Trouble in Paradise

Closer

Hazel's POV
We open the restaurant in a few minutes and I'm so excited to be on kitchen duty.

We've already started cooking a few dishes and according to Matteo, I've been doing pretty good...

I know, he actually complemented me!

Did I mention how he looks extra sexy today?

I honestly don't think it's humanly possible.

I'm currently making a fresh batch of my famous chocolate brownies...

They're in the oven right now and I decide to go out for some fresh air for a little bit.

It's really peaceful out here and to be honest, for the first time since I arrived here, I actually feel peaceful and relaxed; working in a kitchen, I've already made a lot of friends plus the hotel bed is freaking amazing.

We haven't received any information from the airport about our luggage yet, which means we don't have our clothes, (the clothes we are currently wearing are from Anna and we went out shopping some days back, Anna helped us out with the money but we insisted on paying her back once we got our luggage) and we can't get our refund from the evil mansion lady because we don't have our ID.

I have no clue how long I've been standing here but I look to my right to see Matteo standing next to me admiring the view of the ocean.

He looks at me and I smile at him sincerely and he smiles back at me.

"Hey" I finally say breaking the silence.

"Hi" he says back to me in a relaxed voice.

"Uh, thanks again..." I say turning towards him with a smile...

"You deserve it...I hate to admit it but I've never tasted a better lasagna" He says and it brings a smile to my face...

"Yeah, I have that kind of effect on people" I say with a smirk...

"That's not the only effect you have on people" he says so quietly that I barely heard him as he turns back to face the ocean...

"Really?" I say smirking at him which gains his attention.

"Mhmm, for one, you make me really mad" he says jokingly with a smile. I laugh out loud at his comment as he turns to smile at me...

"I'm serious... around you my heart just beats twice as fast..." he says looking at me, his mood sort of changed to a more serious one...

Oh, there it goes again.... that feeling in my stomach like a herd of elephants just let loose in me... my heart feels like it's ready to just jump out of my chest...

"Yeah, I've also been experiencing that feeling too... it's so weird" I say back to him with a slight smile...

He awkwardly coughs and smiles to his himself...

"So who taught who?"

"How to cook?"

"Oh, uhh, my dad taught me. He was an amazing cook. He taught me everything I know" I say with a sigh..

"He sounds great..?" Matteo says to me kind of in a questioning tone...

"Oh, I thought that he was... until he decided I wasn't good enough and just packed up and left..." I say with a sad smile and a bitter laugh...

"When?"

"Umm, around grade six, I think... I don't really know" I say as Matteo just nods...I'm glad he isn't making a big deal out of this like people usually do... I'm glad he isn't looking at me differently or pitying me...