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Chapter 44: New Beginnings

Author: Fallenwild
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-01 23:20:42

Six months later

"Earth to Aria! Your coffee's getting cold."

I blinked, dragging my attention back to the small café table where Max sat across from me, an amused expression on his face.

"Sorry," I murmured, wrapping my hands around the lukewarm mug. "Got lost in thought."

"Must've been some pretty deep thoughts," he teased. "You were miles away."

I forced a smile, taking a sip of my coffee. Six months had passed since I'd left America, and I was still adjusting to this new life.

Max reached across the table, his fingers gently brushing mine. "Hey, you okay?"

I nodded, genuinely touched by his concern. "Just tired."

"Ah. Want to skip the movie and just go home? We could order in, watch something on Netflix instead."

Home. The word still felt strange, but in a good way. Our apartment in Florence—yes, our apartment now—had become more than just a hiding place. It had become filled with small touches that made it ours. Max's books stacked neatly on the coffee table. The mismatched mugs
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