Chapter 40 Mateo
MATEO
Rosa lets out a long breath next to me while holding onto my arm, and we stop in front of the rustic hotel’s door.
“You can do it. I’ll be right here if you need me.” Even if that’s a promise I shouldn’t say.
I’m still in denial of my feelings, so I can’t let her get too close. Our contract officially ends right after the last race of the season, in Abu Dhabi, and I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to it or not.
“Let’s just get this over with.” Nervousness fills her voice, brushing off my encouraging words. I’m impressed she didn’t fire this woman yet. I would’ve lost my mind already.
We knock, giving the guards—yes, there are guards and no, she’s not some celebrity—our invitations, then step inside. Only a few people are here aside from the workers.
The whole place seems busy. Some are setting up the tables, some are adjusting the flowers, some are checking the electricity, and not one person is bored.
“Oh my god!” A woman shrieks, and I swear if one more person screams when they see us, I’m outta here. I’ve heard enough this week. “You made it! Finally.”
She begrudgingly looks over at Rosa at the last word, then turns back to me with a creepy grin. Wow. Rosa really wasn’t exaggerating when she was telling me how awful the bride is. I know we listen and we don’t judge, but I’m breaking this rule now. I trust Rosa’s instincts and stories.
“Is that… Mateo Acosta?” Another woman shrieks, and I hang my head down while rolling my eyes. Seriously? Rosa only chuckles at my misery. Well, at least I know how to make her smile when she’s tense in the presence of her majesty.
“This is my mother, Ethel.” I try to suppress my laugh while I’m greeting her and the bride. I’m mean, I know.
“And you must be Rhea.” Ethel looks Rosa up and down with such disgust in her gaze that I clench my fist not to interrupt.
“It’s Rosa, actually. Nice to meet you, Gretchen.” I snort at her answer, but the ladies didn’t appreciate it so much. That’s what you get for being smartasses.
“It’s Ethel. And you better watch your mouth, darling, you were the one who blew the order from the flower shop, and my baby’s day is now messed up.
” She holds her daughter in a tight hug, that disgust still evident in her gaze, almost spatting on Rosa.
“I advise you to play nice from now on. I have some connections that could mess up your day, too, if I immediately fire you.”
“Oh, I’d love to see how you’d manage to survive today without a wedding planner. And the flowers? Let me guess, dear Julie didn’t tell you the whole story?” Ethel looks at her daughter, confused, just as I look at Rosa. “Thought so. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
Rosa grabs my hand and drags me away, making our way back to the reception. They give us one of the rooms on the second floor, and while we’re marching up the stairs, I start interrogating her.
“You gotta tell me the whole story. You dropped a bomb there. That was crazy work.”
“Well, you know I called the flower shop.” She looks back at me, and she continues when I nod.
“I confronted them about it and told them I asked for different flowers. They searched for our file and told me there was a call last week, where the caller demanded daffodils, even when they told them it was quite late to change the plan. They even paid extra for it. And guess what? It was a female voice. But the payment went through under the name of Arden Blake.” We stop in the hallway, drinking in her words, trying to put the puzzle pieces together without success.
“And that’s weird because…” I motion for her to continue, because I still don’t understand the story.
“That’s the groom. My theory is that Julie wanted daffodils in the first place, but since her mother is also a diva, she made Julie order roses.
And she called the flower shop to change it to daffodils, but she didn’t want her mother to find out, so she paid for them with her fiancé’s card.
And now she’s playing the poor victim so Ethel won’t find out.
” My eyes widen in shock, my mouth falling open.
Now I understand why Julie is like that. Her mother is the exact same. Seriously, this is your big day, and you have to go behind your own mother’s back to ask for the flowers you want because she doesn’t like the ones you want? This is one messed-up family.
“Well played, Sherlock.” I shake hands with her, then continue on our way to the room.
“Thanks. Now I just have to make sure everything else goes well today, and we can start tomorrow positively. You can stay in the room if you want. Hang out with others. The ceremony only starts at 4 PM tomorrow.” I nod, contemplating my choices.
I’m not sure this is a crowd I want to know more about.
We finally reach the room, then she puts the keys into the lock and opens the door. Fuck. I look at Rosa, trying to read her expressions, but she’s good at hiding them now. There’s only one goddamn bed.
It’s not like we haven’t slept together before in each other’s arms, but that was different. That was cuddling after sex, not forced to sleep beside my fake girlfriend. We walk a little more inside, and I start inspecting the room. There has to be somewhere else I can sleep.
“There! Look, there’s a couch.” I try not to sound too enthusiastic, and as much as it seems uncomfortable, that’s my best shot. We don’t have to make our ‘relationship’ any weirder than it already is, so I’ll gladly take the couch.
It’s a little separated from the main room, so we can even have a little more privacy. She sighs, then contemplates her answer for a moment.
“We’ll talk about sorting when I’m back.
Just a couple of hours to cool things down with everyone.
