25. Evie #2
Matteo drops his sporting bag on the floor, his brow quirked. “Jesus I just spoke to him a little over an hour ago and he wasn’t drunk yet. Please tell me he’s being safe and wrapping up.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Ew, I didn’t ask if he’s wearing a condom.”
“But you asked him not to make you an auntie?”
“Duh.”
I wait for Matteo to move farther into the apartment, but he just remains standing there, staring.
Frowning, I eye him quizzically. “Are you…okay?”
“Yep.”
But he doesn’t move from the doorway.
Dubious, I can’t keep the confusion out of my voice. “Okay then…” Turning back to my computer, I resume scrolling on Pinterest, now searching the Greek islands.
The silence in the apartment is eerie, because as I turn my head, Matteo is still frozen. Throwing my hands in the air, I snap, “What the fuck, dude? Why are you being so creepy?”
“Creepy?” he asks, arching a brow.
“Yes, you’re standing there like a damn scarecrow. Move!”
“Are you demanding me to move in my own apartment?”
I turn to give him my full attention. “Yes, yes, I am, because you’re giving me the heebie-jeebies.”
He shrugs, but even that is stilted. “I like standing. Great for circulation.”
I stand, only remembering as Matteo’s eyes flare that I’m wearing the hoodie I stole from him…again. I can’t explain why but today when I was doing everything to take a leap of faith, I wanted comfort, and as it turns out, I was drawn to the comfort of his hoodie.
Clearing my throat, I put all the focus back on him as I round the couch to come to the kitchen island. “Move,” I demand.
“No.”
I point an accusatory finger at him. “Stop being weird!”
“You’re the one trying to herd me like cattle in my own home.”
“I’m not the one with a stick up my ass.”
Matteo rolls his eyes. I repeat, rolls his eyes!
“I do not have a stick up my ass.”
“Prove it and move.”
He takes one awkward step forward, and I don’t miss the way he slightly winces either.
Narrowing my eyes, I ask, “Did you get hurt?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing if you can’t move. Stop being so damn stubborn.”
Finally, Matteo sighs. “Fine, the guys and I were messing around in the parking lot after practice. Irving and Johnson were getting into it and I got caught in the crossfire. Happy?”
I move into his space, having to tilt my head back to keep eye contact. “Was that so hard to admit?”
He full-on scowls at me. “Yes.”
Scoffing, I wrap myself around him, carefully placing his arm over my shoulder.
“What are you doing?” he asks dryly.
“Helping,” I pant as I try to maneuver him toward the couch.
“Why?”
“Oh, shut up and just move,” I snap.
A deep chuckle escapes him until he takes one step forward and sucks in a sharp breath.
“How bad was the hit?” I ask, gentling my tone. It couldn’t have been good if he’s putting weight on me. Matteo never accepts help, but I suppose that’s due to his parents never being around.
“Not the best,” he manages to spit out through gritted teeth.
By the time we make it to the couch, I’ve surmised that whatever happened is worse than it seems. His body is locked up tight as he tries to hide the pain.
“What did Stacey recommend?” I ask, referring to the team physiotherapist. “I hope she chewed your ass out for mucking around with the guys.”
She’s heaven-sent. When my brother has been injured in the past, she’s made all the right calls on recovery.
Matteo slowly drops onto the couch, wincing. “No training for three days, but it’s just bad bruising so I should be fine for our hike tomorrow. And yes, you’ll be happy to know she had a stern talking with me.”
“Like hell are you hiking tomorrow.”
His eyes snap to mine, blazing. “I promised you we would go hiking. We’re going hiking.”
It feels good to be looking down at him for once instead of having a kink in my neck from tipping it backward. “Are you insane? We can hike anytime. We can go in two days when you’re better!”
“But I promised. I keep my word, Evie.”
“Ooh, you’re using my first name,” I tease. “This is serious.”
His eyes lock on mine, his forest burning like an inferno. “Keeping my word means everything to me.”
Searching his face, I see that he isn’t going to budge on this. “We can go in two days when you’re better. The mountains will be waiting for us and then you’ll still be keeping your promise, okay?”
His lips flatten into a tight line, but he eventually huffs out, “Fine.”
“Good, now let me take care of you.” Spinning on my heel, I head toward the kitchen, grabbing gel ice packs and a tea towel. “How big is the bruising?”
At Matteo’s incessant silence, I can’t help but roll my eyes. The man is so stubborn he could be having a heart attack and he’d drive himself to the hospital. Back on the couch, he eyes me warily.
Holding out the ice packs, I make a whirling motion with my hand. “Come on, show me where it is.”
“Just don’t freak out, okay?”
“Valenti, I swear to god if you keep trying to hide—”
My words die on my tongue as Matteo grimaces, lifting his shirt. The right side of his abdomen has already deepened to a purplish-black color. The ice packs drop to the floor as my hands smack over my mouth.
He closes his eyes slowly. “Don’t freak out, Dove.”
“Hell to the fucking no! I can freak out if I want! It looks like you got hit by a truck!”
His eyes snap open at that, dancing with humor. His chest rises on a silent laugh but stops just as suddenly as pain flares on his face.
Snatching the ice packs I dropped, I kneel on the floor and slowly place them on his side. I watch the pain course through him—the pain that he tries and fails to hide.
“You should have called me,” I whisper. “Did you drive yourself home?”
“Kieran dropped me and my car off. Grayson drove behind to take him home.”
I nod. “Good, at least I know you still have some brain cells tumbling around up there.”
“I have plenty, thank you very much.”
“That’s yet to be seen,” I tease.
As the ice begins to numb the area, he nestles further into the couch, letting out a small, relieved sigh. “Talk to me, Dove,” he whispers.
“What do you want to hear?”
“Anything.” He’s quiet for a moment before murmuring, “I just want to hear the sound of your voice.”