Page 113 of Matteo
“You should be on my side,” Nikola huffed under his breath. “I’m here helping you.”
“Helping with what?” I asked curiously.
“Shut it, Nikola,” Matteo growled and the two shared a staredown that I had no interest in participating in.
“Well, this was… yeah. But we must get going,” I cut in, tugging at Hannah, but my sister refused to budge.
“Not so fast.” Matteo’s expression was calculating. Callous, even. “What are you three doing at my place?”
“Your place?” Hannah asked, surprised. “Well, what a coincidence, because—” I stepped on my sister’s foot, causing her to yelp. “Arianna!”
“Whoops,” I murmured, then yanked on her. “Let’s go.”
Gianna piped up next. “We came to visit Francesca.”
I feigned a smile. “But she’s not here, so we’ll be on our way.”
“You three are not supposed to be off campus without guards.” Matteo blocked my path.
Nikola grinned. “Thought you were off the hook, didn’t you?”
“If you wish to be our ‘bodyguards,’ you’ll do well to stay at a distance.” I pushed past him, fighting the urge to look at Matteo. “Lest any violent, irritating, leather-clad men try to grab us.”
With that, I turned on my heel, praying the hitch in my voice was drowned out by my sisters’ peals of laughter.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
ARIANNA
Iwas late for my first class.
Our detective work over the last few days had led us nowhere, and the resulting exhaustion was leading me to madness.
Running through campus, dark shadows seemed to trail behind me. My limbs stiffened and muscles tensed, but I didn’t stop to look or slow down because I knew exactly who it was. It had been like this every single day since the engagement was announced.
Matteo’s watchful eyes were on me, following my every move, refusing to let me go. Whenever I left campus, I’d catch his motorcycle turning a corner in my rearview. When I got lunch at my favorite café, he’d be propped up against the wall outside, legs crossed at the ankles, typing away at his phone while he waited. Barely even sparing me a glance, like he wasn’t interested in much beyond my safety.
Once inside the math building, I exhaled. I didn’t know how long it would take to get over him, but I was looking forward to it. My whole body was so attuned to him that I sometimes felt him in my dreams too.
I was climbing the steps two at a time, and when I reached the third floor, an arm wrapped around my shoulder. I froze for a moment before I released a breath as familiar pale blue eyes registered.
“Nikola, what are you doing?”
“Late for class?” he asked.
I answered with my own question, wanting him gone more than anything. “Do you not know how to button up a shirt?”
He smiled at me, the first real smile I’d seen on his face in a long time. It was boyish, and the sight of it reminded me that, beneath the hard exterior, Nikola was a decent guy. Annoying and definitely unhinged, but decent.
He lightly tapped his index finger across my nose. “Want to button it for me?”
“No.”
He grinned. “Your loss.”
“I sincerely doubt that.”
“Being late is not like you,” he remarked. “Did you party last night?”
