Emma’s POV:
“I’m sorry about your aunt.”
“Me too.” He leans his cheek against the top of my head. “Aida could be a thorn in my side sometimes, but she was family.”
The TV drones on in the background— another Nat Geo documentary about penguins— and we fall silent. I’m curled up against Matteo’s side on the couch, my head on his shoulder. He’s stroking my hair, occasionally winding a curl around his finger to give it a little tug.
It’s nice.
I know talking about Matteo’s mom is kind of a trigger for him, so I’m cautious when asking my next question. “Was she close with your mom? I mean, I know they were sisters, but…”
He sounds thoughtful when he speaks, like he hadn’t considered this question before. “Aida was the eldest, so she was always really protective of my mom. She didn’t ge
