Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 37 ~ Gianna

Gianna Rostova

See? I knew the couch wouldn't be so-

Since when did the couch have a pillow, and a blanket, and why is the couch I was sleeping on over there?

I shot up in the bed that I didn't fall asleep in, Matteo wasn't even here, and I hated the fact that thought even crossed my mind.

I hadn't seen him since he left right after our disagreement, it was pretty cold outside and I was glad he took his jacket so he didn't catch a cold and get sick-

I stopped my thought before I even processed them.

I shook the thought out of my head and swung my feet over the bed, then glanced at the time, 9AM.

I had a shower then changed into some clothes and left the room. I knew Camila wasn't a morning person so she was probably going to sleep into the afternoon and Alessandro understandably wouldn't get up until she did, being a married couple and all.

I take a deep breath and step out, looking around everything was as quiet as I thought. I walked around the villa, and eventually got pretty hungry so I headed to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, i felt my heart skip beat. Matteo sat at the dining table with his back turned to me, a half eaten slice of toast and an empty cup of coffee lay beside him and his work computer in front of him. I was just taking in the surroundings when he sensed my presence.

The moment Matteo sensed my presence, he stiffened slightly, his hand pausing mid-air as he reached for his cup. I froze as well, my eyes glued to the back of his head, wondering if I should say something or turn and leave before things got more awkward.

"Good morning," he said, turning to me slowly making the movement even more attractive. There was a tiredness in his tone, as if he hadn't slept well. I took a step forward, feeling the weight of our unresolved argument pressing down on me.

I noticed how he had drank all his coffee and not much of his toast. He must have not gotten much sleep last night.

"Morning," I replied softly, moving toward the counter to make some breakfast.

My mind was racing, unsure of what to do with the silence between us. The kitchen felt suffocating, like the walls were closing in. The hum of the refrigerator was the only sound between us.

I grabbed a loaf of bread and started preparing something for myself. Maybe food could be a distraction.

But I couldn't ignore the nagging thought that I was glad he hadn't stayed out all night, that he hadn't gotten sick.

The sound of the toast popping out of the toaster brought me out of my thought, I grabbed it and placed it on the plate quietly. Careful not to make too much noise. 

When I turned around, Matteos eyes darted away from me and back to his computer. His fist dug into his face and he sat up straight.

I quickly realised I was staring and get the butter from the fridge and spread it on my toast.

"Do you want coffee? I can make you some?" I was slightly started at the sound of his voice and my shoulders tensed. He sounded so warm and genuine, but I wasn't going to fall for it, not again.

I would leave it to him to offer me my a coffee in the morning considering everything that happened.

I placed the butter down and the knife too, they made a small sound which I could hardly hear over the sound of the blood roaring in my ears.

"I'm fine," I say stiffly, "Thank you," I added at the end.

Just because we weren't on the same terms as before didn't mean I had to be rude and not add manners.

The tension was so thick, I could feel Matteo's eyes on me and I pretended I didn't notice, I didn't know where to eat my bread other than the dining table so I took a seat on the far end away from him.

I keep my eyes locked on the table making it seem like it was the most beautiful thing in the world, my mind wandered to when I woke up this morning. If I had been sleeping in the bed, then where did Matteo sleep.

He couldn't sleep on the couch, what if he got back pain or-

"Did you sleep well?" Matteo asks, his voice soft.

"I slept, unexpectedly," I say.

I took the opportunity to ask him how he slept, "What about you?"

"I slept okay," he said, I could tell he was surprised I asked, and if I was being honest I was too.

I nod, not looking at him. I hated how our relationship was now, everything was so awkward. Every time I looked at him I wanted to cry, scream at him and hug him all at the same time.

Matteo used to be my solitude, when I was sad, I'd go to him, when I was happy, I'd go to him, so now that I had been stripped away of one of the very few joys in my life, I felt completely and utterly lost.

"Gianna, can we please talk," he says softly.

About what? About how he used me, or why? I didn't want an answer to that, I didn't want to know the reason why the one person I truly loved used me for his own gain. Especially not here.

"Not now, Matteo," I say, stuffing my mouth my bread to avoid speaking.

"Okay, I understand. When do you want to talk?"

If I was being honest, never. I wanted to forget him, to forget the heartache his stupidly handsome face had caused me. The pain he brought me.

"Hello everyone!" Camilla's cheery voice broke though the tension.

My shoulders relaxed while his tensed. Camilla's hair was damp and so was Alessandro's who appeared behind her so they both must have had a shower.

"Hey." I say.

"I see you both have had breakfast, I have some bad new though," he says the mood in the atmosphere shifted.

I looked concerned while Matteo didn't even look like he was in the room with us. He  just started at his empty coffee cup, I wondered how much coffee he drank. Too much wasn't healthy, and all the caffeine could-

Stop it, Gia.

"They're gonna be some unexpected weather issues tomorrow so today will be our last day before we go home," he says.

I felt bad for them. They seemed excited about the trip but at least they still had one more day.

"That's okay, I mean we should make the most of this day," I say to them with a smile and turn to Matteo, "Right?"

Matteo realizes I was speaking to him and straightened immediately, "Mhm, yeah, right,"

Camilla and Alessandro smile again and let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good, we've pushed all the stuff we were gonna do tomorrow to do today so it's gonna be one day of fun," Alessandro says happily.

"Sounds great," I say standing up and washing my dish.

Camilla and Alessandro talk amongst themselves and when I turn around again, Matteo was gone, his seat looked like it hadn't even been sat in. His computer was gone and his cup of coffee was too.

Wasn't sure why I cared, I took a deep breath and walked out of the kitchen quietly.