“Come on, I’ll show you your room.” Matteo walks past me and waits by the stairs with a black duffel in his hand.
I want to ask what’s going on with my cousin, but I know he won’t answer me. Just like my dad never does. I used to ask a lot of questions, but he shut me down fairly quickly, telling me little girls shouldn’t be asking questions about the business, or much else really.
I shake my head at Matteo and his offered hand and grip the rail instead. Eventually, I make it upstairs without keeling over and follow him into the bedroom off the hallway. I stop and stare in awe at the huge bay window complete with a reading nook. How perfect. Too bad I don’t have any books with me. After a quick glance around, I don’t see any here either.
Matteo sets the duffel on the bed. “My sister packed some stuff for you. Let me know if you need anything else. I had food delivered this morning, so I’m going to make us something to eat.”
“Okay.”
“Anything specific you want?”
I shake my head. “Whatever you want is good.”
He’s quiet, bringing my gaze to his. His eyes are narrowed at me like he’s annoyed. I think back over our conversation but I can’t think of anything I said that would make him react this way. Maybe it’s just his regular grumpy-butt attitude like Luna mentioned.
After a long exhale, he says, “Do you want to eat up here or downstairs?”
“Mmm, whatever is easier for you.” Just the thought of walking back downstairs has me wincing, but I’ll manage if I have to.
He stares at me, like he’s trying to read my mind, before he turns around and leaves, closing the door behind him.
I release a pent-up breath.
Then, curiosity gets the better of me, and I go to the duffel and open it.
Inside, more outfits—similar to my T-shirt and sweatpants one—greet me, and I’m oddly grateful for them. It’s not what I’d normally wear, but it’ll be a lot easier and more comfortable while my body heals. Underneath the clothes are toiletry bags with everything I could possibly need as well as a bunch of underwear. I don’t even look at it, it’s so weird to have someone else pack that for you. I reach around the bottom of the bag to see if there’s anything else, just as my fingers touch something hard. Paper. Is that a book? I grab it and pull it out, and low and behold, itisa book.
How on earth did Luna know how much of a bookworm I am? I turn it around to study the back cover, and my stomach flutters when I see it’s a paranormal romance. Exactly the kind of escape from reality I need.
The window seat is sadly not an option right now, but the recliner in the corner might be. I walk over to it and slowly make my way into the seat, thankful the chair has a remote that allows me to recline into a comfortable position.
Matteo comes to my room sometime later, and I haven’t moved an inch.
He walks in, and I make the mistake of smiling up at him, still lost in the book world and characters.
Once he’s placed the tray he’s carrying on the small table next to the recliner and examines me in the chair with the book on my lap. “You like to read?”
“I do.”
“Was it in the bag?”
I nod.
He shakes his head. “That woman.”
“What woman?”
“Luna. She’s incapable of staying out of anyone’s business.”
I lift the book. “If it means I get things like this, I’m glad she’s in mine.”
Maybe he’s a book snob, who knows? He wouldn’t be the first one, especially when it comes to anything romance. If they only knew what they miss out on.
He drags the corner of his lower lip into his mouth as he regards me. “That’s what you say now. Ash wasn’t wrong yesterday; she’s nicknamed Lunatic for a reason.”
I purse my lips and close the book. “Maybe I need some crazy in my life.”
“Why?”