ARIA’s POV
I sat on the grassy bank, my feet dangling in the cool water of the lake. I let out a sigh of contentment, enjoying the tranquil moment. I ran my fingers through my hair, smoothing out the flyaways. The sun was warm on my skin, and I felt a sense of agitation wash over me.
Matteo had left me with Carter two days ago, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on his face as he walked away. He looked heartbroken, as if he was scared to let me go. The only reason he did it was because he trusted Carter, I was sure of it. The kiss in the car had been perfect, but it still didn’t make up for the fact that I didn’t really know Matteo.
He was a puzzle, and I was determined to solve him. Every time I thought I had him figured out, he would do something unexpected. I felt like I was on a roller coaster, never knowing what was around the next end, but I was determined to understand him.
I heard a branch snap behind me, and I turned to see Carter standing in the shadows. His eyes met mine, and I saw warmth and comfort in their depths. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hands stuffed in his pockets. His white sneakers were covered in dirt, and I wondered how long he had been standing there.
“You haven’t had any proper meal yet”. He said, his voice low and heavy.
“I’m not hungry, Carter”. I said and looked back at the lake.
“You know he won’t like this very much”. He paused, letting out a heavy sigh. The realization hitting me like a fat rock.
“When do you think he’ll be back?”. I asked, awaiting a positive response, but Carter kept to himself. “Has he done this before?”. I asked again, trying to keep the conversation going. “Who got shot”.
“Enough!” Carter shouted, his voice echoing through the forest. I turned to him, my eyes stinging with tears. I blinked rapidly, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over. I could feel my emotions bubbling up, like a pot that was about to boil over. I was losing control, and I didn’t know what to do.
“Tell me, Carter,” I sobbed, my voice breaking. He rushed to my side, his strong arms wrapping around me in a comforting embrace. But I could feel him tense up, his body rigid and stiff. I knew he was just as scared as I was, that he was just as worried about Matteo. We clung to each other, both of us lost in our own thoughts and fears.
“I trust he’ll be back”. He said, His voice was steady, betraying no emotion. The wind blew through the trees, sending the leaves dancing in the breeze. Carter’s gaze shifted away from me, his eyes scanning the forest around us. But I could feel his gaze still fixed on me, intense and unblinking. It was as if he were watching a precious thing, something to be protected and cherished. I shook the thought from my head, trying to focus on the moment. But then, I felt the water from the lake lap at my feet, a cool and refreshing sensation. It was a welcome sensation, a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. I closed my eyes, letting the breeze and the water wash over me.
“I miss his arrogance.” I said to myself, but I knew he heard me loud and clear
“And I know he’ll be back”. He said. His lips turned up in a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He let out a deep sigh as if carrying a heavy burden. Then, he rose to his feet, brushing the dirt off his pants. He held out his hand to me, a gesture of help and support. I looked up at him and took his hand, and he pulled me to my feet.
“Let’s get you inside and get some food in you,” he said, his voice soft and soothing. His hair whipped around in the wind, giving him a dramatic and romantic look. He seemed like a character out of a movie, tall and handsome, with a sense of mystery about him. But I knew that wasn’t the case, Carter was just a regular guy. I reached for his hand, and he pulled me up with surprising strength. We started to walk back to the mansion, the trees and bushes blurring past us as we went. As we walked, I noticed that Carter kept glancing at me, a small smile playing on his lips. I found it endearing, but there was something about his expression that seemed slightly off.
I followed him into the living room, sinking into one of the plush sofas. I leaned back, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes. The events of the past few hours had taken their toll, and I needed a moment to regroup. I let my mind wander, letting the stillness of the room wash over me. But my thoughts kept going back to the events of the night, replaying them over and over again. I felt the sofa dip next to me, and I knew it was Carter without even opening my eyes. But before I could say anything, the spot was empty again, and I was alone on the sofa.
“Matteo…”. I heard Carter say, and my eyes shot open. I scanned the room, my heart pounding in my chest, until I saw Matteo standing in the doorway. My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn’t find the words to speak. His shirt was stained with blood, as were his hands. His eyes were wild, but there was something else there, too. I saw the hatred, the anger, the resentment, all of it bubbling to the surface.
He looked at me like he wanted to hurt me, like he wanted to lash out. I didn’t know what I had done to deserve that. My heart was pounding in my chest, and a tear rolled down my cheek. I wanted to run to Matteo, to hold him and tell him that everything would be okay. But he turned away from me, his gaze cold and distant. He walked away from the living room, and I knew that something had changed between us.