Chapter 16

Chiara

“Be my girlfriend.”

The initial shock of Alessio just entering my room like some kind of rogue animal already had my heart pumping like crazy, but the words he said hit me in a different way entirely.

I stare at him with my mouth wide open. He’s still holding my shoulders, which is keeping me upright pretty successfully, but I still feel like I need to lie down or else I will faint right by his feet and never wake up.

Is this a fever dream? Am I imagining things? I didn’t have breakfast, so maybe I’m having a hunger-induced hallucination?

“Chiara?” Alessio prompts, shaking me. “Did you hear me?”

“Huh?” I say absently. “What were you saying?”

He exhales and lets me go. “I said, be my girlfriend. Do you have trouble hearing or did I stutter?”

“You did not stutter.” I swallow hard. “It’s very clear now. It’s just that . . . what the fuck?”

“What the fuck, what?” he demands. “Do you think that is a request? Because no. I came here to tell you that you are now my girlfriend. Now com