Page 59 of Matteo

My stomach flips a thousand times during the drive. “Okay, so who is who?”

“We’re going to Rafael and his wife Carrie’s home. They’re parents to twins Elliott and Riley and baby girls Elena and Stella. The twins are Carrie’s little brothers that she raised. They’re the reason Carrie and Rafe met when they tore up one of his construction sites.”

“Oh my god.”

“Yeah, not sure how they managed to wreck the CAT on site, but it turned out to be more than three hundred thousand in damages. Rafe got a little more than pissed and was going to press charges. Carrie went to him to try and talk him out of it. It all worked out in the end.” He shrugs with a half-smile.

“Javier and his wife Hope will also be there. Hope used to be the nanny he needed after his daughter, Eva, was dropped off on him. Her grandmother decided she didn’t want to take care of Eva after Eva’s mother died.”

“Oh my god.” I shake my head. “I know more words than that. But damn, your family doesn’t have normal beginnings to their relationships. No meeting on a dating app or anything.”

His laugh fills the car. “Something like that.” But there’s something about the way he says it that has me studying him. “My mother and my grandfather, Luis, will also be there. While my mother is all for talking, my grandfather is not. Don’t take it personally if he doesn’t say much. It’s just how he is.”

The neighborhood of homes are actual mansions. Rich, rich. When he pulls into a mansion the size of my old apartment building, I fight the urge to ask if I can stay in the car. It’s ridiculous, I know, but?—

A gentle hand comes down on mine that I didn’t realize was in a fist. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. They’re going to love you. My family is excited to meet you, so they might be a little over-enthusiastic. If someone says anything to you that upsets you, you let me know. I’ll take care of it.”

His calm assurance, with the slightest edge that appears when he says to tell him if anyone upsets me, eases the twisting in my stomach. And starts a fizzing through my blood. With a gentle squeeze of my hand, he lets it go.

We’re at the door. Matteo is at my side with a babbling Layla in his arms.

He holds out his hand, “Can I hold your hand?”

The question calms me in a way nothing else could. I nod and take his. Those bees are back, awakening every cell in my body to prepare for more of his touch.

Suddenly, the door opens. Two teenagers tower over me. They’re obviously brothers. Despite Matteo mentioning they are twins, they don’t look alike. One has dark brown hair and freckles over his cheeks and nose. The other has dirty blond hair and doesn’t have a single freckle I can see.

“Hi, I’m Elliott.” The dirty blond says with a welcoming smile.

“I’m Riley. Did you like the box?” Blue eyes are curious and eager.

“I loved it. I’m planning on the pottery class first. Thank you. It was so unique.”

They’re nodding in unison without even realizing it. Looking at each other, they high-five. Riley is proud of himself. “Yeah, Gigi was just going to gift card you. We were like, nah. It’s gotta be fun.”

“I loved all of it, especially the box. Thank you for thinking of it.”

Riley nods and points to his brother. “That was Elliott. Him and Abuelo made it together. They make a lot of things. If Elliott didn’t find ways to give stuff away, he couldn’t walk around in his room.”

“Riley, Elliott, you have to let them in. Come on, back it up.” The deep voice is from behind them. The door opens wider. A man who is definitely Matteo’s brother is there. His thick hair is darker than Matteo’s, and he’s maybe two inches taller than Matteo’s six foot two.

“Rafe, this is Amy. Amy, my older brother Rafe.” Matteo speaks to me, but his eyes are on Rafe.

The smile playing on Rafe’s mouth is something I can’t pin down, maybe teasing, maybe knowing. I take the hand he offers willingly. His eyes are on my other hand, still in Matteo’s.

“Please come in.” He steps back his hands go on the shoulder of each twin. “Elena is fighting a nap. Do you two mind taking her upstairs and?—”

Both take off running at high speed before he even finishes speaking.

Rafe chuckles. “To think we were worried they would resent her before she got here. Now, she owns them. Well, hello, you’re a gorgeous girl. Hi, sweetie.” Rafe is talking to a beaming Layla, who is waving at him.

Matteo says proudly. “This is Layla. She’s teething a bit today.”

“I can grab Elena’s old pack-and-play. I pulled it out of storage last week for Stella’s impending need. It’s been wiped out and is ready to go.” Rafe offers.

I look at Matteo, and our eyes meet. As if Layla knows we’re talking about her, she clings to Matteo’s neck. “Dada. Dada.”

Rafe’s eyes widen and he looks from me to Matteo. Matteo is looking down at Layla. “It’s okay, sweetie. I’ll hang onto you. No jail time for you. I don’t think she’s ready yet for me to put her down.”

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