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“Okay!” I hold out my arms to stop her before she gets going and won’t stop. “Hi! How are you? How was the flight? How was the drive?”
She practically throws me straight to the floor as she hugs me. “Ahh! We’re here, Emily! We actually made it!”
“Happy to see you too,” I giggle, straining in her grip. “But you’re choking me.”
Her response? Hugging me even tighter.
“Oh my God, that drive! It was ah-may-zing! And the people? And thebuildings?Did you see that fountain right out front? We have to get photos there with the other girls!” She’s rambling now and not even giving me a chance to respond. “Emily, this is wonderful! I know this must’ve been hard, what with you breaking up with Phil and all.”
And even though I know she doesn’t mean to, but the mere mention of Phil is like a splash of cold water on my face.
She doesn’t even know the reason for the breakup.
She has no idea what Phil did.
For a moment, I have a powerful desire to just … spill my guts.Don’t. Don’t bring the mood down! You can tell her later, after everything is over and we have to go back to face reality.
She stares down at me with her bright green eyes. Some of her hair has gotten tangled in the peacock feather earrings she has on.
“I think both of us need this,” I tell her. “Actually, I’m not sure who needs it more.”
“I know, right?” Kissing my cheek twice, she helps me to my feet. “Now that that’s out of the way. Spill the tea, bitch. Who. Was. That. Man? And if you say nobody again, I swear to God, Emily, I’m going to find him and march him back here for some real answers.”
“Good luck with that, because it’s the truth,” I reply. “We bumped into each other at the airport, and grabbed each other’s bags by accident.”
I sure as shit wouldliketo know him, though.
“I think he’s into you.”
Snorting, I roll my eyes extra dramatically, making sure she sees. “Okay, relax.”
“Look, I’d be into you too if I were a guy who just got a good look at what your momma gave you.” She points at my sweat-soaked shirt.
Shit! It’s almost transparent! Fresh heat runs up my face. Did he see? Of course he saw! There’s no way he didn’t see! Suddenly I remember his gaze lingering for a moment before he looked me in the eye.
And that knowing smile.
Yeah, he definitely saw.
“I can’t believe that happened!”
“Don’t sweat it, Emily.” Nadia winks. I fight the urge to roll my eyes at her pun. “If you’re not giving hot strangers in Italy a show, then what are we even doing here?”
“I have to change.”
I quickly make my way over to my bag, unzip it, and start looking for something proper to change into. On top of my crumpled clothing is a small slip of paper. The handwriting is neat, tidy, and decidedly not my own.
I promise I didn’t look through your belongings too closely. But if Idid, I would tell you that the lavender dress will drive every man in this town crazy.
Be careful when you go out in it, Kitty Cat.
“Emily, are you smiling?”
I shake myself and try to tuck the note in my suitcase under some jeans before Nadia notices. “Am I?”
“Oh my God,” she squeals when she sees the corner of the paper peeking out. “Did he write you anote?Come on, show me! I want to know what Mr. Tall and Sexy said that’s got you grinning from ear to ear!”
“Nadia, stop it,” I say. “I’m here to make sure you have a fun time. The last thing I want is to have you wondering about random guys ogling me.”
