21. Matteo
Matteo
MATTEO
it’s coming along
I give it three more weeks and we can start running beta testing
ASHFORD
holy fucking shit dude
you have no idea how excited I am
you’re an absolute legend
this is going to save so many children
MATTEO
I hope so!
ASHFORD
I know so
Evie’s blonde hair cascades down her back as she tips her chin, nose wrinkling. “Your surprise was to bring me to a grocery store?”
“What do you have against grocery stores?”
Evie’s glacial blue eyes slide my way. “Nothing, just an interesting surprise is all.”
I shrug a shoulder. “Thought we could try out a new recipe together.”
“You want to burn your kitchen down?”
A surprised bark of laughter escapes me. “No.”
“Well, that’s what will happen.”
“Come on, Dove, you’re not that bad,” I tease, leading us inside.
She reaches for a grocery basket but I swoop in before she can. There’s no way in hell I’m trailing behind her like an incompetent fool as she carries everything for me.
“You say that like you’re forgetting about the time I almost burnt the house down trying to make eggs on toast.”
I snort at the memory. “Trust me, no one could ever forget that.”
There’s one thing she’s right about—Evie is as cool as a cucumber in stressful situations. I’ll never forget hearing her from the bottom of the steps, yelling out a casual, “Hey guys, I called 911! The fireman will be here in a few minutes, but I put it out, don’t worry!”
Caleb and I took one look at each other before sprinting down the stairs to find Evie had burnt off the cabinets above the toaster. She just stood there looking a little sheepish but besides that, she wasn’t freaking out like I would have.
It’s why she’s been scaring me so much lately. I’ve never seen her so shaken by something before. She’s usually a rock amongst chaos.
I’ve been going half mad trying to figure out what happened, and in doing so, I’ve broken my first ever promise to Caleb. If he knew how distraught she was, he’d blow a lid, and that’s exactly why I haven’t called him.
I will if Evie asks for him, of course, if she ever so much as hints that she needs her brother, but something tells me that his well-meaning suffocation would only do more harm than good. Right now, I’d rather her fall apart in a safe environment.
Trailing behind me as I grab various ingredients, Evie asks, “What are we cooking, big guy?”
I quirk a brow at the new nickname. “Food.”
She rolls her eyes so dramatically I’m surprised they don’t get stuck. “No shit, Sherlock. What recipe are we trying?”
“You don’t like surprises, do you?”
“No, and you know that.”
“Thought maybe that would have changed over the years.”
“Nope,” she says, popping the p before jabbing a finger into my chest. Fuck, just the mere touch of her pointer finger has electricity running through my veins.
My fingers twitch at my sides, desperately yearning to reach out and touch her in any way, even if it were just a mere graze of her skin. Not being able to resist, my right hand jumps out, brushing below her chin as I tell her, “Chicken rigatoni pasta.”
Her eyes widen with excitement. “Spicy?”
“Of course.”
Bouncing on the balls of her toes, those plush pink lips of hers spread wide, making my heart skip a beat. “Oh, fuck yes! I’m excited now.”
“You were doubting my culinary skills?”
“Your skills, no. Your taste in food? Absolutely.”
“My taste in food is elite,” I object as she leads us toward the pasta aisle.
As she peers at me over her shoulder, I have the sudden insatiable urge to take a photo of her. It’s the first time I’ve seen her carefree since the phone call with Serena. There’s a lightness to her step, a spark of life behind her blue eyes, and she’s radiant.
I’m surprised there isn’t a halo hovering around the crown of her head.
I’ve fantasized scenarios similar to this, where we live together and go shopping, just mundane tasks made brighter by her presence.
I’ve dreamed about being in the grocery store with her, listening to her talk as I slide my hand around the lower part of her back like it’s second nature, then bending and kissing her.
My god, if she were mine, I’d kiss her all the time.
I’d make up for all the times I couldn’t, for all the moments my body desperately wanted to lean forward and capture her lips.
Evie pops my fantasy bubble as she says, “I’ve literally seen you eat bugs in Thailand.”
“Don’t remind me. I had no idea it had—” My words cut off as my gag reflex is triggered. “I still have nightmares about it.”
A shiver wracks her body. “That was disgusting.”
“The worst.”
“You know Caleb knew it had bugs in it, right?”
My jaw drops. “No, he fucking didn’t.”
Evie simply nods. “Oh yes, he did.”
Shaking my head, I reach forward and grab the pasta we need. “What a fucker.”
“He bet me twenty bucks he could get you to eat it. You walked right into his trap.”
My eyes narrow. “I’d be pissed you made the bet but I feel pretty good knowing you lost twenty dollars.”
