“I don’t believe you.” Matty crossed his arms in front of his narrow chest, reminding Matteo so much of himself, he could almost smile.
Okay, not really.
“All right, then, I hope she’ll come back. But I have to find her first,” Matteo amended. Would he find her? He had no clue where she might’ve gone. She could be anywhere.
“What did you do to her? Why did you make her leave?”
“I didn’t make her leave…” His voice trailed off when he saw Matty’s glare.
“Yes, you did! You got mad at her and made her leave. I heard you yelling. I heard her crying in her room.” Matty started to cry as well. “I want Paige back. I want her!”
Matteo watched helplessly as his son fled the room, crying the entire way down the hall until he entered his bedroom and slammed the door. The sound made Matteo flinch and he hung his head, clutching his flexing hands in front of him.
He didn’t know what the fuck to do. Always, always he knew what to do, what the right choice was. He was methodical to a fault.
But right now, this situation with Paige, he felt completely hopeless.
His cell rang and he grabbed it, devastated when he saw his mother’s number. This was the third call from her in an hour and she was the last person he wanted to talk to.
How he wished the call came from Paige. As if she would call him. He’d tried calling her multiple times, but it always went straight to voicemail and he hung up.
Like a coward.
The ringing stopped only to start again, and he cursed, then answered it with a curt hello.
“Thank God you answered. I spoke with Paige,” his mother said, her words coming in a rush.
“What? When?”
“An hour ago. I called you right after I got off the phone with her, but you wouldn’t answer.”
Matteo closed his eyes for a brief moment. Shit. Could he be more of an idiot? “What did she say?”
“She’s leaving town and going home. I tried to convince her to go back to you, but she refused.” His mother paused. He could practically feel the fire coming from her, she was so angry. “You broke her heart, Matteo. Why didn’t you believe her? Why did you accuse her of such ugly, hurtful things?”
“I didn’t accuse her of anything. I just…” He let his jealousy get the best of him. His general distrust in women, he let it escalate until it was all he could see and feel and he damaged the fragile relationship he was forming with Paige in the process.
“You implied that she had some sort of sordid affair with her old boss. Why can’t you trust her? She’s not Lucia, Matteo. Paige has been nothing but wonderful to you and to Matty. To all of us.”
“I know,” he said brokenly, his voice cracking.
“She loved you. She still loves you. You can make this better, my son. You can right this wrong. She’ll listen to you. And you love her.”
“I know, dammit, you don’t have to tell me the obvious. I don’t have time for this right now, I need to find her so maybe we can talk later.” He pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers, staving off the tears as best he could.
Yes, he wanted to fucking cry. And he couldn’t believe it. Could not believe it.
No crying, you little wimp.
Go get her. Go get your girl.
Brimming with determination, he said, “Goodbye, Moth—”
“Matteo! She’s going to take a bus home. A bus,” Claudia stressed. “Poor girl won’t even spend a few extra dollars to fly. How many days would that take anyway, traveling by bus? What state is she from again?”
“Where was she going, Mama? Tell me which bus station she’s headed to,” Matteo interrupted, suddenly frustrated and anxious to get there. “Where did she say she was going? Did she give you any clues? Any hints?”
“She said nothing as to where she was going, but since she’s taking a bus I’m sure you could narrow down where she might be, hmm? But if you’re going after her, you should let her know you can’t live without her. Tell her—”
“I don’t need you to tell me what to say to the woman I love, Mama.”
But he smiled fondly nevertheless. His mother would never stop being his mother. He knew that everything his mother had planned to say, he felt. She was right. He couldn’t go on without her. He loved Paige and he needed her in his life. So did Matty.
Matty…
“Think Stasia will take care of Matty while I go look for Paige?” He headed toward Matty’s bedroom.
“Of course, she will. I’ll call her right now for you so you don’t have to. But hurry, Matteo. I don’t know how much time you’ll have,” Claudia urged.