesn’t show up for dinner.
Bella
You and dad need to get over your shit already.
Elena
Do you know who you’re talking to? Matteo’s allergic to apologizing.
Bella
I feel like I’m in high school again.
Matteo
You’re not that far removed from it.
Elena
You’re the oldest, you should be the most mature.
Matteo
I’m not wrong in the argument. Dad knows it and doesn’t want to admit it.
Bella
Oh jeez, here we go again.
Elena
Friday night, Mom’s making dinner and everyone will be there. Including you.
Matteo
We’ll see.
Bella
You’re both annoying.
Matteo
You’re the ones who started it today.
Elena
For god's sake, Matteo. Shelf your ego for once.
Bella
Yeah, what she said.
Istare down at my phone and sigh, my shoulders sagging as I narrow my eyes at the text thread with my two sisters. You would have thought the age gap between the three of us would have made us not as close, but it’s had the opposite effect.
Our parents met, had a one night stand, and then I was born nine months later. The first five years were just Mom and me. Although I was young, I still remember what it was like without Dad around. The instability. The confusion of why the other kids at school had a father and I didn’t.
Regardless of what my mother says about how she couldn’t get in contact with him, I can’t help but wonder if she could have tried harder. What held her back for those five years? If we wouldn’t have gone to Aston, would I have even known my father?
I didn’t have a bad life with them. Honestly, I had an amazing childhood. Two years after they found each other again, Elena was born and three years later came our youngest sister, Isabella. Everyone calls her Bella, for short.
They’re both little thorns in my side and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. Although, in moments like this, when they’re crawling up my ass about something—yeah, the temptation to trade them in is very strong.
Elena
Call mom back. She’s been worried about you.
Matteo
We’ve talked through text.
Bella
She hates texting.
Elena
Can you stop being so damn hardheaded?
Bella
He’s a Ford, so no.
Matteo
The two of you are Fords. You’re the same damn way.
I’m muting the chat. I have shit to do.
Bella
Call mom!
Elena
Or else…
I snort, rolling my eyes. Please. They both inherited our mother’s fierceness. Although, I’m not afraid of either of them. What the hell could they possibly do? Nothing. They’re all bark, no bite.
Reminds me of someone else…another certain somebody I know who’s quick to show her claws. Someone I can’t seem to get out of my damn mind. It’s what I wanted, it’s what I made the deal with her for.
Although, it’s a bit unnerving.
She’s supposed to be a calculated, controlled distraction. My self-control has been a bit unhinged. I’m not normally bothered by women’s perceptions of me or my reputation. It’s common knowledge that I don’t do relationships. I’m known as the resident playboy for the Hillford Ice Hawks.
And for whatever reason, it fucking bugs me to think of her having that idea of me.
I run my fingers through my hair, then set my phone down on the counter as I prop my forehead on my hands.
She’s driving me insane. I can’t stop thinking about her.
I can’t stop finding bullshit reasons to text her.
She’s been busy writing and I’ve been on the road for the last two weeks, so seeing her hasn’t even been feasible.
I just got back to Hillford earlier today, and Jade and I have plans to go out in three days to celebrate her publishing deal. But I don’t know if I can wait that long to see her, not now that we’re back in the same city.
An exasperated sigh escapes me as I stand upright and shake my head. What the hell is happening to me?
My sister’s voice rings in the back of my mind and reluctance weighs me down as I find my mother’s name in my phone and press the call button. She answers just after the first ring.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mom.”
“Matteo.” She lets out a frustrated breath. “I’m so glad you finally called, but what the hell? You’re mad at your father, not me.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not going to give you the speech about making up with him again, but please tell me you’re coming on Friday?”
Do I want to go celebrate his birthday on Friday? Not really. Not after the fight we got into. Am I going to let my mother and the rest of the family down? No. I can’t do that to them, regardless of my damn pride.
“Yes, I’ll be there.”
“Oh, thank God,” she lets out a breath. “I know you and your father don’t see eye to eye on everything, but he’ll be so glad you’re there.”
I snort, shaking my head. “Doubtful.”