Evie’s lips twitch. “Worth it to watch you eat a—”
“Don’t even say it.”
Her lips part anyway. Before she can utter the word, I quickly step forward, placing my hand over her mouth.
“Don’t you even dare,” I whisper teasingly, savoring her scent infiltrating my space.
Her lips spread, stretching into a smile behind my hand. She begins to mumble, one word over and over, and suddenly I have the overwhelming urge to silence her with a kiss.
My body thrums with a need for her that takes my breath away, a demand that only ever begs for Evie. My tongue darts out, wetting my dry lips, and at the slow movement, Evie’s eyes drop, heating as she watches.
“You just love pushing my buttons, don’t you, Dove?” My voice is hoarse, like broken gravel.
At the sound, her pupils expand, her chest syncing with my rapid breathing. I know she isn’t aware she’s doing it, but just like me, we lean forward, the magnet between us pulling and pulling and pulling—
Her chest brushes against mine.
Sucking in a hiss of air, I rip my hand away from her mouth and take a much-needed step back.
My body screams at me, hounding and thrashing, bellowing its demise and pleading to go back to her. She seems equally affected, half-heartedly teasing, “It’s my favorite pastime.”
Forcing my legs to move, to take one step after another, requires sheer will. Up and down the aisles, I’m wholly aware of Evie. I’ve never been so aware of anyone outside of myself.
We stumble upon the personal care aisle and Evie turns down it, scanning the labels.
“What are you looking for?”
“A face mask.”
“Any in particular?”
She shakes her head, nose scrunching. It’s my favorite sight.
She’s so fucking adorable.
“Not really. Google said self-care helps fight off depression, so I figured a face mask could do me good.”
I click my tongue. “Face masks get rid of depression. Noted.”
“Don’t mock me.” Snatching a jar of something gold and a little sparkly, she plops it in the basket I’m carrying.
“I’m not mocking you,” I say earnestly.
Her eyes lift to mine. “No?”
“I’d never.”
“I can remember a time or two where you made fun of me.”
“Not about this.”
Never about this.
Not when I’m terrified of losing her.
The clouds that were brewing as I walked around the grocery store trying to distract myself from kissing Evie opened up and let out a torrential downpour by the time we stepped outside.
Four blocks have never felt so long.
What was once a brown paper bag full of groceries is now disintegrated in my arms. Evie squeals ahead of me. She gave up trying to shield herself from the rain long ago.
“Where the hell did this storm come from?” she yells out through the howling wind.
My lips part to respond but a booming rumble of thunder beats me to it, one so loud Evie jumps. Another gust of wind comes for us, knocking her back into me. I catch her with an arm around her waist, and a shiver runs down my body—though not one from the cold.
“I got you, it’s just there!” I call out, gesturing with my chin to the apartment complex.
Clasping her tighter to my side, she ducks her head into my chest, making my heart soar.
Now I never want to reach the apartment.
Up ahead, Patrick spots us. Without hesitation, he steps into the storm, a raincoat covering his suit. He dips his chin as he opens the door, having to use two hands instead of one. “Came out of nowhere!” he says by way of greeting, waving us in.
The moment I usher Evie inside, Patrick lets go of the door, the slam joining the booming sound of thunder.
Evie and I stand side by side in the lobby, water dripping off us, my arms laden with soppy wet brown paper and food. I wince at the trail we’re leaving behind. “Sorry about that, Patrick.”
He just waves me off. “Nonsense, it’s just a little water.”
Before I can respond, the lobby is illuminated by a strike of lightning, followed by a rumble so loud it shakes the floor beneath our feet.
Patrick whistles. “Seems like we’re in for a damaging one. Make sure you have everything charged up and patio furniture pulled inside.”
“Yes, of course. Please give me a buzz if you or any of the other residents need an extra hand.”
He dips his chin, a smile on his lips as he turns to Evie, pointing at me with his thumb. “Always offering to do my job, this one.”
I snort before clapping him on the shoulder. “Everyone needs help once in a while.”
“That is true.” Patrick holds out his hand for Evie. “My name’s Patrick. I’m Matteo’s favorite concierge.” The corner of his eyes crinkle as he smiles.
“Is that right?” Evie asks, quirking a brow as she slides her gaze to me.
As another boom shakes the lobby, Patrick’s smile fades, the deep wrinkles set in his forehead seeming to double. “I’d go on up before it takes a turn for the worse. I’m worried the power will cut soon.”
“What about the backup generator?” I ask.
Taking off his hat, Patrick scratches his tightly coiled gray hair. “I’ve been nagging the building to replace it for five months. That thing is on its last leg.”
“I’ll send an email to urge them along.”