Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
JADE
“Julian Hart looked at me as if perhaps my flesh was as malleable as the clay beneath his palms.” - Clara Foss, Painted Inferno
Ican’t believe I actually did it. My first draft is officially finished.
A sense of peace settles over me as I stare at my laptop. I just typed THE END and feel like I can finally breathe. I still have to self-edit and get it ready to send to my editor at the publishing house, but the hardest part is done.
I sit back in my seat, a deep sigh escaping me as I tilt my head back and cover my face. “Holy shit,” I say to myself, laughing as I shake my head.
Pulling out my phone, I find his name first.
Jade
I finished.
Matteo
Without me?
Jade
My book, Matteo.
Matteo
Holy shit, no way.
I haven’t seen Matteo since I spent the night at his house last weekend. I was afraid it would feel weird waking up in his bed, but he woke me up with the best blueberry pancakes I’ve ever had before he had to leave for a morning skate.
Matteo
That means I can finally send you these.
Jade
Huh?
Matteo
Two tickets to my game.
I’ve been waiting until you were finished, just so it didn’t feel like an obligation or set you back in some way.
My throat constricts as I read over his message three separate times. With the way he’s been with me, there’s a part of me that refuses to believe his reputation wasn’t just an exaggeration.
A link comes in his next message and it’s two tickets to a game later this month.
Matteo
Bring whoever you want, as long as it’s not another guy.
Jade
I would never do that.
Plus, there is no one else.
Matteo
Same for me.
Maybe we can keep it that way?
My heart comes to a full stop inside my chest. Is this his way of saying he doesn’t want either of us sleeping with anyone else? Because it sure as hell feels like it.
Jade
I would like that.
Matteo
Me too.
Theo and I are going to the bar tonight. Want to come?
Between his game schedule and me on the last leg of my deadline, we haven’t seen each other all week.
Jade
I don’t want to impose on your plans.
Matteo
Sunny, I would drop any fucking plans if you asked me to.
Theo won’t care.
Jade
Okay, yeah. That sounds good.
Matteo
We’ll be at Harry’s Pub at eight.
See you then, Sunny.
Jade
See you then
“Jade, you might be the funniest person I’ve ever met,” Lucy laughs, shaking her head. She leans against the high-top table, looking at Matteo beside me. “I like her, Matty.”
I glance to my left, catching his eye as the corners of his mouth lift. “So do I.”
“Matty has been unstoppable on the ice, thanks to you,” Theo smiles, nodding. “We all need to throw you a party if we make it to—”
“Don’t you dare even say the word,” Matteo cuts him off, narrowing his eyes at him. “You know we don’t do that.”
Theo lets out a laugh. “Shit, I know, but fuck...” He stops although he looks like he wants to continue. Instead, he shakes his head, silencing himself with a slug of his beer.
When Matteo told Theo I was meeting them, Theo asked Lucy to come too. According to everyone at the table, they’re just friends—best friends, really. I beg to differ with the way I keep catching him watching her.
Or, at least there’s something more there for him.
“Did you ask her about next Friday?”
I tilt my head to the side in question. “What’s next Friday?”
Matteo’s eyes widen slightly. “It’s just some stupid charity event for the organization.” He shakes his head dismissively. “I don’t even know if I’m going to go.”
“It’s mandatory,” Theo laughs.
“Please, he’s downplaying it,” Lucy interjects, scooting to the edge of her seat as she sips her martini. “It’s only the best thing they do every year. It’s basically just a gala with an auction.”
“That sounds really cool.” I smile at Lucy, ignoring the annoying dread in my stomach that Matteo didn’t tell me about it. We’re not dating, we’re not together. There’s no reason for him to invite me to all the things he does.
Matteo’s hand touches my forearm. “Wait, really?” I turn to look at him and his face lights up. “I didn’t ask because I didn’t want to add anything else to your plate while you were on your deadline.”
And just like that, he chases the worry away.
“I really appreciate that. Sometimes I get tunnel vision when I’m writing.”
“I know,” he says softly, his head bobbing. “I didn’t want to stress you out or pull you away from that headspace.”
“Hey Luce, let’s go get another round,” Theo says to her, sliding off his seat.
Lucy chuckles. Her drink is still half full. “Yeah, sure.” She gets up and they head over to the bar together, leaving just Matteo and me at the table.
Matteo’s eyes are soft and warm as he stares back at me. “Would you want to go with me, Sunny?” He clears his throat. “Be my date for the night?”
I know I really shouldn’t, we’re no strings attached afterall, but, “I’d love to.”
“It’s a black-tie affair. We’re supposed to be there a little early because they like to get pictures of the team and have the players walk in together.”
“I have a dress or can go get one,” I say, my stomach doing a somersault. “Do you want to just figure out what time I should meet you there?”
Matteo stares at me for a beat, his head tilting to the side as his eyes drag across my face.
They settle on mine and his expression softens into something unreadable.
“No,” he says, a ghost of a smile dancing across his lips as he gives his head a swift shake.
“No, I want you there with me. We will show up together.”
The air leaves my lungs in a rush. I thought he’d just want me to meet him there, not for us to arrive together like a couple. “Oh.” The word tumbles from my lips on a breath, barely audible, but I know he hears it by the way his expression shifts.
He purses his lips, conflict knitting his eyebrows. “I know this isn’t something that was part of our deal, so if you don’t want to come, I get it.” He shrugs, putting up a wall, like he’s indifferent to it all.
“I know,” I say softly, nodding my understanding. “Things change, though, right?” I hope he hears the longing in my words, and it’s obvious the second he does. The indifference vanishes and there’s a glimmer of hope shimmering in his eyes. “I’d love to be your date for the night.”
A slow and steady grin pulls on his lips.
“Alright,” he says, tipping his head in one quick nod.
“I’ll send you the details and let you know what time I’ll be there to pick you up.
” He pauses for a second and cocks an eyebrow, a smirk twitching to come to life.
“Or, you can always get ready at my house, too.”
His words catch me off guard and it takes a moment for my brain to catch up. “Yeah, I can get ready there.” This is foreign territory for Matteo Ford… and honestly, it is for me too. Nothing and no one in my past compares to whatever this is with him. No one even comes close.
“Okay, great.” He brings his beer to his lips. “We’ll figure out the specifics before Friday.”
I smile back at him. “It’s a plan.”
“No, Sunny.” He shakes his head, mischief dancing in his eyes as they burn into mine. “It’s a date.”