If I don’t come back by eight, please go and find me; they might have buried me alive.
You’ll…be good here until?” She takes a step closer, a sweet smile spreading on her face.
God, I wish she wasn’t so beautiful that it’s distracting me from my thoughts.
“Mhm. I’ll be a good boy. As promised.” She rolls her eyes with a smirk, then steps out of the room with one last wave.
I’ll be alone for at least two hours. What the hell am I going to do here?
Turns out, there is quite a lot of stuff I could’ve done here, but after I discovered there’s a gym, I stayed there. I worked out for about an hour; I mostly just ran, since I can’t do any normal thing with the plaster on, but time has passed.
Now Rosa’s back. I’m scrolling on my phone on the couch, ready for bed, while she’s in the shower. She’s taking her time in there, but she looked really tired. She deserves it. Reminder for me, try not to think about her in the shower.
She groans, stepping out of the bathroom in her pajamas, the oversized clothes making her look smaller. She falls onto the bed, but quickly props up on her elbows.
“So, let’s get down to business,” she says with a serious expression, and I try my best not to laugh.
“Alright. I’m sleeping on the couch. No negotiation,” I answer, putting down my phone and fully facing her.
“That’s not how businesses work, Teo.” She shakes her head, not liking my answer. “I can take the couch too. It’s just for two nights anyway.”
“You could, but you don’t have to. It’s an important day tomorrow, and you’re already tired. As you said, it’s only for two nights. I’d love to sacrifice my back for your success.” She laughs, shaking her head again. Fuck, I love this sound. Brightens my whole day.
“Are you a hundred percent sure? You swear you won’t make me pay for it?” she asks playfully.
“I am a hundred percent sure, and no, I won’t make you pay for it. This is not a favor. I’m just being nice. So take it while you can.” I wouldn’t ever change my mind, but she won’t know that. I’d even sleep on the damn floor for her if that’s what she’d need.
She thinks about it for a moment, then finally gives in. “Okay. Then thank you. Really.” She rewards me with a smile, and that’s all it takes for me to make my worries disappear about how uncomfortable I’ll be through these two nights.
“Good night, Rosa,” I say, waiting until she’s tucked in under the covers, then switching off the lamp.
“Good night, Teo.” I hear her mutter, then quietness takes over the dark room. Great. One more day survived. Now we can sleep.
“Teo! Mateo!” I jolt up in bed, startled by Rosa’s voice calling out to me.
My breathing’s heavy, my clothes are sweaty, and Rosa’s kneeling next to the couch, with a worried expression. Shit. I’ve dreamed about that night again. It’s been a while.
“I’m… I’m okay. Thank you.” I squeeze her hand that’s on mine to reassure her, but she seemingly doesn’t believe me.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She sighs, then sits down next to the couch, still keeping her hand on mine, now rubbing it in a soothing manner. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’d rather not,” I answer immediately. This is not a story she has to know about yet. “But thanks. Maybe someday.”
“Okay. But just so you know, I’m right here.” I smile weakly at her, peeling the wet shirt off me.
“Thanks. I should…take a shower.” She nods, scooting away from the couch, watching me disappear in the bathroom.
I don’t take too long this time, I’m too tired for this right now. I step out of the bathroom in fresh clothes, then realize that my pillow and blanket are now sitting on the king-sized bed next to Rosa.
“Why is my stuff there?” I ask, sitting down on the edge of the couch, already afraid of the answer.
“I thought it was time we negotiated those business terms.” She pats the spot next to her, inviting me to lie down.
“I can still sleep on the couch.”
She scoffs, dismissing my answer. “Absolutely not. It’s wet. You’ve had a nightmare. And we’re adults, I think we can sleep in the same bed without having to make it weird.”
I let out a big sigh, and then give in, laying down next to her.
I pull the covers up on me, then lay my head on the pillow facing her.
We’re just watching each other for a couple minutes before she reaches for the lamp, but I stop her.
I want to see her more. Just to make sure I sleep well and won’t have another nightmare.
“You…didn’t have nightmares before.” She means the couple of times I slept beside her. It’s not like I can control them, but it’s thanks to her.
“Yeah. I guess…sleeping beside you has helped.” I smile a little, searching for her eyes, trying to read her reaction.
I don’t know why I had one tonight, though. We were sleeping in the same room, slightly further away. Maybe that’s the problem. I was too far. I couldn’t see her, smell her, or feel her. Last time we were only a nightstand away, but now it was more than that.
“I’m glad I could.” She smiles, then reaches for the lamp again, and this time I let her turn it off. “Good night,” she says, then turns back to me.
I thought she was going to turn away, but she stayed like this, facing me.
Shit. This is dangerous. But even all the worry doesn’t stop me from reaching out to her and locking her hand in mine.
I ain’t letting her hand go until we wake up in the morning.
She’s my anchor tonight. And with a content smile, I fall back asleep.