My Favorite Souveni- Penelope Ward , Vi Keeland Page 0,69
from Bewitched.
Brady placed his hand on my knee under the table, and it made me fidget. I smiled over at him from time to time, but for the most part we were quiet, listening in on Matteo and Kimber’s conversation. I knew, in Brady’s mind, the purpose of tonight was to get his friend laid. I could tell by the look on his face as he watched them that he assumed his mission had been accomplished.
I was also starting to believe that scenario was a real possibility, which worried the hell out of me. Sure, Kimber was attractive. But I also wondered if Matteo felt the need to also take her back to his hotel just to spite me, to punish me for spending time with Brady. Or worse, what if he wrongly assumed I’d somehow known who he was all this time and hated me because he thought I’d deceived him?
Overcome with emotion, I needed a breather.
“I’ll be back. Heading to the restroom,” I said as I got up.
Nearly knocking into two people as I walked across the restaurant, I finally found my way to the bathroom. Once in the safety of that private space, I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked flushed. That came as no surprise, considering I’d been white-knuckling my way through this evening.
I didn’t feel like going back to the table, so I took my time, checking my makeup, washing my hands carefully.
When I finally forced myself out of the bathroom, the last thing I expected was to see Matteo exiting the men’s room at the same time.
He froze, and we stood facing each other in the small hallway between the restrooms. Had he come here hoping to find me? Or did he just have to go to the bathroom?
I finally said, “How come you didn’t answer my calls?”
He glanced out toward the dining area before his eyes returned to mine. “Because I didn’t know what to say to you, Maddie. I still don’t.” He looked down at his feet and muttered, “Fuck, I mean Hazel.”
“Are you taking her back to your hotel?” I blurted. I couldn’t help it. I needed to know.
He looked up at me. “No.”
I let out a sigh of relief that was probably a bit too obvious. “I know I have no right to admit how damn jealous I am right now, but I can’t help it. This whole situation is a nightmare.”
Matteo gritted his teeth. “Nightmare is a good word to describe what it felt like when I discovered who you are.”
“I know.” I exhaled. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like. I only know what it was like for me. Pure shock…and then sadness.” I felt tears forming. “I’m so sorry, Matteo.”
His expression softened a bit. “It feels so weird to hear you say my name. But it sounds fucking beautiful, too.”
My heart clenched. The words that had been at the tip of my tongue all night but unable to be unleashed finally escaped.
“I miss you,” I whispered.
He let out breath of frustration. “Do you realize how messed up this is, Hazel?” He shook his head. “So messed up.”
“We need to talk.”
It nearly broke my heart when he said, “Is there anything left to say?”
“Maybe it’s not right, but yes, I have so many things I need to say to you, things I need to ask you.”
He glanced out to the dining room again before he lowered his voice. “You think I want that girl out there? I feel like I haven’t been able to breathe since I left you in Atlanta. And now I’m just…choking. I want to be with you tonight, and that’s so fucked up, because you’re my best friend’s woman.”
I wanted to take him into my arms and hold him, but I refrained. His words left me speechless.
Fishing in my purse, I took out a pen and found a gum wrapper to write on. I jotted down my number.
“We can’t do this right now. But please call or text when you can. Don’t go back to Seattle until we’ve had a chance to talk,” I begged. “Please.”
He took the wrapper and placed it in his pocket before heading back to the table ahead of me.
We didn’t say anything to each other for the rest of the dinner, and he barely looked at me.
And once the live music started, everyone’s attention turned to the band. That was a good buffer in the midst of a tense night. But as the four of