Chasing Di'Maggio: a BWWM romance (8 page)

“I try. So did Matthew tell you he is getting married?”

Mitch was surprised that Nicolette didn’t flinch or anything; either she was good at hiding her emotions or she didn’t feel the same way that Matthew felt about her.

“She knows, Mitch,” Matty answered matter-of-factly. “She is marrying me.”

For the first time in Mitch’s life, he was dumbfounded. Matt was actually happy to get Mitch all surprised for a change. Mitch had been a really good friend ever since they moved up to New York and normally he didn’t keep anything from him, but this was most definitely the best thing he did. Matt couldn’t help but feel like he would have a great day today.

“Oh, oh. Damn, so my chance is gone,” Mitch responded. “Ms. Richards, you keep breaking my heart.”

Nicolette couldn’t help but laugh at Mitch. He was such a flirt but he was definitely a looker and he was funny. She damn sure wished her coworker, Suzy, could meet him. That girl loved men with accents.

Five months later…

It was finally time for the wedding. The past five months of preparation made everyone crazy, especially Nicolette. Today, she couldn’t help but be nervous. Although it was a fake wedding, everyone that knew the family personally was invited. The Di’Maggio family just had to have the wedding in Tuscany. Nicolette didn’t get a chance to go sightseeing. They flew in the night before and everyone was going crazy preparing. All she wanted to do was sleep but she was super nervous.

She had butterflies in her stomach and felt kind of guilty. What kind of nonsense was this? Nicolette was so confused. If his grandmother was to ever find out the truth, they would do much more harm than good. She would never lie to Matty’s grandmother, but when she got the news about them getting married, the doctor said she started to get better.

It was too much for Nicolette to think about and she decided the best way for her to relieve all of these thoughts was to go out and walk around the big yard. Mr. Di’Maggio never told her that they designed the backyard to look sort of like a mini vineyard. She was so in love with it. She wanted to actually go there instead of looking at it through the window in her room. The weather was already warm at 4 am in Tuscany, so she decided to wear a tank top and jean shorts. Good thing she didn’t pack skimpy shorts or else everyone would have a fit, especially her mother.

This house is so beautiful,
Nicolette thought as she walked through it. The entrance to the house was breathtaking. The house was gigantic with a fountain in the middle of a circular driveway.

It was a surprise to her to find out that they were staying at Matty’s villa. Each Di’Maggio boy had their own villa in Italy. The villa was cream colored and all the lights around it made it glow, especially at the time of night that they arrived there. There was a balcony and as she entered the villa, she was taken aback. The whole villa had a warm feeling to it: the marble floors, the grand staircase, the amazing kitchen. It was so much more spacious than hers.

Only she, her brother, and the Di’Maggio brothers stayed at that villa. Her parents and Mr. and Mrs. Di’Maggio stayed at his mother’s house. Part of Nicolette was astonished when she stepped out the backyard to look at the scenery early in the morning. It was so lovely. It made her want to never leave this place; everything was so serene and peaceful, unlike back in Florida. Someone put their arm around her waist but she didn’t move. She knew it was just Gabriel. She thought to herself, why wasn't it Gabriel that she liked? She was so comfortable in his arms. She felt safe and secure, and she wasn't scared of anything when he was there. Why didn't she feel the same about Gabriel as she felt for Matty? Maybe if she was marrying Gabriel, she wouldn't have to worry about anything. Then again, would that be love or just being comfortable?

“What are you doing up, Nic?”

“I couldn’t sleep. You?”

“Same. I haven’t been back here since we were kids. You know the summers where you were dragged to camp and we got to come up here?”

Nicolette couldn’t help but laugh at the memories. She remembered one summer begging her mom to let her go with the Di’Maggios, but her mom had been cold to her and merely stated that they weren’t her family. She was crushed and was forced to go to band camp, which she hated with her life.

“Band camp sucked. Wanna sit?” Nicolette asked as she sat on the grass.

“Yeah, sure.”

Gabriel knew something was on his best friend’s mind; he knew it had something to do with the wedding being hours away.

“Band camp, huh?” he asked as he sat. “Did you learn any instruments?”

