CHAPTER 34
Mia padded down the hallway on socked feet, the hem of her oversized sweater brushing her bare thighs. The lights were off, save for the soft orange glow of the fridge humming in the dark kitchen. She hesitated at the doorway, then stepped inside,
Her stomach had been bothering her for hours—an empty restless ache that wouldn’t settle. She hadn’t eaten much all day .
She shifted on her toes, quietly scanning the pantry shelves for anything sweet—cookies, crackers, even a chocolate chip would do.
Nothing. Her shoulders slumped.
She let the cabinet door close slowly, her lips pressing into a line.
“You won’t find anything in there.”
Mia froze.. this wasn't Grayson's voice or Luca's.
Her breath caught in her chest as she turned. He wasn't supposed to be home, him and Luca had disappeared during the week claiming to be back at the end of it...
Marcello stood near the hallway, a shadow sharpened by the low kitchen light.
His sleeves were pushed up, forearms bare, expression unreadable.
She hadn't seen him this up close since that day in the hallway, only glances of him that she had now gotten used to for the past two months she had been here.
" I—I wasn’t stealing,” she blurted out, voice small and breathless. “I was just hungry. I didn’t mean to— I thought .. I I ..I ... Sorry.....”
Her voice trailed off. She looked down at her feet , a quiet pause stretching between them. His eyes held hers for a beat too long then travelled to her exposed thighs and Mia hated the way she felt her face heat up under his scrutiny
Her stomach made a low rumble making him snap his eyes back to her face
Perfect.
She pressed a hand over it. “I was just… looking for cookies. I wasn’t going to take a lot or anything. I know it’s not really my house. I just—”
“You’re allowed to eat.” His voice was low. Neutral. Like he was trying not to sound too soft or too harsh
" I could take you to get some.”
Her head snapped up slightly. “What?”
“If you want cookies,” he said, “I can take you out to get some. If you're comfortable.”
Mia didn’t answer right away.
There was a small hesitation in her eyes—not fear, A flicker of uncertainty. Her heart was beating way too fast, and her throat felt weird but something about the way he was looking at her made her feel oddly safe and nervous at the same time.. She bit her bottom lip and looked at the floor again.
Marcello noticed.
He didn’t press her, but he knew exactly what caused her hesitation.
“There won’t be anyone out. It’s late. The roads are empty this time of night,” he said. “ there'll be no crowds.”
Her fingers tugged nervously at the edge of her sleeve.
“I’ll make sure you’re safe.” he added
Mia looked up at him—those eyes.... His eyes
Why did they always make her feel... like that? She swallowed and gave a tiny nod. “O-Okay.”
Marcello’s expression didn’t change, but something in his posture shifted—subtle relief.
“Get your coat and some sweatpants,” he said quietly. “I’ll wait here."
The silence inside the car stretched.
Streetlights passed in soft gold blurs across the dashboard as they drove, casting fleeting shadows across Mia’s face. She sat quietly, her hands tucked into the sleeves of her sweater, the seatbelt pressing gently against her chest.
Marcello hadn’t said a word since they pulled out of the driveway.
Neither had she.
The city outside was asleep no honking, no shouting, no crowds. Just empty roads, a few stray cats darting across corners, and the occasional buzz of a traffic light flipping.
Then, quietly— he admitted
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
His voice was low.
Mia glanced at him, startled that he’d spoken. He wasn’t looking at her. Just watching the road, one hand on the wheel, the other resting calmly beside the gearshift.
She looked down again.
“I wasn’t… trying to,” he said, slower now, like every word had been sifted for softness.
Mia didn’t answer.
She just shifted in her seat and gave a small, awkward nod. Her fingers toyed with the hem of her sleeve again, nervous
Then, in a whisper so quiet it barely counted—
“I’m… sorry too.”
Marcello glanced at her. Her face was turned toward the window now, hiding half of it in reflection.
“I didn’t mean to freak out,” she added, barely moving her lips.
A beat passed.
And then—
Her stomach gave a soft growl.
Mia’s eyes widened. She straightened a little, completely horrified.
Marcello didn’t say anything at first but something in his lips twitched — the faintest flicker of amusement.
“You really wanted those cookies,.. huh” he said quietly.
She smiled, "…Yeah.” she paused then added " why's Luca not back with you..."
Marcello stared at her for a long second then answered " he had to stay back for a meeting but he'll be here, I promise."
The car slowed to a gentle stop in front of the shop.
Marcello cut the engine. The low hum faded into silence.
He didn’t move at first. Neither did she.
The lights from the store window spilled across the windshield, painting her face in soft amber. She was looking out, not blinking, fingers curled loosely in her lap.
She looked like she didn’t plan to move.
Marcello glanced her way, then stepped out of the car without a word. The door closed with a quiet click behind him. Gravel crunched beneath his boots as he walked around.
Mia flinched slightly when her door opened.
He didn’t say anything. Just stood there for a moment, letting the night air settle between them, her hands were now clenched in her lap. Small fists, tucked in.
She wasn’t looking at him.
He could feel the hesitation in her body from where he stood..A moment passed. Then another.
His voice was quiet, low and Steady.
“You don’t have to be afraid.”
Her gaze flicked up.
“I won’t let anyone near you. Not even close.”
A beat.
“Alright?”
Mia gave the faintest nod, like her head was too light for anything more.
Still, she didn’t move.
Then, without a word, he held out his hand and her small fingers slipped into his.
He didn't grip too tightly. Just held.
The gesture alone made something clench in his chest. They stepped out together. The gravel crunched beneath their feet as they made their way to the door.
