Chapter 304

The party dragged on well past midnight, leaving me bone-tired, yet I couldn’t catch a wink on the flight back to Calabria.

Excitement mingled with dread. I couldn’t wait to fall into Nico’s arms, to let him hold me through my complaints and mood swings that had wrecked my day.

But dread gnawed at me for what lay ahead. After the night ended, if he caught a whiff of Alexa, would I hurt differently? No, I’d hurt worse—that much was clear. Even after being burned once, I hadn’t learned my lesson.

At four the next morning, we pulled into the manor. I was the first out of the car, shutting out the wild chatter behind me. Like a zombie, I shuffled into the house, my bag clutched in my right hand, drawn to the sound of his voice in the kitchen.

Nico stood over a chopping board, wearing a black apron, while his mother tended the stove. Why did I miss him so much it ached? Why did days away from him make life feel bleak? Why couldn’t I function without him?