76

76
Emilia’s POV
I found myself standing in front of Matteo’s door this morning, clutching a bag of pastries like it was my lifeline. It’s wasn’t particularly because I missed him that I was here today. I did miss him, but that wasn’t the exact reason. It was that I felt like I was drowning and my mind was an undeniable mess of my emotions.
I knocked the door once, waiting for him to come and open the door. Matteo opened the door almost immediately, his face lighting up in a way that only reminded me how much I missed him. “Emmy!” he exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug before I could even step inside.
“Hey, Teo,” I murmured into his shoulder, and for a moment, I let myself relax into the comfort of my brother’s embrace. I felt like my mind was finally going calm after all this whole just because I was in his presence.
He pulled back, holding me at arm’s length to give me one of his patented Matteo once-overs. “You look tired,” he said, frowning. “What’s going on? And don’t tell me ‘nothing,’ because I know you better than that.”
I forced a smile, stepping past him into his apartment. It was cozy, with that mix of neatness and clutter that felt quintessentially Matteo. A half-finished puzzle covered the coffee table. It smelled like coffee and the vanilla-scented candles he always had burning.
“I brought croissants,” I said, holding up the bag like it was a peace offering.
Matteo raised an eyebrow but didn’t push-yet. Instead, he took the bag from me and headed into the kitchen. “Coffee?” he called over his shoulder.
“God, yes,” I replied, sinking onto his couch and kicking off my shoes.
He returned a few minutes later, handing me a steaming mug before sitting across from me. “Okay,” he said, crossing his arms. “Spill. What’s going on?”
I stared down at my coffee, trying to figure out where to begin. I couldn’t explain that I was in love with Alaric and he and I have been having sex without completely freaking him out. I couldn’t explain what had happened with the nightshade syndicate and the fact that I had almost been killed. He didn’t approve of me working with Alaric in the first place. This would only infuriate him more. Her probably lose his mind.
“It’s…work stuff. Complicated,” I finally said, taking a sip of coffee to buy myself more time.
“Complicated how?” Matteo pressed, his eyes narrowing. “Emmy, you can tell me anything, you know that, right?”
I nodded, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his voice. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I also didn’t want to drag him into the mess that was my reality.
“I’ve just… been dealing with a lot lately,” I said vaguely. “Work has been stressful, and-”
“Bullshit,” Matteo interrupted, leaning forward. “This isn’t just work stress. You’ve been off for a few weeks now. I can see it. You’re… different.”
Different. The word hit harder than I expected because he was right. I was different. The girl who used to laugh with Matteo over bad rom-coms and spend hours helping him with whatever he was interested in at the moment. I’d been dragged into a world that had changed me in ways I wasn’t sure I could ever undo.
I sighed, setting my coffee down on the table. “It’s… complicated,” I repeated, and when Matteo gave me a look that screamed ‘you’re not getting away with that answer again’, I added, “It’s issues with Francesca. Plus I just needed to see you. To be here. Can we leave it at that for now?”
Matteo studied me for a long moment before finally nodding. “Fine,” he said, though his tone made it clear this conversation wasn’t over. “But you know I’m here for you, right? Whatever it is, you don’t have to handle it alone.”
I nodded, my throat tightening. “I know.”
We fell into a comfortable silence after that, and I let myself relax for the first time in what felt like weeks. Matteo started talking about his new job that Alaric had gotten for him. And he seemed to be very much excited about it. It made me smile. Also he had composed a speech for a girl he had liked for a few weeks now here in the apartment conplex and was reading it to me. I found myself giggling every now and then.
“Okay, but be honest,” he said after he finished. “Does it suck?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “It doesn’t suck. It’s beautiful, Teo.”
He grinned, leaning back on the couch and playing with the bracelet on his wrist. “Good. I was worried it was too cheesy.”
“Since when are you worried about being cheesy?” I teased.
“Touche,” he said with a chuckle.
For the next couple of hours, we fell into an easy rhythm, talking and laughing like we used to before everything changed. Matteo had a way of making the world feel lighter, and for a little while, I let myself believe that everything was okay. That I wasn’t tangled up in a dangerous web of lies and power plays. That I was just Emilia, spending a lazy afternoon with her brother.
But eventually, reality crept back in. It always did.
“Emmy,” Matteo said softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Whatever’s going on… With Francesca or Alaric, you’ll figure it out. You’re stronger than you think.”
I looked at him, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his expression. “Thanks, Teo,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled, reaching over to ruffle my hair like he used to when we were kids. “Anytime, sis.”
“Alaric is scared,” I said at last. I could at least divulge a little of the problem I was facing without revealing too much.
“Scared how?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.
“He thinks Francesca is going to spiral when I leave,” I explained.
“Isn’t tnag a good thing? At least we know that he doesn’t intend to keep you forever,” Matteo said, and he really did look thrilled about it.
I opened my mouth to argue but then I decided it was pointless. He wouldn’t get me until I really explained everything and that was t going to happen. I glanced at the watch on my arm before sighing. “I have to leave.”
“Now? You’ve barely spent any time here,” he frowned as I got up from the couch.
“Matty I’ve spent three hours here,” I replied with a roll of my eyes as I crouched a bit and kissed his cheek. “Bye. I love you.”