Marcello stayed close letting her decide the pace and when he looked down, her fingers were playing with the sleeve of her cardigan again — pulling, twisting, loosening.
He remembered what Grayson said.
She gets anxious when there’s too many people. Crowds scare her.
He was glad the store they entered didn't have people and it was just the two of them except for the cashier.
Still, he kept his voice low, smooth. “Anything you want.”
Mia glanced at the shelves, her voice soft. “Cookies.”
“What kind?”
“…Chocolate chip.”
He picked the whole row. Every single brand. Dumped them into the basket like it was nothing.
Her eyes widened slightly. “That’s… that’s too much.”
He ignored her, straight-faced. “What else?”
She blinked. “Um…”
He pointed. “Milk?”
She gave a small, shy nod. “Yeah.”
He added two cartons.
As they passed the candy aisle, her eyes landed on a chocolate bar for just a second barely a second but he saw it.
He dropped all of them into the basket.
She gave him the softest look. Her lips parted like she might say something, but all that came out was a quiet:
“…You didn’t have to.”
Marcello glanced at her, expression unreadable.
“I know. But I wanted to.”
She glanced down, and just like that, she smiled and that made his heart swell with something he couldn't name,
This was progress,
The cashier didn’t say much — just rang up the items, typing slowly with one hand, chewing on gum like he had nowhere better to be.
Marcello stood beside her. Still. Alert. Watching the space.
Then he felt it... her hand.
Small fingers curling around his making his heart beat faster than normal
She reached for him. Held him. She trusted him.
After paying, they stepped out into the cooler air and it hit her first, he felt it when she shivered slightly and her fingers flexed around his.
She still hadn’t let go.
Marcello walked beside her at a steady pace, his grip tightening around hers just slightly, possessively as if daring anyone to even breathe wrong in her direction.
They reached the car and he opened the back door first sliding the bag inside.
Then he turned, her eyes flicked up to meet his. Just for a second.
And in that second, everything softened.
She looked like she wanted to say something. Maybe thank him but nothing came out.
She didn’t need to explain herself.
He wasn’t letting go anyway.
Marcello opened the passenger door, stepping aside.
She climbed in, quietly. Smoothly. And just before she shifted to face forward, her fingers brushed his again—one last trace of contact before the moment ended.
He stood there for a second longer, letting the door shut gently.
Then went around to his side, jaw clenched and mind spinning. She didn't know what she did to him.
The kitchen lights hum softly as Mia shifted in her seat, her tiny hands wrapped around a mug of warm milk.
One of the cookie boxes was open in front of her, and she was slowly nibbling from it, cheeks slightly puffed, eyes flickering up then back down, too shy to hold his gaze for long.
There’s a childish sweetness to it, the way her legs swing lightly from the chair and the way she cradled the cookies, it amazed him.
Marcello was standing nearby, unpacking quietly as he watched her as the soft kitchen light touched the edges of her hair catching the glow like threads of gold her presence delicate, small… safe.
Then she spoke softly.
“…thank you,” she murmurs, not looking directly at him.
Marcello paused, his hand still on the box in front of him. “For what?”
Mia doesn’t answer immediately. Her eyes dip, her fingers fidget with the hem of her oversized sleeve.
“…the cookies.”
A warmth stirs in his chest, something unspoken, something he doesn't want to name. He nods slowly, almost to himself, watching her chew — slow, quiet, innocent. He doesn't tell her that he'd buy the entire shop if she asked again. She doesn’t need to know that. Not yet.
She dunks another cookie into the milk, eyes flicking up toward him. He’s still watching her.
Mia shifts nervously, cheeks a little pink. “...Do you want one?”
He raises an eyebrow slightly, surprised. But he walks over — slowly — and takes one. Their fingers brush lightly in the exchange.
He stands next to her, quiet, biting into the cookie she offered. She gives a small smile, soft and sleepy.
And just for a moment — neither of them says anything.
The cookies were now nearly gone from the open box, just a few crumbles left on Mia’s plate. Her mug was empty while the rim still dusted with a faint ring of milk. She yawned softly into her sleeve but didn't say anything just pushed herself up quietly from the chair, stepping beside him.
Marcello was already halfway through putting the remaining boxes away, lining them neatly on the pantry shelves.
Mia reached up with both hands, grabbing one of the lighter boxes, and started helping him without needing to be asked.
There was no awkward tension or rush.
Just the soft rustle of packaging and the dull thud of cupboard doors .
At one point, she hands him a box instead of reaching up — and when he takes it from her, his fingers graze hers again making his heart flutter
“You’re tired,” he murmurs finally, not asking — stating.
Mia doesn’t argue. She just nods faintly and blinks slowly up at him, Marcello set down the last box, wiped his hands on a towel, and then gently placed one hand at the small of her back. Not too firm. Just enough to guide her softly, his touch warm and steady.
“Come on,” he says quietly, “you should rest.”
And she lets him lead her.Mia walked beside him, close but quiet. Her steps small and every so often, her shoulder brushed against his arm.
When they reached her room, she hesitated just a little before going in then turned around to face him.
Her voice soft, almost shy: “..uumm ....Goodnight.”
Marcello watched her for a second longer than necessary eyes lingering on her hair, her lashes, and the way she licked her full pink lips while biting them when she was nervous. It did something to him
“Goodnight, baby.”
And then without a word more she disappeared into her room, her cheeks pink from the endearment, there was something different about it ... its not the way Luca says it, she really couldn't explain how different it was yet she'd heard the term from her brother's lips multiple times
Marcello stood outside for a few seconds longer, fingers flexing at his side, like he can still feel the ghost of her touch, then he turned silently and walked away... his mind full of her.