Someone Else

Chapter 22

I've been in this stupid godforsaken hospital room for a whole week. Matt has been here all this time, all the time and I'm glad he's here but he's been really clingy.

Like really really clingy. I can't even take a piss without him standing right outside the bathroom door.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the guy, but I don't want him to see me like this. My hair is messy 24/7, I smell like disinfectant and hospital soap.

At first, he wouldn't let me shower at all, then it progressed to not letting me shower by myself. I have to ask him to get me food and run to take a shower by myself.

The stitches are very neat so I'm sure the scarring won't be too bad, I have to thank the surgeon who did such a fine job.

Class has been online, the school had made some poor guy set up his phone and live stream everything for me.

He and I talk in class sometimes but Matt snaps at me to focus. I'm 100 percent sure he just doesn't want me talking to Andre.

"Everything seems to be healing very nicely. You might get out of here sooner than planned." Dr Peters said, patching me back up.

"Thank you so much, doc." I said.

He nods and waves to me as he leaves.

Matt huffs and I turn to him. "You look extra pestery today." I teased, sitting criss cross on the bed. "Can you get me some Doritos?"

"Didn't you already shower this morning?" He asked crankily.

"Fine, I'll get it myself." I said, starting to straighten out my legs.

"No! No, I'll get it." He said quickly, running out of the room.

He's so adorable for a gangster, I don't know how he does it. I've met Julius, Matt's guy, and Julius is terrified of him.

My arm and calf don't hurt at all, except a sharp sting when I accidentally hit the wound against something. As for my stomach, it just feels uncomfortable.

The boys, Chloe, Steph, Julian, and Chase have all come to visit me. Chase seemed really bummed out that Matt was laying on my bed with me playing PUBG mobile on top of him. I didn't know what to say; I didn't like Chase romantically, it was just s*x.

My parents don't know I'm here, I've sworn everyone to secrecy. If they knew, they would never approve of Matt, or his family.

I get a comb from the bathroom and attempt to brush my hair. "It's time, Toothless." I said out loud to my dragon laying on the couch next to my bed. Mustering up the courage I have, I pull the comb through my hair.

I yelp just as Matt comes back with three bags of nacho cheese Doritos.

"Princess, what are you doing?" He asked, putting the things on the bed.

I pout. "My hair, it's knotted and tangled and I wanna brush it out. Can you do it for me?"

"I barely know how to brush my own hair." He said, taking the comb anyways.

His big calloused hands are clumsy and rough but I do my best not to squirm. He's really making an effort to be gentle so I'm not gonna scream in pain.

When he's done I sigh in relief. "Now tie it up in a bun for me, please." I told him. I hand him a scrunchie and he sighs.

"How do I do that?" He asked, awkwardly bunching up my hair.

His mother walks in and looks at us curiously. "I've never seen my son do hair before. This should be good." She said, sitting in front of me grinning.

"How do I make a bun with hair?" He asked her.

"Well, mimmo, you pull her hair up to the height she usually wears buns- like that yes- twist the tie in two loops and pull the hair through completely, the last loop, only pull half the length through." She instructed him, doing an example with a lock of her thick auburn hair. "Don't forget to smooth out the sides."

He pulls all of it to the top of my head and I blush as he combs his fingers through it. It makes me think of him pulling my hair while thrusting inside me.

Now is not the time to be horny. I remind myself.

Matt has never touched me that way, in fact, I'm half convinced he doesn't want me like that at all. Maybe he just sees me as a sister, now that his brother is gone.

Gio... Just thinking about Gio makes me heart ache. He was aloof and arrogant all of the time, but he was kind to me. Whenever he would call, he'd ask about my health, school, my friends and he'd tell me how he's been.

"Is this good?" Matt asked, breaking me out of my reverie.

It feels nice and secure. "It's perfect!" I said happily.

"So many hidden talents, son." His father said, coming in.

I giggle and turn to Matt, who looks as stoic as ever. He always gets that way around his parents, his men, everyone. But when it's just us, his eyes are warm and kind.

He sit on my bed and gathers me to his lap. In front if his parents? Seriously?

I turn scarlet and look down at his crossed legs under mine. I open up a bag and eat it nervously.

"When you are well again, we are going to Italia to have a...funeral for Gio." Mr Luciano said. "Would you like to join us?"

