Aria’s POV 

 I awoke with a pounding headache, struggling to find focus as I looked around my familiar bedroom. I spotted some painkillers and a bottle of water and took them with a groan. Groggy and unbalanced, I struggled to navigate my way downstairs. My head was swimming, and my legs felt like jelly. When I finally made it to the bottom of the stairs, I stumbled into something solid. Looking up, I found myself face to face with Matteo. He looked exhausted and preoccupied, but even in that state, he was stunning. 

He walked past me, his eyes never meeting mine. I took a moment to gather myself, then...