When i heard her speak so sadly about not wanting to get hurt, i realized that i never want her to be sad or hurt, by anyone, ever. I realized that there is no getting away from the pull i have towards her.

Its insane, and i might have a hard time adjusting, but ill try, because i know i want her.

I also know that i sound like a wuss.

I look over at her and see her just thinking, she's so beautiful, it amazes me. She turns to me and smiles.

"Uhm so are we a uh thing? Or just like casual sex or is it like we can see other people-" i stop her.

"Baby" she looks at me wide eyed. I think she just realized she said the word sex out loud. So fucking cute. "We are a thing" i say and she flushes. I smile. "You definitely are not gonna see another man. Ever" i tell her. I will not have that. Ill have the mans head.

"Okay" she says softly. "But also, y-you cant see other women" she says lowly. Fuck.

"I will not see other women either baby, promise" she smiles, as if satisfied with my answer.

"Sorry, but can we get food, im hungry" she mumbles. I look over at her timid stance. Cute.

"Ofcourse baby, where?" i ask her. She says she liked the pizza that night so i take her there.

"You paid last time, let me pay, please" she says. I shake my head.

"No piccola, thats a rule you know, if you take a lady out, you pay, otherwise youre a little bitch" i say. She frowns.

"Please can I pay? I wanna" she says. Damn. I stay quiet and she huffs. "Okay can i just give the tip?" i open my mouth but get cut off. "Please Niccolo" she says. But it sounded like a she was getting angry now.

"Fine, just the tip" i say and she smiles like she made the business deal of the year. I shake my head at her.

When we're done, we drive off to her place.

Once we reach, we get out and i walk her to her door. I lean down to her small frame.

"are you okay with me kissing you, baby?" i ask her. She's too fragile to hurt. I wanna know everything about her. But i know it will take time and im ready to give it to her.

She shyly nods and i grin and kiss her. After saying a tiny goodnight, she was in and I want her right back.

I shake my head and walk to my car amd drive home.

I walk into my apartment and sigh. Oh my god. We're together. I dont know if i should be happy or scared. This is the first time someone has shown this kind of interest in me and i just cant believe it.

After i shower and change, i decide to call Alaia. I was avoiding her because i didn't wanna blurt out something about me and Nick, especially not if he wasn't even interested. But i think im being mean and hearing that she's worried made me feel so bad.

I sit on my bed and dial her number. It rings a few times before she picks up.

"Oh my god Aria! You had me so worried, i cannot believe you, why were you being so distant?" she shrieks. Oh my.

"Alaia im sorry, so sorry, i just had a thing with Nick and then he didn't call, and i didn't wanna tell you because he's your family and i cant talk about him like that to you, i was just upset and-" i pause. "Im just sorry, ill understand if you cant forgive me-"

"Shut up, you can tell me anything, i dont care who its about, thats what bestfriends do, and its ok, sometimes we all need time to ourselves, i understand." I smile at her kind words and gentle tone.

"Thankyou" i whisper and she giggles.

"Can you come over to lunch the day after tomorrow? We're having a thing for Zia Tania, just family, and i was thinking i could cook" she tells me. Oh right its her birthday.

"Yeah ofcourse ill come, can i cook?" i ask her.

"You wanna?"

"Yeah, i can make the cake at work then bring it over and ill make lasagna, its my speciality, according to Zia Tania." i say, stealing her word.

"Oh! Sounds perfect, thankyou Ari, i know Zia will love you there." i smile at her words.

We talk for another half an hour about random things and ofcourse, Grayson, then we say our goodbyes and i go to bed with a light, happy heart, with butterflies in my tummy, after a very long time.

Edited