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Liv and I both held back a chuckle, and I turned my face away so the little ones wouldn’t see me grinning. Once we both got our composure, Liv said, “I better get these two to the car so we can pick up Maya. See you around.”
I waved to Liv and then gave my nieces each a hug before getting back to work. But it was hard to focus knowing Liv was actively trying to set up Della and obviously had shit taste in men for her best friend.
It was none of my damn business.
So why did I care so much?
10
DELLA
With all the hubbub of the list, nothing changed over the week. I went to work. I had dinner with my parents. And on Friday night, I washed the sticky bread dough off my hands and then picked up my phone to see who the new text was from. I was going another round with my sourdough. The last loaf I attempted was a flop, but I hoped this one would turn out better.
Liv: Bad news or good news first?
I took the phone to my couch and sat down.
Della: Bad news? (Need something to look forward to!)
Liv: Ethan and Joshua need to be crossed off the list.
I frowned.
Liv: Ethan has a drinking problem. Joshua’s a dead-beat dad.
Della: That’s half the list!
Liv: Which is where my good news comes in... Matteo is picking you up for dinner in an hour.
My jaw dropped—both at the late notice and the name. Matteo was one of the better-looking guys on the list we made. He worked as a realtor in Cottonwood Falls and was always dressed and groomed nicely for client meetings. Meanwhile, my pajama set was already speckled with flour, and my hair was twisted into a tight bun atop my head.
Della: I ALREADY TOOK OFF MY DAY CLOTHES.
Liv: Put ‘em back on, babe!
Della: My hair is in a bun. My curls will NEVER BEHAVE.
Liv: Straighten it! No excuses. I’m keeping you in town even if I have to whore you out to every single guy in a fifty-mile radius.
I rolled my eyes at my friend. When she set her mind to something, she almost always got her way.
Liv: What are you waiting around for? GO GET READY!
Della: How did you know?
Liv: I’ve known you forever. Just go and have a good time. See what comes out of it. And then call me and tell me EVERYTHING.
I let out a sigh. Of course Liv was right. I needed to stop making excuses and start getting ready. But there was also a small voice in the back of my head saying that if Matteo really wanted to date me, he would have at least asked me out by now.
Either way, he’d be here soon, according to Liv. So I covered up my sourdough to rise and then went to my bedroom to get ready. I decided to keep my hair up in a bun and dressed in leggings and a flowy floral top.
I was putting on a fresh layer of lip gloss when the doorbell rang and sang a cutesy song I fell in love with at the hardware store. With a small smile, I capped the lip gloss, grabbed my phone and purse, and went to the door.
Matteo stood on my porch in a pair of dark wash jeans, a light-blue button-down with the sleeves rolled. His olive skin and dark eyes were so yummy to me, especially since all my skin ever did was burn.
“Hey, Della,” he said warmly.
“Hi there.” In that moment, it hit me that I wasn’t good at dating. My last serious relationship had been a few years ago and not a lot had come my way since then. “Would you like to come in, get some water or something?” I asked.