Chapter 83 Aria
The bell above the door jingled, and the warm aroma of honey, coffee, and vanilla hit me instantly. The Honey Café felt like Barbie’s Fairytopia with soft fairy lights strung across the ceiling, mugs stacked behind the counter, and a playlist of RnB songs humming in the background. I slid into a corner booth, Nora perched beside me like she always did, and Max across from us.
“Okay,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual, though my hands were twisting the strap of my bag into knots. “I have news.”
Nora’s eyes lit up with that unmistakable spark that said she knew something was coming. “Spill it, Aria. I already know it. Don’t even bother trying to hide it.”
I swallowed, letting a small smile slip. “I’m Luca’s girlfriend.”
Nora practically fell out of her chair with scream that made other customers turn. “I KNEW IT! Oh my gosh, finally! About time you two stopped dancing around each other and giving each other eye sex.”
I shrieked her name turning around to make sure no one actually heard the last part of her sentence and laughed. “Nora, you’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous?” she gasped. “No! I’m an oracle of love. I predicted this the moment you two were tripping over each other in the hallway.”
Max, who had been quiet finally spoke. “Wait, hold on.” He leaned back, tilting his head just slightly, like he was trying to measure how serious I was. “You, you’re Luca’s girlfriend?”
“Yes,” I affirmed.
Max’s expression softened immediately. “Okay. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t joking or—” He stopped, took a slow breath, and his hands rested on the table. “I’m glad. I’m really glad, Aria. You deserve that.”
Nora clapped once, dramatic as ever. “See? Told you. He’s totally soft for you and you’ve got it now. So, congratulations.” She leaned back, sipping her chai with an exaggerated flourish.
I bit my lip, looking down at my hands for a second, then glanced up at Max. He caught my eyes and gave a small nod, one that said more than words could giving a silent promise to keep me safe from anything that tried to mess with me, even if it was the universe itself.
“Thanks, y’all,” I whispered. “That means a lot.”
He shrugged. “Of course,” he said softly. “I’ve got your back, always. You know that.”
I nodded, letting that settle over me, feeling a bubble of something warm rise in my chest. “I know.”
Nora leaned closer, voice conspiratorial. “So, are you two going to, like hold hands in the hall? Cute couple stuff? Or is it secret ‘no one can know’ mode for now?”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the grin from spreading. “Not a secret. I want people to know.”
Nora screeched. “Yes! What a great way to announce the school’s badboy is yours. I LOVEEE IT!”
Max gave me a faint smile. “Good cause you don’t have to hide it.”
“And just like that,” Nora said, clapping again, “you’ve officially entered full\-on couple mode. Prepare for chaos, Aria. Chaos and honey lattes.” She pointed at our mugs as if that sealed the deal.
I laughed again. “Okay, fine. Full\-on couple mode.”
Max leaned in slightly. “Do you want to—” He paused, glancing at Nora with a subtle look that said, ‘please don’t interrupt.’ “Do you want to celebrate?”
My stomach fluttered in the way it always did when Max was a little protective and entirely caring.
“I do,” I whispered, and he gave the tiniest nod, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
Nora clapped her hands together. “Oh! I get it! Celebration! Don’t make it weird, Max, she’s mine too!”
Max just rolled his eyes but there was a softness in them. I could always tell he adored Nora.
“You’re really happy, huh?” Max asked.
“Yes,” I admitted. “Really happy.”
“And you’re sure?” He gave a faint, teasing smirk, but his eyes were serious. “You’ve been thinking about this for a while, right? Not just jumping in because I don’t know, pressure or—”
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “No. I’m sure. It’s me choosing this. Luca and me—it feels right and real. I want real.”
Max’s gaze nodded. “Good. Cause if he messes with you, he’ll have me to contend with.”
I felt the warmth spread through me a combination of relief, excitement, and the steady feeling of someone genuinely rooting for you. “Thanks, Max. I’m sure Luca is aware you have a black belt in Karate.”
Nora guffawed and shot Max a ‘yeah, right’ stare. Leaned closer to me and still buzzing with energy, she said. “And now? Now we plan the cutest couple Snapchat announcement. Trust me, this is gonna be huge and iconic.”
I smiled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Nora, can we just enjoy the moment first?”
“For approximately thirty seconds,” she said dramatically, “then we brainstorm aesthetics.”
Max chuckled softly at that, and I felt my shoulders finally relax. We sat like that, talking, laughing, and sometimes just letting the silence stretch, letting the lights reflect in our eyes. The chaos of the world outside didn’t touch this corner. Here, with Max’s protectiveness and Nora’s ridiculous excitement bouncing off us, I felt the kind of happiness that didn’t need explanation.
Eventually, I leaned back, taking it all in and for the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel like I had to choose between things I didn’t want to lose. I had chosen Luca. And Max and Nora were both standing beside me,cheering me on in their own ways.
It felt really perfect.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
OMG you guys!! 😭😭 This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for!! Aria finally said it—she’s Luca’s girlfriend!! I cannot even deal with the feels right now. The surprise, the little smiles, and chaos from Nora—I LIVE for it. You’ve been rooting for them forever, and yeah, IT HAPPENED! Can we just take a minute to scream into the air together? And Max being so protective? Chef’s kiss.
I swear, every time I write these moments my heart is doing somersaults. I’ve been imagining your reactions the whole time my lovelies, so thank you for being on this ride with me!! 💛💛 Drop in the comments what part made you squeal the loudest—Nora’s iconic “I KNEW IT” or the protectiveness from Max that meant EVERYTHING? I’m dying to hear!!
And don’t worry more is coming, but tonight, let’s just live in this perfect little victory for Aria and Luca. Y’all deserve it😘.