Werewolf Boyfriend: Matteo (special preview)

Having left Hearthway Hollow after high school, I wasn’t sure what coming back would be like. Sure, I came home often for holidays, but moving back and visiting are two different things. Things change though, and after one too many changes for me, I decided going back home would be the best bet.

My family owned an antique store in town, and recently that had expanded to where it also included a used book store, which I had taken over for my mother could focus on the accounting, which she prefered. The store was exactly what I needed, and it helped me to get settled much easier than I thought. Organizing the shelves, decorating and arranging, it all helped to settle my mind and calm my nerves. I also got to find some pretty interesting books as well.

Of course, like any book store, one of our most popular sellers, as well as one of the most frequently traded in genres, was romance. I had set up a nice look nook just for romance novels. But sometimes, an erotica or two would slip in. Oftentimes, I would take these for myself then keep them behind the counter for anyone interested in such things. 

Right now in Hearthway Hollow, we’ve been going through a rainy season, so in the sunny patches the store is packed. People are buying tons of books to read during the storms, but during the storms, the shop is empty, so I just read.

One afternoon while it was beginning to turn gray, a familiar face came into the shop. It was Matteo, an old romance. I was shocked at first to see him, I hadn’t seen him since high school and we lost touch midway through college. We had a bit of a thing back then, sort of on and off. Nothing ever dramatic or serious, we just sort of drifted in and out of each other’s circles. When we were together it was nice, and when we weren’t it was fine too. 

I had always thought he was cute, but now that we had grown he looked so much more masculine. He still had that same wiry frame and broad shoulders and storm colored eyes. The changes were glasses, he even had a beard just to show the passage of time. 

When he saw me he broke into the smile, the same crooked thing I remember. “I heard rumors you were back in town. I’m sorry I haven’t come by earlier to verify that.” He steps up to the counter and those eyes look me over. He then flinches and squints his eyes. “You do remember me right?”

I chuckle and nod. “Of course I do, Matteo. It’s good to see you.” I walk around the counter to give him a hug. His hugs have gotten better over time, he has some softness to his middle that makes him warm and cozy, and his arms have gotten strong too.

He gives an extra squeeze before holding me back to admire me. “Madeline, you look great!” 

“Oh stop,” I scoff. 

“No, I’m serious.” He then does that thing that used to drive me crazy in school. He runs his fingers through my hair. His fingers part the sea of curls and a smile spreads across his face. “You were always cute in school, but man, isn’t it nice to look like an adult?”

I giggle and bob my head. “Okay, I can give you that.”

Matteo’s fingers slip through my hair and he pulls his hand back. “So how long are you back home?” 

“I’ve moved back, actually. My dad has given me grandma’s cottage, all I gotta do is clean it out and it’s good to go.”

“Then we need to catch up at some point!” He sounds excited. “I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to, I’ve not done much except help Pop run the theatre.”

I can’t help but smile as nostalgia washes over me. He used to let me sit in the projection room with him back when we were in an ‘on’ phase. “You still work at the theatre?”

“I don’t just work there, I run the damn thing,” he says proudly. “We just did some renovations on the place, you’ll have to come see it.”

“I’d like that.” I find I can’t stop smiling, there have been so many nice memories between Matteo and I. It feels good to be around him again.

“You still got it,” he sighs.

My expression slacks a bit. “Got what?”

The light in his eyes becomes bright, and the honey color becomes fiery gold. “That smile.” He pokes his finger into one of my dimples, making me giggle.