ARIA'S POV
I didn't mean to stay.
We'd fallen asleep on his couch somewhere after midnight, the movie we were watching finished a long time ago, my head finding the space between his shoulder and his chest. I woke up at 2 AM to the city quiet outside the windows and his arm heavy and warm around me. The choice was right there in front of me and I chose to stay.
In the morning I woke up to the smell of coffee.
He was already in the kitchen, barefoot, in yesterday's shirt, doing nothing more remarkable than grinding beans and finding mugs. The penthouse in early light looked different from the night version. Softer. The books are still everywhere, the blanket we'd pulled off the back of the couch now draped over the armchair. The city outside is pale and just starting.
He looked over wh
