“God, I can’t wait until I’m old enough to go to New York.”
“You’ve never been?” I asked Arabella.
“No.” Her eyes flicked to Matteo. “But it’s not for lack of trying. The men in my family are, how do you say, overprotective.”
“How old are you?”
“Sixteen. Yes!” She fitted another piece to the puzzle.
God, I’d been her age when I’d run. Had I seemed so young and naïve back then? Although, Arabella possessed a quiet confidence. And the way Matteo watched her… well, it made my heart ache.
He was a doting brother, determined to protect his family.
It only made him more attractive.
I felt his eyes on me as Arabella and I continued fitting pieces to the puzzle. She quizzed me about my life, about where I was from and what I did for fun, and I dodged her questions with someone with a lifetime of experience of avoiding the truth.
After about an hour, Luis reappeared after leaving the three of us to carry out his daily perimeter walks. He took his job very seriously, but I was relieved to have a friendly face around.
“So, Caitlin, do you have a boyfriend?”
“E-excuse me?” I spluttered, glancing at Matteo for help.
“Bella, that isn’t any of your business.”
“She can consider it her part of her job interview.”
“Job interview… for what exactly?” My eyes narrowed.
An amused smirk tipped the corner of her mouth. “If it makes you feel any better,” she added, “I’m rooting for you.” Arabella winked at me and went back to the puzzle.
I glanced over at Matteo. He mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
Ugh. Did he have to be so gorgeous?
He was making it impossible to forget him.
And even more impossible to leave.
Some hours later, and with the puzzle two-thirds complete, my cheeks ached from all the laughter. Arabella Bellatoni was a breath of fresh air. Unapologetic and with zero filter, she told story after story of Matteo and his cousins, leaving no stone unturned. I’d learned more about him today than in any of our previous encounters.
“This has been fun,” she said with a proud smile. “We should do it again sometime.”
And just like that, the temporary bubble burst.
I couldn’t grow close to these people; it would only make leaving them harder.
“Bella, why don’t you go give Luis a hand with the dishes.”
Luis had made the four of us spaghetti and had insisted on cleaning up too. Bella got up reluctantly and slid her eyes to me. “This is code for, I want to be alone with Caitlin.” Her lips pursed playfully.
“Bella,” Matteo warned, and his sister skipped off to find our chef for the evening.
“Sorry about her, she gets—”
“It’s no problem. It’s been nice…” Normal. I swallowed the word.
“We need to talk, Cait.”
There it was. The moment I’d known was coming.
All day, I’d felt Matteo’s eyes on me. Watching. Waiting. Trying to figure out how to broach the subject with me. I’d been preparing myself from the moment he’d stepped into the cabin.
“It’s okay,” I said with a weak smile.
“Is it?” His eyes shuttered as he inhaled a deep breath. “Because nothing about this feels okay.
“I’ll go. If Luis or someone gives me a ride to the nearest bus station, I can catch—”
“Go?” He balked, staring at me with disbelief. “You think I want you to leave?”
“I… I thought… We both know I can’t stay here forever.”
“You can, Cait. You just have to…” His voice trailed off right as his gaze dropped.
“Matteo?” I whispered. “What is it?” My heart pounded inside my chest. Whatever he was about to say would change everything. I felt it like the first sign of a storm on the horizon, when the air turns thick and heavy.
“Be mine.”
“What?” The air whooshed from my lungs. “You can’t—”
A knock at the cabin startled me and I pressed my lips together to stop anymore words from spilling out.
Be his?
He didn’t know what he was asking.
This wasn’t a fairytale where Prince Charming would swoop in and save the day and get the girl.
Because he doesn’t know you.
I shook off the icy fingers of regret, the bitter taste of guilt. I didn’t owe Matteo anything except a whole heap of gratitude.
Arabella ran for the door. “I’ll get it,” she called, yanking it open before either Luis or Matteo could get there and make sure it was safe.
“Sia.” She pulled the blonde girl inside. “Wait until you meet Caitlin, she’s…”
Her words were drowned out from the roar of blood in my ears as I watched Niccolò Marchetti step into the cabin, his wife Arianne at his side.
“You look well,” she said, making a beeline for me.
“I’m much better, thank you.”
“Caitlin.” Nicco dipped his head in greeting.
“This is Alessia, my cousin. Nicco’s sister,” Arabella dragged the other girl over to us.
“You knew they were coming?” I asked Arabella, and she bit down on her lip.
“It was a surprise. Sia texted me from the car.”
“I see.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Caitlin.” Her eyes glittered with so much warmth and understanding, I almost forgot my manners.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry about your father.”
“Thank you. He’s strong, a fighter… I still have hope.”
“Why don’t we all sit,” Arianne suggested. “Nicco needs to talk to Matt, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m parched.”
“I think there’s a bottle of wine chilling,” Luis called from the kitchen.
“Perfect. Bring four glasses.”
“Four?” Alessia’s eyes grew to the size of saucers.
“Just don’t tell your brother.” Arianne winked, and the girls giggled.
“How are you, really?” she asked me quietly, while the girls got caught up.
“I’m fine. Is everything okay?” My eyes flicked over to where Nicco and Matteo were talking in hushed voices.
“We visited Antonio in the hospital, but it wasn’t good news. Alessia was upset so I suggested we take a trip here. There’s something about being out here that soothes the soul. Besides, I wanted to see you.”
“Y-you did?”
“Don’t look so surprised, Cait. You’re one of us now.”
I didn’t know how to answer that, so I breathed a sigh of relief when Luis arrived with the glasses.
“I hope that’s sparkling water.” Matteo joined us, eyeing the glass in his sister’s hand.
“One glass, please.” She pouted.
“One. I don’t want a repeat of last time.”
“What happened last time?” I asked.
“I spent half the night holding her hair back while she worshipped the porcelain gods.”
“Matt!”
A smile tipped the corner of my mouth. Their relationship was so easy, so warm and full of love. I envied them. I envied everything about Matteo and his family.