He answers the phone before it finishes ringing the first time.
"Ophelia."
A chill runs down my spine when his voice reaches my ears. His way of speaking is always slow and smooth, but there's something… threatening underneath it this time.
It almost reminds me… of that first night we met on the roof.
"Tell me," he urges after I'm silent a moment too long.
I frown, "Tell you what, exactly?"
"WhichMatteo?"
"Matteo Viotto—but why does it matter? It was just the first boring guy I could think of," I sigh. "You know it didn't really happen, anyway—I was literally with you."
There's silence on his end for a few moments before he heaves a relieved breath. "Right… Yeah."
"Uh-huh," I scoff as I start walking toward the back entrance to the manor. "Well, if that's all—"
"No," he cuts me off. His voice is almost pouty when he adds, "I want to talk longer."
"Better start talking, then," I say, fighting the twitch of a smile playing at my lips. "One sec, climbing."
