CHAPTER 7
"I know" he replied.
"How do you know? Damnit, she's there?".
"Yes." Matt tried to stay calm, first - the woman he wanted so much to see again was before him and second, he'd have to lie to her, because he had an agreement with Antonio.
"I think we were busted or you can come up with something, and no tell her all truth?" Antonio questioned him.
"Yeah, I-I will be fine...", they hung up.
When Matt opened the door Gabby gave him a small smile, seeing him talking on the phone, she waited patiently. Matt was handsome, she thought, he had beautiful blue eyes.
"Hi, may I help you?" He said, his hands sweating, he was a little nervous.
"Hi, my name is Gabriela Dawson. A few weeks ago I came here... I was about to sign a lease agreement for this apartment, but something came up, and I couldn't move forward with my plans... Mr. Harold, the landlord, I can't find him, the man disappeared...", she laughed lightly, "..., so...".
"... My client signed the contract for the apartment yesterday, I'm sorry...", Matt informed her as crossing his arms over his chest.
Despite being upset with the news, Gabby mustered a smile, "Oh, okay... Thank you, anyway... ", before she could leave and cut short their talk, Matt prompted...
"Could you help me with something? I have a few doubts about the best place for a shelf and the color of the rooms... my client is a middle-aged woman, you know... I think I need a female opinion to make sure I'm not gonna mess things up...", he snickered.
Gabby faltered for a second since she didn't know him. Matt wondered if he had sounded creepy or something like that. "Please, I just need your sincere opinion, we can leave the front door open to make you feel more comfortable...".
Gabby got flushed, "Sorry, is that I don't know you, but I'm gonna help you, if you try anything you need to know my brother is a cop...".
Matt nodded, "Okay."
She came in and looked around, now and then, she would suggest something to him as Matt followed her steps. He loved her voice, he thought her voice sweet.
"I think the color you have chosen is great... the shelves, I don't know if I would put them there, what do you think to put in that place?", Gabby pointed her finger.
"Mmm, I think you are right... Do you want to see the other rooms?"
They checked each room, then they went back to the living room. "You're doing a great job, your client will love it... You know it's weird that you are fixing exactly what I had planned doing here...".
Matt pressed his lips together and gave her a tense smile, as Gabby studied his expression.
"I-I gotta go, good job!".
"Okay, thanks for your help!".
Before walking out, "You didn't tell me your name."
Matt had sighed relieved minutes ago because she didn't ask for his name. He hated lying to her.
"Tom Miller."
"Nice to meet you, Tom Miller."
Yeah, Matt was screwed up.
...
Antonio's house...
"Auntie, what's up for dinner?" Eva queried.
"I'm making lasagna, my favorite food in the world," Gabby said smiling. "It's mine too," Eva said.
"Eva, dad is here..." Diego cried out from the living room.
"Dad, I missed you today," Diego hugged him, and Eva did the same next.
"Me either. Where are Laura and your aunt?" Antonio took off his jacket.
"Mom is upstairs, and auntie is in the kitchen making lasagna for dinner."
"Okay, go watch some TV while I talk to Gabby." They obeyed and Antonio went to the kitchen.
"Hey sis, how are you?" he approached Gabby and kissed her head.
"I'm good, thanks. And you?" Gabby put the lasagna in the oven.
"I can't complain... Did you go to the apartment?" Matt called him after she left, but Antonio wanted to check if she had suspected anything.
"I did. The apartment is not available anymore... When I got there, I met this guy Tom who was working there... He's doing a great job, he asked my opinion about it... He was kind, cute...", Gabby said snickering, she knew it would annoy Antonio. He was very protective over her, but not in an exaggerated way.
...
Firehouse 51...
"Shay will suspect if we keep talking in your office..." Severide said after sitting in Casey's bed.
"Don't worry about it... Listen, yesterday I met my mysterious girl...", Casey said while holding back his excitement.
"What? How come?".
"She called me a while back... to do some repairs at her apartment, but later her brother contacted me and said he wanted to surprise her, he would pay for my work at the place, so yesterday she showed up at the apartment out of nowhere, and to my surprise: it's the girl from the park, my girl... Beautiful than ever... no ring, so...", he shrugged.
"Man,... normally it happens in movies... what a coincidence... I mean, either way, you two would meet down the road..." Severide declared in awe.
"Yeah, however, she doesn't know my real purpose at her apartment, her brother wants to surprise her,... I said the place is out of the market, and I didn't say my real name as well...". Casey ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do. It's crazy, all this, right?".
"Don't tell me. You are close to finishing your work there?"
"Next week. Her brother wants me to be there. I can't wait... I don't like lying to her, even it is for a good cause...".
"What about Sophia?"
He was about to answer when the bell sounded off...
...
A few days later... Matt's house...
It had been a few days since Matt talked to Sophia. She knew something was off with him, she needed to fix it. Another unannounced visit was on her list that day...
"Hi, I was passing by and decided to check on you, I hope it is not a problem...".
"No, it's okay!" Matt let her in.
"Anna, how is she?" she said as she sat down on the couch.
"She's doing great... she is in her room, doing her homework...".
"Really? Maybe I can help her with it".
Matt was a little confused, she had never offered to do that before. Nodding, he walked with Sophia to Anna's room.
"Anna, look who's here: Sophia. She wants to help you, it's not cool?"
"Sure, dad...", she said bothered.
"I'll start the dinner... be nice...".
Sophia couldn't be happier to be alone with Anna...
"Anna, can you talk more about the woman at the park...".