“Shut up, Gabe...”

Gabriel couldn’t help but smile at his nervous friend. “So tell me what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Gabe. I just couldn’t sleep.”

“Babes, talk!”

“Okay... Well, I’m just scared. I want to marry Matty with all my heart, but I don’t want to get in the way of his happiness. He told me about the girl that he really wants to be with.”

“Wait, he told you that?”

“Yeah.”

“He told you that he was in love?”

“Not really in that particular way, but yeah I can tell he really wants that. Am I not going to be a big factor there?”

“Nope.”

Nicolette stood up and started to pace back and forth.

“What do you mean no? I’m getting married to him for crying out loud, you don’t see what mistake we’re making here?”

“Baby, baby. Nico, sit down and stop pacing around. Do you want to walk around? Will that calm you down?”

“No! What will calm me down is if Matty comes to his senses and goes to his girl and tells her how he feels.”

“That’s not going to happen,” came from the distance behind her.

Nicolette stopped dead in her tracks; she didn’t know what to do or say. She knew Matty’s voice as if it were registered in her mind. One other thing she knew was that he was not happy.

“Ugh, I was just saying what was on my mind, that’s all,” she admitted, too afraid to turn to face him.

“Oh really?”

“Yes, really, Matty.”

“Well, it would be nice for you to say it to my face. How about you turn around and face me?”

She turned around and walked up to Matty who was standing at the doorway to the backyard. “Fine. I faced you. Now if you will please excuse me, I need to be in my room.”

Matty grabbed her by the elbow gently, stopping her escape. “Nicolette, listen! Hours from now, we are getting married, whether you like it or not, so suck it up and stop thinking about if I want to or not.”

“Let go of my arm, Matty!”

“Bro, come on, let’s go out for a run.” Gabriel knew just what to do to calm his brother down. He knew Matty was upset and the best thing to do was have him run or work out his anger.

Nicolette wasn't upset about anything else but Matty being rude at the moment, and she didn't understand what the hell he was mad about. She was simply looking out for him.

Reluctantly, Matty let her go and she stormed into the house. As if it couldn’t get any worse, she had to bump into Tommy on her way back upstairs.

“Can’t sleep?” she asked him.

“Yeah, I heard people talking, so I figured I wasn’t the only one up.”

“Oh okay, well I’m going back to bed. Big day and all.”

“Nicky wait, I want to tell you something... I know I haven’t really been there for you, but I love you and I’m happy you’re marrying Matty. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I see the love in your eyes, the way you love him and the way you treat him. I know he will be happy, even if it isn’t a real marriage.”

Nicolette was stunned that this was coming out of her brother’s mouth; when did he figure out she loved Matty? He didn’t even say like, he said
love
. She was happy that he was talking to her about something important because she knew that they’d drifted and she wanted that back, but not under these circumstances. She looked at Tommy and how sincere he was being… but was there something he knew that he wasn’t telling her?

“Thanks Tommy, but how do you even know that I love him?”

“Because every one of us knows except the man himself. Matty may be smart in other things, but he can’t seem to pick up on anything when it comes to you. But I know he will treat you well—heck, better than that Andrew prick.”

“How the hell did you know about that?” But before he could answer, she knew. “Big mouth Gabriel, huh?”

“Yeah, when you went to get Roxy at Christmas, mom and dad brought it up and Gabriel was being honest but protecting you at the same time.”

“Aha, got to love that kid,” she said with a slight roll of the eye. “But seriously, bro. I love you and thank you because right now I do need my family more than anything. I just…forget it.”

“What, baby sis? Talk to me.”

Nicolette wanted to talk to her brother but she wasn’t ready to let him know everything and how she even felt. She just wanted to lay down and forget it all for a little while.

“It’s nothing. I’m going to go lay down for a while. You can join the boys outside.”

“Okay. I do love you, my baby.”

“Love you too, Tommy.”

Nicolette was surprised to see this side of her brother; what the heck was going on with him? He hadn’t been like this since he was leaving to go to New York.

She finally got to sleep for half an hour before Gabriel came barging into her room as though he owned the place. She really didn’t want to talk anymore. Nicolette knew why Gabriel came into the room so she took the duvet and covered her head, avoiding Gabriel in the process.