Me? He's asking me? "I would love to, sir! But I don't have my passport and that takes months to go through... "

"Not to worry, it will be done by the end of the day." Matt said, leaning his head on my shoulder. He's gotten awfully affectionate in front of people. I don't mind but his parents are here!

There's also school to consider... I guess I can miss another few days, I have enough credits to graduate already. "Then of course I will come with you guys." I said, smiling.

"Excellent!" Mrs Luciano exclaimed. "Caro, should we tell her?"

Tell me what?

"Might as well, she should know." Matt said, making me more confused.

What are they keeping from me? Are they going to tell me they're one of the most prominent families in the Italian Mafia circle? Because that I already knew.

"Giovanni had a will, it has you in it. He wanted you to have his dog that he raised in his private estate in Sicily."

Oh, I was not expecting that!

"Of course, I'll love to take care of his dog!" I said excitedly. Gio knew how much I loved animals, especially dogs.

"That's not all, mia cara ragazza." Mrs Luciano said kindly. "He wanted you to have his estate as well."

His estate? "Mrs Luciano, I can't take his house, that's too much!"

"You could always knock it down." Matt muttered.

I nudge his ribs with my elbow and he chuckles. "It's simply too much. What would I do with a house in Sicily anyways? I live here in the States!" I said.

"This estate is new, it was just finished this year. The design, as it states in the will, is one of yours."

"I don't understand. How could it be mine?" I asked. Then I realize. I used to sketch houses, mansions. He came over once and I showed him my designs, all of which were inspired by classic Italian architecture.

I see...

"The architect he hired to design the inside said it was from a picture on his phone. On his phone, we found a sketch that was taken in your room, it had your signature on it." Matt explained.

"Yes, I know, I still have the sketch book." I said, reaching to the side of the bed where my bookbag is hanging.

The sketch book as over a hundred pages so I hadn't thrown it out yet. I give it to them. "Which one was it?" I asked nervously.

They flip through the many drawings I have. Bridges, sculptures, houses, landscapes... I draw anything I feel inspired by. There are even portraits of their family in there somewhere.

I watch their expression as they look at my work. They seem very impressed with it. One particular sketch makes them pause and I wonder which one it was.

Finally they stop. "This is the one." They give it back to me.

It was a family house I drew my first year as Amelia. I had been inspired after trying a new pasta dish and it came to mind so I drew it.

"You're very talented." Matt said next to my ear.

I blush. "It's just a house." I said quietly. "Still, I can't accept it, even if it is a house."

"No, dear, it's the entire estate." Mr Luciano said lightly. "That land and everything on it is yours now."

Land? A whole ass piece of land? This is ridiculous! Why would Giovanni give me his land in Sicily? I've never been there, I can understand the house bit, but acres of land? I'm too scared to ask how much land it is. Knowing Gio...

"You don't have to live there or anything, what you do with it is completely up to you. But it is there for you." Mrs Luciano said, giving me a small smile. "Gio wanted it that way."

___________________________________

I try to sleep but my mind is buzzing. Matt's soft snores fill the room and I breathe in his scent.

He's on the bed with me, I'm tucked into his arms with my head on his chest. I convinced him to join me on the bed a few nights ago, claiming that I was cold and Toothless wasn't warm enough. I just hated seeing him sleep on that couch.

I think about what I'll do after getting out of here and getting back from Italy. Obviously, I'll finish my degree but what about after that? Will I work at some firm? Will I pursue writing?

And what about Matt? Will he be distant again? Will I be alone again?

So many things worrying me, especially about Matteo. Does he feel the same way I feel about him?

I like him, I want to be with him romantically... I don't know if it's love or not.

Then I think about Liam. He's not here, he didn't even come to visit me. I'm questioning if I loved Liam in the first place.

Back then, before Amelia even, we were on and off constantly. I felt like he didn't love me, but what he felt was infatuation. I wasn't sure I loved him either, he represented everything I didn't have, that is why I was attracted to him.

With Matt, it's very different. The way I feel for Matt is something I've never felt before. I feel it with all of me, in my heart, head, and soul; especially in my arm, leg and stomach at the moment.

I would risk my life for anyone I cared about, even Chloe, Steph and Ash. But if they died, I would grieve and live on. If Matt had died... that would be it for me.

Is this love? I thought I knew what love felt like, obviously I was wrong. This consuming, magnetic feeling that I've never felt before, is this what love feels like?

It's so strong and so scary. I've never been so scared of my emotions before... Yes, this is love.

I'm in love with Matteo Luciano. And he doesn't love me back.