Page 48 of Ache for You (Slow Burn 3)
Then he leaves, taking the last of my faith in humanity with him.
FOURTEEN
MATTEO
Luca told me his daughter was stubborn. But there’s stubborn, and then there’s Kimber DiSanto.
Thank God she’s even more competitive than she is pigheaded. What I’ve got planned for her counts on both.
Smiling at the curse she hollers at my back as I walk out of her bedroom, I make my way to the kitchen. I swallow the rest of the Frangelico in my glass, say a brief farewell to Lorenzo, and leave.
My work here is done.
For tonight.
FIFTEEN
KIMBER
I’m back at the shop before the sun’s up, sketching out a new collection.
If that bastard thinks I’m going down without a fight, he’s about to get the surprise of his life.
It’s impossible for an unknown designer to book a runway show in Milan for Fashion Week, but there is one way for me to make myself known. One risky, go-broke-or-go-home way.
But I’m going to need help to pull this off.
Once I’ve got about a dozen rough sketches, I take a break and call Jenner. He answers on the fifth ring, just as I’m about to hang up.
“Moshi moshi.”
“Mo—what?”
“It’s how they answer the telephone in Japan, darling. Haven’t you been anywhere?”
“Are you currently in Japan?”
“Unfortunately, no. But I am currently in bed with a lovely Japanese lad who I was inside of earlier, so it’s practically the same thing.”
“Oh shit. What time is it there? I keep forgetting about time zones.”
“Never mind, I’ve been up all night anyway. How are you? What’s happening with my darling love Matteo? Tell me everything and hurry up about it.”
In the background there’s a sleepy male voice asking Jenner something. I catch the words “please” and “squeeze” and stop listening.
“Ugh. Your ‘darling love’ is the worst. We’re total enemies. I’m gonna crush him like a bug!”
“Oh dear.” Jenner chuckles. “Have you been playing Scrabble again?”
“No. I’ve got a bigger game in mind. A game with much higher stakes.”
“Hmm. This sounds interesting. Continue.”
I take a breath and let it out in a gust. “I’m gonna crash his show at Fashion Week.”
There’s a loaded pause, then Jenner says, “It’s all that Mediterranean sun. It’s gone to your head.”
“I haven’t been out in the sun!”
