It was the first time Aria had ever come to my place. I had never invited her here before. Even today, she had shown up on her own.
I reached out and took her arm, gently pulling her toward me until she lost her balance and fell onto her back beside me. I kept one arm under her head so she could rest against it.
"Come here, baby," I murmured.
Aria turned her face slightly away, still trying to hold onto her earlier anger.
"I'm not talking to you," she said, though her body stayed close against mine.
I shifted onto my side so I was facing her.
"You don't need to talk for what I'm about to do," I said quietly. Then I leaned in and kissed her soft pink lips.
The kiss was slow and gentle. When I finally pulled back, Aria just looked up into my eyes, searching for something, as if she was trying to read the truth behind every word I had said this morning.
I brushed a strand of her long dark hair away from her face with my fingers.
"What happened, baby?" I asked.
