Finding Beauty in the Darkness

I hung up and made my way to her place to wait for her. I didn’t have to wait long because not even thirty minutes after hanging up with Amber, the lift chimed and Aria stepped out onto her floor. And when our eyes locked, I knew I could never let this woman go again.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

ARIA

Looking down at the bags I dropped, I bend to pick them up, but Gio gets to them first. I’m able to snag a glimpse of him up close and he looks just as handsome as he did a year ago. He’s wearing a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. He looks the most casual I’ve ever seen him. His forearms look solid, muscular like he’s been working out, and his facial hair is just how I used to like it—just long enough to feel the stubble against my lips…and between my thighs. But he also looks sad. He has dark circles under his eyes like he hasn’t slept recently and I immediately wonder if he’s here because something has happened.

“Thank you,” I say once he has all my bags in his hands. “Would you like to come in?” My words come out so calmly, I question my sanity.

Gio nods but doesn’t say anything else. We enter my flat and I start to put the groceries away into the refrigerator to busy myself, my eyes constantly glancing toward Gio, who is leaning against the counter following my every move.

Once I have no groceries left to put away, I offer him a drink. “I have water, orange juice, white wine, and…” I look down and spot a beer in the back. “…beer.”

“You drink beer?” Gio’s brow quirks up.

“No, it’s Trevor’s.” The words come out before I can stop them and Gio’s eyes turn cold.

“The guy you were with at the bakery?”

“You were watching me?”

Gio doesn’t even try to deny it. “I came here first and the doorman steered me in the direction of the bakery. We’re going to need to speak to him about privacy. Is Trevor your boyfriend?”

I shake my head and pour myself a glass of wine, needing it to calm my nerves.

“Fiancé?”

I choke on my sip of wine, coughing to the point that Gio comes over to me, grabs my glass and places it on the counter, and pats my back. Jesus, this is not going well.

“I’m okay. Thanks.” I clear my throat to get a hold of myself. “No, Trevor is just a friend from school. You didn’t answer me. Would you like something to drink?”

He shakes his head and walks to the living room to have a seat. I follow behind and once we’re both seated, I say, “It’s been a long time and you’re far from home. Is everything okay?”

Gio shakes his head again.

“Are you going to actually speak or should I keep throwing out questions for you to nod or shake your head to?”

He chuckles softly and that small laugh has my chest tightening, my eyes opening, and my heart pumping. It’s like a switch has been flipped on, and all the darkness is now full of color and light.

“Fuck, I’ve missed your sass.” His fingers come up, twirling a strand of my hair. “You died your hair black. It looks good on you.”

“I needed a change.” What I needed was the darkness to match my state of being. For the last year I’ve lived my life to the tune of black, white, and grey. The moment I was forced to walk out of Gio’s life, my world lost all its color.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, Ari.” He shakes his head and gives me a half smirk. “I came here without a plan. Without thinking this through.”

My head goes down and I mess with my hands unsure of what to do or say.

“Baby, look at me.” Gio lifts my chin and gives me a small smile, one that has my heart quickening. It’s been over a year since I’ve been with this man but one simple touch and he has my body going haywire.

“What are you doing here, Gio? What’s going on?” My words come out serious, demanding an answer. He can’t just come here, walk back into my life and fuck with my head and my heart. I won’t survive it. It’ll be hard enough once he leaves after he’s said whatever it is he came all the way across the world to say.

“I need you close to me,” he mumbles, and without even asking permission, he lifts me up by my hips and places me into his lap so my legs are straddling him. My hands go to his shoulders to steady myself and our faces are mere inches away from each other.

“I came here for you. I need you, Ari. Sei il mio cuore.” You are my heart. I gasp and shake my head as his words sink in.