“I’m so sorry! I was doing my best given the circumstances.” I throw myself on my bed, the springs creaking at the sudden assault.
“What happened? You left off at the part where the guy stole your phone and you planned on breaking into his house to steal it back. But I thought you got caught since you never called me last night.”
I snort. “You’re not going to believe what’s happened.”
“Oh, now this has got to be good. Don’t skimp on a single detail.”
I dive into one of the wildest stories of my life. Brooke listens, not bothering to ask much as I explain the series of events that led to this moment.
“Holy shit,” she whispers.
“I know! It was crazy.”
“And you kissed this random man after only knowing him for barely a weekend? That’s so…”
“Unlike me. I know! But he started to close himself off again, thinking I found him ugly because of his missing leg. It was written all over his face.”
“Wait! You didn’t mention anything about a missing leg. Tell me more.”
“Well, I think everything below his right knee is missing. I couldn’t see much else because his nephew was in the way.”
“He sounds hot in a damaged kind of way. I’d do him.”
I groan. “Brooke!”
“What? You think he’s sexy and you kissed him. It’s not like you’re going to marry the man. No harm, no foul.”
“Yes, foul! Big forking foul.”
“Forking?”
Shit. “I couldn’t curse in front of Marko.”
“Look at you going all Disney Channel on me. Cute.”
“Anyway, your plan sucks because even if I wanted to kiss him again, I don’t even have his number or full name.”
“I’m going to light a candle for you.”
“That only works in churches.”
She scoffs. “Nonsense. The power is in the will. That and the highest quality Jesus candle a dollar can buy.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re crazy.”
“Right back at you. So in this whole story, you missed out on a big part.”
I purse my lips considering what I could’ve missed.
Brooke fills in the silence. “Have you introduced yourself to your dad yet?”
“Oh.” Yes, Chloe, the whole damn reason you came here in the first place! “I was a little preoccupied.”
“Right, too busy playing house with Santiago, whose name is unfairly sexy, thank you very much.” Her laugh cackles through the tiny speaker.
“I plan on stopping by Matteo’s house tomorrow since I know Santiago won’t be there.”
“Atta girl! Are you planning on scaling a tree again?”
“No.” I snort. “But seriously, I’m not sure what I’ll do. The idea of speaking to him face-to-face terrifies me.”
“Understandable. But I believe in you and your wishes. This was meant to be.”
The more people say it, the more I believe it. But there’s a reason people say be careful what you wish for. I just haven’t figured out why yet.
I stare at the same gate I walked up to three days ago. This time I don’t see any cars in the driveway or hear any music pounding from the backyard.
I eye the speaker box next to the entrance. No matter how much I yell at my limbs to move toward it, I stay glued in place. Questions flood my head every time I consider speaking to Matteo. How should I introduce myself? What if he says he knew about me this entire time and didn’t care about meeting me? What if he asks me how my life was up until this point, and my honesty scares him away?
My confidence drains with every new question that pops up in my head. I dial Brooke, desperate for support.
She picks up on the second ring. “What’s up, betch? I was wondering where you have been all morning.”
“It’s still nighttime there. What are you even doing awake right now?”
“Finalizing the last details for my project. What are you not doing right now since you called me for a distraction?”
“I can’t do it.”
“You can’t have sex with the hot guy who lives in the creepy castle?”
“No. I can’t find the courage to speak to Matteo. My body tenses up anytime I get the courage to visit his house.”
“Maybe you’re worried it won’t be a natural introduction.”
“I’m not sure how anything along the lines of ‘Hi, I’m the daughter you didn’t know existed’ can ever sound organic.”