ChapterTwenty-Six
Krampus
I always imagined that Italy would be beautiful, but this, standing underneath the glowing moon above us, staring into the eyes of the woman who’s made me believe in possibilities, has me worshipping every cobblestone like it was made just for us.
Amber and Drac romantically sway in the ocean, the waves lapping at their ankles as the moon showers them in its large yellow glow.
It’s the kind of glow that makes you believe in second chances, because that’s what their relationship has always been… one big second chance that shouldn’t have had a happy ending, but they’ve somehow made it work. It’s the kind of relationship I strive for, maybe even die for one day.
“Wanna go for a walk?” Mindy asks, her eyes half lidded from all the wine she’s drank.
“Yes,” I murmur, kissing her hair before lacing our fingers together.
Romantic music fills the air as we move away from the tent and onto the barren, empty streets of an Italian corridor, the cool stone curving beneath our naked feet, as we carefully walk under the fairy lights strung over the ancient walls, and towards the hotel where our night will come to and end.
Mindy looks unreal under the moonlight with her light blue dress billowing behind her like she’s walking on air.
Her red hair is pinned up loosely, curls escaping around her face. When she smiles at me, the world narrows down to that curve of her mouth, the way her eyes shine like she’s daring herself to believe this is real.
“You ready?” she asks softly, fingers gripping me tighter.
I squeeze her hand. “Always.”
Italy hums around us as soft laughter drifts down from open windows as dishes clink together, and people converse so easily, not even realizing that when they speak it’s like their language rolls off their tongue in poetic waves.
She cuddles against me, my arm fitting around her shoulders until she’s buried deep in the crook of my arm. There will be no sleeping tonight, not if I have anything to do with it.
We walk hand in hand unhurried, enjoying every bend of architecture like we personally sculpted it ourselves, and they weren’t constructed thousands of years ago. It’s amazing how much history is stored in every brick and rooftop.
Mindy suddenly stops, her breath hitching as she lets out a shaky, “Oh.”
I follow her gaze, equally as mesmerized.
A large fountain sits in the center of a small piazza, hidden away in a secret alcove you wouldn’t have seen unless you were wandering and exploring the streets on your own. Marble figures carved centuries ago, spill water from cracked urns, dark moss creeping up the stone like it’s reclaiming the art. The moon’s soft light reflects off the water that’s impossibly beautiful,illuminating the various coins and wishes thrown into its water over the years.
She steps closer, enchanted.
“It’s gorgeous,” she murmurs. “Can you imagine how many people have stood right here, clutching a coin in their hand, silently murmuring a wish for their future?”
I smile tenderly at her. “Are you romanticizing the architecture now?”
She laughs, pinging my heart with the quiet sound I’d recognize anywhere.
“I just—” She reaches out, fingers hovering over the cool stone like she wants to take it home with us. “I just want to never forget this night.” She produces a single coin, then whispers something against the copper shell before tossing it into the fountain’s depths.
“What you wish for?” I ask her, arms sliding around her waist as my lips trail up her neck.
“Something permanent. I want this moment to last forever with you, Rich.”
She leans back into me, hands clutching mine as we share another sweet kiss. “We can relive this moment any time you want, Mindy. Just say the word.”
She turns in my hands, facing me so that our eyes meet in a blissful happiness that seems too perfect to be real.
“Let’s play a game,” she announces, smiling wickedly. “You’re gonna give me a ten second head start, and I’m going to take off into a sprint. If you catch me, I’ll give you the best blowjob of your life.”
“Man, woman, you make it sound like a bad thing.”
She giggles. “I’m faster than you think.”
