Page 12 of Fear of Love
I shoved him toward the passenger side with a shake of my head. I just knew I was going to get a call from him in the hospital one day after hitting on another guy’s girl. Little shit couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
Sliding in the driver’s seat as Mateo got in, I started the truck and pulled away from Bryton and Mila’s house, heading in the direction of York University. At the start of the semester, Mateo moved out and got a place near campus with some of his friends and teammates. Since the house was in the same direction as my place, I offered to pick him up and take him home.
“Need anything at school?” I asked after we had been on the road for a few minutes.
“I’m all good.” Mateo waved me off. “Mom already dropped off a week’s worth of food.” That sounded right. He might’ve moved out, but Mom always treated him like a kid, which Mateo secretly loved.
“Bet your roommates love that.”
“Mom is their favorite person.” Not that I blamed them. She was a saint.
When my father walked out on us, she didn’t sit around and let it consume her. She had three kids to raise and take care of. She worked multiple jobs to make sure all three of us had what we needed, not once putting herself before her children.
Even now that we were all grown up, she still found ways to take care of us. Whether that was bringing food over or calling us every other day to check in. She was the best person I knew.
The two of us were quiet for a few minutes before Mateo started shifting in his seat. It was his tell that something was on his mind. I knew better than to ask. Mateo never could hold anything in for longer than a few minutes.
“Lan.”
“Hmm?” I felt his eyes on the side of my face as I drove.
“You fucked up,” he said, not missing a beat. “We both know Lydia didn’t mean any harm.”
“Mateo.” I sighed, not in the mood to talk about it. Least of all with him.
He ignored me and kept talking. “You were a dick. She was just trying to help, and you humiliated her.”
“I didn’t?—”
“Youdid. And in front of everyone. You didn’t notice the change in her afterward but I did.” Mateo turned in his seat to look at me fully. “You need to apologize.”
I clenched my jaw at his words. I already knew I fucked up, but it wasn’t often Mateo called me out on my shit. Hearing it made the guilt in my stomach ten times worse.
“I was going to apologize, but then she left before I could,” I finally admitted.
“I know saying sorry isn’t your thing,” Mateo teased. “But you better do it soon. And don’t be weird about it.”
“I won’t make it weird.”
“All you have to say is,” Mateo lowered his voice as if he were me, “‘Lydia, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been a dick.’ That’s it.”
“I know how to apologize,” I muttered. Mateo just huffed before opening his phone and going quiet.
Since when did he start giving sound advice? Or better yet, when did I start listening to it?
4
LYDIA
“Final edits are done and should be in your inbox,” my head editor, Susie, said as we went around the table giving updates for our monthly Tuesday staff meeting.
Every month, I got everyone together to see where they were at with their deadlines and if they had any questions or concerns. The magazine was my baby, but I wouldn’t have been here without my incredible staff. It was important to me that everyone was happy here, especially as we grew.
“I’ve also sent in the final photos to your email,” Josie said from her spot next to me.
“Perfect. I’ll look those over today and send them to the printers,” I said while writing down notes in my planner. It was the only way I could keep track of everything I had to do.
With the meeting practically over, I set my pen to the side and leaned back in my chair. “How’s everything else going?” I asked, looking at the three people sitting around the office table.
