Page 85 of Shadowed Whispers

“So how did you end up as my bodyguard?” I finally ask, breaking the silence. My curiosity about his sudden role in my life is nagging at me, intertwining with the fluttering excitement his presence stirs within me.

Matteo looks over at me, his expression thoughtful. “Let’s just say Andy thinks you might need someone to watch your back more than you realize,” he says, his tone serious. “And I agree.”

I hum under my breath as I unlock my car and turn back to look at him. Déjà vu settles over me.

“You’ve been watching me from the beginning of the semester, haven’t you?” I look at the dark corner where I vividly remember him hiding.

Matteo leans against the car, his posture relaxed, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He watches me for a moment, amusement flickering in his eyes, before responding in a tone that blends flirtation and mystery.

“Maybe I have, maybe I haven’t,” he says. “Let’s just say I’ve always been around, keeping an eye out. You know, just in case trouble decided to find you first.”

He pushes off of the car and takes a step closer, his presence imposing yet strangely comforting. “But don’t worry,” he continues, his voice softer now as he leans in. “I’m not just a shadow in the corner. I’m here whenever you need me, and maybe even when you don’t think you do.”

Oh…

Chapter 29

Frankie

“Frankie!” Tori stumbles into our dorm, laughter spilling around her like confetti, the sound a vibrant contrast to the silence of our room. She collapses onto her mattress, her face buried in a pillow as her body trembles with giggles.

I glance up from the cipher I’m working on, my eyebrows raised at the whirlwind that is Tori. The papers on my desk flutter slightly from the breeze she brought in with her. “Victoria,” I greet cautiously, watching as she pops up from the bed with a giggle, her eyes sparkling with unspoken stories.

“I did a thing,” she says, blowing her bangs off her forehead before popping up and whipping off her shirt. The movement is fluid, a testament to her carefree spirit. Since our heart-to-heart yesterday, Tori’s been like a live wire, and it’s both endearing and bewildering, like watching a storm in its element.

“What did you do?” I ask, settling back in my chair, content to watch her bounce around the room. Her energy fills the space, pushing against the stagnant air of our usually quiet dorm.

Tori swings around to face me, her cheeks flushed and breaths heavy from her recent sprint. “First, spill about Matteo last night,” she demands, reaching out to boop me on the nose. No one has ever booped me on the nose before, and the gesture feels surprisingly intimate, a tiny bridge of affection in our burgeoning friendship.

I clear my throat, disappointment simmering from last night, a subtle ache I hadn’t expected to feel. “Nothing happened. He rode back to campus with me and then went to his dorm after walking me to ours.”

Tori giggles, undeterred by my subdued tone. “And?” Her curiosity is a living thing, almost palpable in the cramped space of our room.

“And nothing,” I reply, feeling the weight of her excitement press against me.

“No goodnight kiss?” she presses, her enthusiasm infectious.

“No goodnight kiss,” I echo, my response flat, a stark contrast to her vivid anticipation.

“Huh,” Tori says, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently, a rhythmic thud that fills the silence. “Well, we’re going to surprise him and Leo tonight!” She grabs my hands, excitement practically crackling in the air between us like static electricity.

It’s almost unsettling how eager she is. “How?” I ask, already anticipating the answer won’t quite match my eagerness.

“You and I are going to the rugby away game tonight!” she exclaims, her words tumbling out like they are trying to keep pace with her thoughts. “But we have to leave, like, twenty minutes ago to make it on time.”

My jaw drops. “What?” The word escapes me before I can think better of it, a lone soldier against her barrage of plans.

“Yeah, I already cleared it with Aunt Andy!” Tori pulls two jerseys from her bag and tosses one to me. “I stole these.” The shirt slaps me in the face before landing in my lap, the name “Reddy” emblazoned on the back. I didn’t even know Matteo had a last name.

“Wait,” I say, the realization slowly sinking in, “you got me out of work?”

Tori pauses, blinking at me. “Yes,” she says slowly, uncertainty flickering in her eyes for a moment. “Is that okay?”

Is it okay? I stare at her, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease. Despite the abruptness of it all, there’s something oddly reassuring about Tori’s unwavering support. Maybe this impromptu adventure is exactly what I need to shake off the doubts creeping into my mind.

“Come on, Frankie,” Tori urges, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “It’ll be fun! A night out, cheering for the team, and who knows? Maybe we’ll even get to hang out with Matteo and Leo after the game.” She wags her brows at me with a salacious smile on her face, her enthusiasm a beacon in the dimly lit room.

I hesitate, uncertainty gnawing at me. Going to a rugby game wasn’t exactly how I envisioned spending my evening, especially with the events of last night still fresh in my mind. I was supposed to work, but Tori’s excitement is contagious, and there’s a part of me that craves the distraction.

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