Page 82 of Rhodes

This is what today needs to look like. We've got Banksie threatening to break his neck, Granger talking him down, and Tallulah in the middle making it worse. Me, one more body in the group.

Nobody saw her leave my room this morning and nobody's looking at us like anything's changed.

Banksie gives it up, finally, and takes one of the little rental cars with Granger. I'm not sure what finally changed his mind, but I think it's best for everyone involved.

Tallulah leans toward me. "He would've been terrifying."

"Then why'd you egg him on? You're wicked."

"Because I believe in living life, not living in fear."

She watches the two of them fold into a silver Fiat built for people half their size, and I watch her do it. For a second, I forget I'm supposed to be looking anywhere else.

"We should give them a head start," she says.

"Or go first and stay way ahead."

That earns me a smile. I look back at the counter before I do something stupid like try for another one.

"We'll take one, please," I tell the attendant.

He reaches for the car keys.

"The scooter," Tallulah says.

I look at her.

She pushes the sunglasses up onto her head. "What?"

"You want to share a scooter?"

"Yes. Why? You got a problem sharing with me, dirt bike boy?"

"None whatsoever. I just thought we were doing a two-seater, too."

"And miss out on riding a Vespa along the Italian coast? That's quintessential Italy, right? Hell no. We're getting a scooter, and you're driving."

The rental guy's eyes go back and forth between us. I take a deep breath and raise my hands. "We’ll take a Vespa, please."

I take the helmets he holds out before Tallulah can rewrite any more history.

"You've got your license?" I ask.

"I'm riding behind you. I already conceded it's safer."

"So you're admitting I'm the better driver."

She pulls the helmet on and works the strap under her chin. "Don't push it."

I turn back to the key and the paperwork, because watching her fingers on that buckle has no business being this interesting. There were supposed to be fewer of these thoughts today. Getting her out of my system was the whole point.

Granger taps the horn as he pulls out and waves through the open window. Banksie already has a finger on the dash, correcting something Granger's decided to ignore.

Tallulah laughs through the helmet. "They're going to kill each other before they get there."

"Your family survived generations. They'll make ten miles in a Fiat."

"That's optimistic."