“Matteo, I know you might not understand, but he’s coming from a good place. He only wants the best for you and your sisters.”
Of course he does. Carson Ford loves the three of us almost as much as he loves our mother. He wants the best for us all, but he doesn’t want us to piss away an opportunity… which is exactly what he said I’m doing with my career.
“He has a weird way of showing it sometimes.”
“I know, I know,” she says softly, her voice trailing off for a second. “I’m glad you called. Don’t do that again, do you understand?”
“Yes, Mom,” I sigh. “I promise I won’t.”
“Good. You’re my little buddy. You may be bigger than me now, but that’s still what you’ll always be to me.”
A smile tugs on my lips. If you look up the definition of momma’s boy, you’ll see a lovely photo of me. I may have questions on whether or not she truly sought out my father after she got pregnant, but that doesn’t change the bond she and I have. Nothing ever will, not even a fight with my dad.
Even if I do act a bit childish here and there.
“I gotta go, but I’ll see you on Friday, okay?”
“Okay, I love you, Matteo.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
We end the call and my stomach growls in protest, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since this morning. I set my phone down for a moment, abandoning it to dig through the fridge for something to eat. As I pull open the doors, I deflate a bit when I realize I have no food.
I don't go to the grocery store when I know we’re going to be on the road for several games. Rather than wasting food, I prefer to eat everything I have and clean out my kitchen before leaving.
Normally I remember to get food after coming home, yet instead, I’m sitting here at dinner time with not a damned thing to make.
I glance at the clock on the stove. It’s already after six. I wonder if Jade’s eaten yet. Not that it’s any of my concern…
Although, this would give me an excuse to see her. If she didn’t eat and I didn’t eat, you know, we could just eat together.
I grab my phone and don’t hesitate to open our texting thread. A smirk tugs on my lips as I read over our texts from earlier when I was waiting for the plane to take off.
Sunny
I had a dream about you last night.
Matteo
Bet it was the best dream of your life.
Sunny
Wrong. You took me fishing and ditched me.
Matteo
I don’t even like fishing.
Sunny
Well, we went, and you left me.
Matteo
Why’d I leave you?
Sunny
I kept catching bigger fish than you.
Matteo
That’s fair. I don’t like to lose.
Sunny
I don’t think I like dream-you.
Matteo
What about real-life me?
Sunny
Jury’s still out.
Matteo
What if I apologize for dream-me? Will that earn me any points?”
Sunny
It might help.
Matteo
I’m sorry and I promise to never leave you while we’re fishing, which we will never do.
Sunny
Thank you for that. I feel much better now.
Matteo
Glad I could be of service.
Sunny
Have a safe flight.
Matteo
See you this weekend.
Sunny
If you’re lucky ;)
She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met before. She’s not afraid to give me shit and dare I say, I like it. That has to be the reason why I’m so goddamn hooked.
Hook, line and sinker.
Matteo
Did you eat dinner yet?
Sunny
Do pickles and a bag of chips count?
Matteo
Absolutely not.
Sunny
Then no.
Matteo
Let me feed you.
Sunny
Is that a kink of yours?
Matteo
You curious about my kinks, Sunny?
Sunny
Never.
I can’t fight the smile pulling on my lips. She’s a goddamn liar and she knows it.
Matteo
I wanna see you. Let me bring you dinner.
Sunny
Fine. If you show up with baked ziti, I’ll consider letting you in.
Matteo
I need your address.
Sunny
You didn’t memorize it when you walked me home? I overestimated you, Ford.
Matteo
It was nearly four o’clock in the morning. Give me your address.
Those three dots bounce on the screen for longer than I would expect for her to type in her address. For a second I’m worried she might actually not send it, right before it finally pops up.
Sunny
Text me when you’re close, I’ll meet you downstairs.
Matteo
See you soon.
Shaking my head to myself, a soft laugh escapes me as I open up the web browser on my phone to find the perfect restaurant to order take-out from.
At this point, she could ask me to fly to a different country to fetch her food and I’d probably hop on a plane without thinking twice.
All for the sake of our deal, of course.