“Hiding under your covers isn’t going to change your feelings for him, babes.”

“Leave me alone, Gabriel.”

“Babe, Nico, come on. Talk to me. It’s me, Gabriel. Your best friend, your twin, your future brother-in-law. Why won’t you talk to me?”

“I just want to sleep. Can I do that?”

“No.”

“WHY FRIGGIN NOT?!”

Gabriel was shocked that Nico was even yelling. He was just stunned because this little tiny being was yelling at someone as tall as him. Gabriel could only think about his brother and the conversation they’d had outside. He told Matty to man up and stop making Nicolette feel like crap, that he had to let her know there was no other woman but her in the world. Matty agreed to try and make sure Nico didn’t doubt him anymore, but Gabriel knew it was easier said than done. Nico didn’t realize that she yelled really loud and now she was surrounded by all the men in her room. Michael, Tommy, Gabriel, and Matty were all in her room now just staring down at her, wondering what the hell her issue was.

“Baby sis? You okay?”

“I’m fine—can everyone just leave my room? I have no idea why all of you guys are here. I could be naked under here.”

Nicolette hoped they would all leave so that she could go to sleep for a little bit and stop her brain from going to work.

“Eww, I’m out of here.” Tommy started to leave, but stopped short when no one else moved. “Uhh guys, are you not coming? You guys are going to really stay and see if my baby sis is naked under her duvet?”

The Di’Maggio boys all turned around to look at Tommy. He was serious but they couldn’t help but smile, revealing their dimples. Tommy shook his head and walked away, knowing that none of them would even try anything stupid.

“Guys, give me a minute with her.”

“Sure thing, Matty,” Michael said as he shoved Gabriel out of the room.

Nicolette was not happy that Matty wanted to speak to her; she just wanted to be alone. She didn’t understand why guys didn’t hear that. She hated the fact that the guys still looked at her like a little girl. She loved Matty with all her heart, but she really did not want to ruin his life. She thought about his happiness. Matty was in love with someone else while he was kissing her and making her feel all these emotions. On top of that, marrying her would not help. She just wanted to sleep it off and wish nothing was real at the moment, that it was all a dream.

“Nicolette, I’m sorry for being upset earlier....” Despite his apology, Nico stayed under the covers. “I know you’re not sleeping and you can hear me. I don’t want to marry anyone else. You’re not ruining anything for me. Why can’t you see that I’m okay with it? I don’t hate this whole marriage thing remember I agreed to it so why do you say it like someone forced my hand? I’m sorry for grabbing your arm. Forgive me, Bella?”

Nicolette didn’t want to talk. She didn’t even understand why she was acting like this, and she just wanted Matty to leave her alone. She understood where he was coming from, but she needed to understand where
she
was coming from. Was she okay? Was she jealous of the girl that Matty gave his heart to?

That’s what it was. Nicolette was furious and jealous that Matty gave his heart to that girl and she could never have it. She couldn’t shake it off since he told her about it. It’s not like she was going to cry about it, but she felt as though she couldn’t walk down the aisle. Poor guy would be stuck with her while loving someone else.

While Nicolette was so busy thinking about all of this, Matty decided to slip into bed with her. He didn’t know what was going on with Nico, but he couldn’t have her backing down now. He knew it was selfish, but he really wanted to marry her and he wanted her to know how he felt slowly. He knew springing it on her might make her run away, so he came up with a plan to slowly make her his. He knew that it’d be easier said than done but he wasn’t going to run away this time. He wanted to be with the girl he loved for a long time.

He put his arm over her waist and pulled her closer to him. Nicolette was in shock at first when Matty slipped into bed with her, but when he pulled her closer to him, her whole body melted near his. They laid there in silence. Nicolette decided to concentrate on how Matty’s chest was rising and falling. She could feel his heart beating. The way his warm body felt near her, she loved every minute of it. She wasn’t sure whether he was being friendly or what right now. All she knew was that she couldn’t let this moment slip by. So she closed her eyes to enjoy it and drifted off to sleep.