Can I call you? I’m worried.
I barely had any battery left and I didn’t know when I could charge up again. I couldn’t waste it.
It’s a bad time. But I’m fine. I promise.
Then tell me what’s happening. At least tell me you’ve got somewhere to stay.
I felt bad not telling him the truth, but if he knew where I was and why, he’d worry. Then again, he was already worried, so what’s the difference.
His name’s Giulio and he’s Italian. He lives in a town close to Naples.
Are you talking about the guy in the photos?
Yeah. I need to meet him. You’re the one who told me to look for him.
You’re in fucking Italy? You just left without saying anything?
I did, and I promise I’m fine.
You’ve lost it, just running away like that. And so far.
Like you’ve never done anything crazier.
So you do admit it’s crazy.
I rolled my eyes. When his protective side came out, it got on my nerves. And yet, it made me love him even more.
You trust me, right?
Like I have a choice.
I promise I’ll write you every day and keep you informed.
K.
I love you.
I love you too, but I still think you’re a crazy bitch.
I turned off my phone and put it away as the waiter returned with his tray. He laid a basket of bread on the table and an olive oil dispenser with herbs and peppers floating inside it, setting down beside them a glass of Coke.
“The pizza will be up in five,” he said.
“Thanks.”
I brought the drink to my lips and moaned as its sugary flavor touched my tongue and the bubbles exploded just under my nose, tickling me. I tore the bread into little strips and bathed it in oil until it was almost swimming. I closed my eyes as I took the first bite and felt myself rising into heaven. It was incredible. I ate two slices before I’d even stopped to think, and was about to wolf down a third when my mouth started burning.
Shit! It was spicy!
I drank, fanned myself, took a drink again. I stuck out my tongue and felt my eyes tearing up.
“How much oil did you use?” the waiter asked as he dropped off the pizza. I wanted to respond, but couldn’t. It was horrible. “OK,” he said, “don’t worry, and don’t eat anything else. I’ll be right back.”
A few seconds later, he returned with two glasses, one of milk and one of water. As he handed them to me, he sat down across from me. Grateful, I began to drink the milk. Slowly, the burning started to fade.
“Better?” he asked. I nodded. “Did you not notice the peppers in the oil?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think they’d burn like that. Where did they come from, hell?”
