Matt: “She’s fine.”
Karl: “Why didn’t you answer me?”
Matt: “I was in the fuckin’ bathroom.”
Karl: “What did she do today?”
Karl: “What the hell? You in the bathroom again? Don’t leave me hanging for 10 minutes.”
Matt: “Read in the garden.”
Karl: “What’s she reading?”
Matt: “Gone with the Wind… I think.”
Karl: “Good book. Is she eating well?”
Karl: “Matt…”
Karl: “Fuck you.”
And the texts went on and on in the same manner. As she was reading them, Claudia couldn’t hide the smile creeping on her lips. When she finally read the texts they had exchanged that very morning, a huge, bright smile took over her face and even Matt started smiling stupidly.
Karl: “I want you back in London.”
Matt: “Just me?”
Karl: “No, you moron. I want Claudia back in London.”
Matt: “You said you wanted me…”
Karl: “You, the both of you. But now you can stay there for all I care. See if you can ask her today.”
Matt: “I will.”
Karl: “Be subtle. Figure out if she’d want it too, first.”
Karl: “Matt, did you get that?”
Matt: “Yeah, subtle, got it.”
Claudia handed him back his phone and stared at the table for a long while. Her face had started to hurt because of all the smiling.
Matt cleared his throat. “Remember: not a word, or I’m history.”
She looked up at him. “Why? Why does he do that?”
He shrugged. “It’s quite obvious to me. He’s head over heels. Again, don’t ever tell him I said that. God, I’m digging my own grave!”
“No, Matt. Why does he blatantly ignore me, but stresses you with all those silly questions? Am I eating well…” She rolled her eyes as if to show she knew Karl surely had better things to think about. In truth, his genuine concern for her well-being made her heart flutter.
“He doesn’t know how to be with you. He’s never done this before.”
“Yeah… he’s never been with a woman,” she said sarcastically.
“No, silly. He’s never been in love. He’s never been with a woman he actually cared about.”
Claudia stared at him open-mouthed, not knowing what else to say. It sounded surreal. Sure, Avelyn’s feminine instinct had come to the same conclusion one week ago, but Claudia had found it hard to put her faith in it. Now, Matt was telling her something clear and, more importantly, demonstrable. She had just read Karl’s texts and she could finally believe her friends.