Dario withholds a flinch and takes charge of the day the only way he knows how, with logistics. “I’ll arrange a car to take you to Solomeo. Michelle, is there anything I can do for you?”
Her eyes flick toward the TV mounted on the wall inside the propped open doors. “Leave the streaming passwords?”
“Done deal,” he says.
Selina, looking pissed, retreats to her room to get ready.
Dario hopes he has made the right decision.
A little while later, with helmets on and bikes rolling at their sides, Dario and Charlie arrive at the marked trail in Torricella Peligna. In Charlie’s bike basket, he has water bottles and protein bars. Dario turns his into a doggie bed for Angelo who appears thrilled to be away from the villa.
The sun is blazing, but the sweat is welcome as soon as they take off. Dario’s muscles relish the push and stretch of sole to pedal after being stitched up with worry last night over Beau’s departure.
As they pass vegetable gardens and small beaches, he keeps a slower pace than usual, so he and Charlie remain side by side.
“Sorry if I was awkward last night,” Dario says, sounding sheepish.
“Oh no,I’msorry that Beau didn’t tell you himself. I shouldn’t have agreed to get in the middle of it,” Charlie says.
Dario shakes his head. “You were only doing what was asked of you. There’s no harm in that.”
Charlie’s eyes flick his way. “You’re not upset Beau’s gone, then?”
“I’m quite the opposite. I’m happy he was honest.” Dario pedals a little harder, enjoying the breeze on his cheeks. “Honesty is not a quality I’ve come to expect given my history.”
Their tires crunch on the gravel, kicking up rocks as they go.
“Are you talking about Preston Browborn?” Charlie asks.
That name makes every muscle in Dario’s body cramp up. An overgrown olive tree hanging into the path nearly topples him off his bike.
“Sorry,” Charlie says. “I googled you.”
“You have no reason to be sorry. I’m the one who made a fool of himself in front of the entirety of Amorina and all our competitors,” Dario says. The aftermath of the situation is a halting set of chains wrapped around his bike tires, slowing him down and causing him to struggle for breath.
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad,” says Charlie.
“Oh, it was,” Dario says, thankful they hit a slight downhill slope so he can coast for a second. “I pushed for my grandfather to sponsor a special chocolate festival in Castiglione del Lago with a focus on fair trade and sustainability efforts. I knew if he did so, many of our competitors would invest as well. It would be a sign that the chocolate industry was listening, and a way to tell the world that we care about our effect on the planet.”
“That’s really admirable,” says Charlie.
“I knew for my grandfather it was about optics, but for me, it was part of my vision for Amorina and my overall mission,” Dario says. “The mission I shared with Preston. I met him when we were classmates at the University of Perugia where we both studied Food & Sustainability. After two years of dating, I thought we shared much more than a mission. I was very wrong.”
Dario pulls over when they reach Sualzo Beach. They park their bikes to the side of the path and venture out into the sand. The heads of swimmers wobble in the lake water. A few red pedal boats cruise along the surface. Birds squawk overhead.
“I know there is this stereotype of Italian men being suave and charming, but my brother inherited all of those qualities. I’m confident in business, but not so much in love,” Dario says.
“I’d beg to differ,” Charlie says, sitting beside him in the sand beneath a pre-stationed umbrella. He hands Dario one of the water bottles, which he cracks open. Angelo trots ahead, splashes into the water.
“You’ve only known me for a matter of days,” Dario says.
“Yeah, but you’re juggling and entertaining five potential spouses in your gorgeous villa. What’s more suave and charming than that?” Charlie asks.
“One lied to me, and one just wants to be friends. It’s not going so well. I would’ve never done this on my own,” he says.
“But look at you! You’re doing it.” Charlie smiles, and it’s enough fuel for him to share more.
“I suppose that’s true. I wasn’t sure when or if I’d be ready to get back out there after Preston,” Dario says.
