Chapter 28 #2
You never need to thank me for writing. Honestly, I should be thanking you for letting me. You’re the one putting up with emails about stubbed toes, after all. And what would that poem even look like?
“You have no idea how loud I just yelled—
my pinky toe smashed into the coffee table.
Solid oak against flesh and bone, Anya.
Shhhhhoot, it hurts.
I’m not supposed to curse in these.”
Ahhh, yes. A modern masterpiece. You’re cheeky, you know that? You were messing with me with that comment, weren’t you? Did you think I would spend twenty minutes turning the emails into a little poem for you?
Well, it sucks, so you’re welcome.
I almost didn’t expect your sassier side to come out in these letters.
I swear, every time you’ve made a clever comment or comeback, you seem surprised by yourself.
I thought you’d been letting them slip out by accident, but written down?
That means you could have taken the words back, but you chose not to.
I will take any more sass you have to offer, meraviglia.
I love to see it.
I’m glad to hear you think you’ve made a friend. You probably have. I bet Rory is already calling you her bestie in her head, and is just giving you time to come around to the idea. She’d be lucky to have you. I can personally attest to the fact that you’re a great friend.
Also, I’m glad to hear you’re feeling up to branching out with food.
Food is one of my favorite parts of life, and I eat far too much of it.
Stealing pieces off of my family’s plates has become a large part of my personality, I’m afraid.
Far warning, I might do it to you in the future.
It’s a reflex. Simply jab me with your fork and I won’t do it again.
As for the rest of my crazy ass family, they’re good.
Things with Emilio are still a little weird after the whole Rayna/Melani debacle.
No one is really talking about it, and it’s not my place to bring it up, so I haven’t—for now.
Leon’s kids are growing like weeds. I swear they get bigger every time I see them, and they come around more often now.
I’m pretty sure Apollo is in love with Rayna, but I have no idea where that’s heading.
They’ll probably get married and have babies.
Apollo always gets what he wants and I’m pretty sure Rayna is exactly what he wants.
Yordan is cool, though. He’s basically already a part of the family at this point, so it would make sense to make it official.
Haven’t seen Nico in a while, but that’s normal. Remo’s been spending more time out of his room, though. Hanging out with us and the kids. Isobella likes him a lot, probably because he’s quiet.
Armani also agreed to hold off on some of the designing and renovating until you can participate, if you want.
I think you’ll like him. He’s pushy but in a caring way where he makes you hydrate and eat vegetables.
Don’t impress him too much when you eventually meet him.
If he thinks you have an eye for fashion or design, he won’t stop sending you clothes in the future.
It sounds like a good thing, but it’s also a curse. No one spends more money than Armani, and he will spend it on you if he likes you. It’s his whole thing, you’ll see.
Anyway, I better stop writing before I go on for too long.
Mi manchi, Anya.
Yours,
Matteo
Dear Matteo,
I’m going to adopt a cat. I don’t know when, but hopefully as soon as I leave here. I used to like them as a child, but I haven’t thought of them in far too long. How could I forget how sweet and soft they are?
We had five of them visit us today (there were dogs too, but I didn’t feel drawn to them at all), and the cats all had the silliest names!
Cookie the cuddly two-year-old calico cat liked me the most, I think. She licked my hands and purred at me a lot.
Pajamas was more shy. He’s two years old with black fur and green eyes. He tried to hide in quiet corners most of the day.
Bubble was the chunkiest one. A brown Burmese mix with golden eyes who loves to be brushed.
Lemon is a sweet, yellow kitty with blue eyes and one missing arm. She’s five but she looks so small, she could be much younger!
Mint was the most energetic and only six months old. A gray tabby with a stubby little tail and an immense love of catnip.
I won’t apologize for writing so many words about the cats before anything else. They were the best part of my day—no, my week.
I’m glad to hear your family is doing well, though!
Aunt Irina asks about you, so I try to give her some updates from you too.
I can’t believe I’m over halfway done. It feels like only weeks ago that I first started writing to you. I guess everyone was right when they said these days full of activities would go by quickly.
I hope time hasn’t been moving too slowly for you.
P.S. Rory is a friend, you were right.
P.P.S. I won’t hurt you with a fork. You can eat off my plate whenever you like. I won’t mind.
Yours,
Anya
Dear Anya,
I don’t think my days are going by as fast as yours are, but I’m not too upset about it. As much as I miss having our calls and seeing your face, I also feel grateful to have this time with my siblings and the kids. They’re growing up too fast as it is, unfortunately.
I’m so happy that you’re enjoying your time, and that it’s going by quickly. Also glad to hear that you’ve made a friend. Is she aware that I can’t be replaced, though? I’m afraid the place of your best friend has already been taken.
I don’t like to share. I have too many siblings. I won’t share you.
Oh, and I forgot to tell you, Apollo and Rayna are getting married, who could have seen that coming? I should have put money on it.
I’m happy enough for him, even though he’s spoiled. I kind of wish Rayna made him wait longer. He’s clearly the one who wants to lock her down instead of vice versa. They’re getting married soon, they’ll be wedded and bedded for weeks before you’re home.
Speaking of when you come home, have I told you I can’t wait for that?
I want to see you again.
Yours,
Matteo
Dear Matteo,
Only a few more days now.
I want to see you again too.
You won’t be able to get me another letter before I leave, but I’ll keep an eye out for more emails. I’ll call you as soon as I get home too.
I feel good. Better than when I came.
I don’t think I’ll have any issues if you want to come visit again.
You do want to come visit again, don’t you?
I feel ready to go out more, but I don’t know how I would do flying to see you.
Well, the you part would be easy. Tiffany and I are still working up to seeing my brothers again.
And meeting your family, that might be hard.
But unlike fifty-something days ago, I can see it happening in the near future.
Thank you for staying with me on this journey. I’ll never forget it.
Yours,
Anya