“Looks like you fell in yourself. A little mud wrestling, perhaps?” Sofia snickers.
“Shut up—it was not like that. Wait, where’s Luciano?”
“Oh, he’s somewhere at the front with Daniel. Probably chatting away about boring stuff, like mushrooms or football. I just got tired of trying to catch up to their steps.” Sofia drops her gaze to my legs. “Cute pants! Where are those from?”
“Oh, they’re from—”
“Dude, what the hell! You smell.” Maria pokes me.
“Shut up. I do not. Do I?” I grab my shirt and take a whiff, but I smell nothing but dirt.
“Yeah, you smell like mud and caca.”
“Maybe it’s your upper lip,” I retort. Very mature of me.
As we approach the mountain’s peak, my excitement and anticipation build within me. The trail has become steeper and more challenging, but the breathtaking views along the way have made the effort worth it. The air is thin, and each step requires a little extra effort, but I’m determined to reach the summit and see the brunch setup. I can see the site up ahead between the trees—the linens flowing in the wind. Finally, we reach the top.
I pause to catch my breath and take in the stunning panoramic views of the mountains and valley below. The sky is a brilliant shade of blue, and wispy clouds cast soft shadows on the distant trees.
I look at the brunch setup, and I’m already in awe. A large, elegantly arranged table is decorated with fresh flowers and accented with crisp white linen and gleaming silverware. In the center of the table are various gourmet breakfast and lunch items, such as poached eggs with hollandaise sauce, artisanal cheeses, juicy grilled vegetables, and baked goods, such as croissants and pastries.
A light breeze rustles through the trees as a harpist plays lightly near some trees. Near the musician is a bar area for guests to enjoy cocktails, including refreshing mimosas made with freshly squeezed orange juice or some sparkling rosé with a fresh strawberry inside each glass.
“Holy crap. This is incredible,” I whisper to Maria.
“It’s like a set from a movie. You better believe I’m stuffing some of those chocolate croissants in my bag for later, so come to my cabin if you want one.” She rushes to the bar to grab a rosé.
“Goddamn it.”
I turn around to see Valentina staring behind me. I turn around and see a line of tents set up and people walking into them to change and shower.
“I thought you got rid of those,” I whisper to her.
“I did.”
“Oh my gosh, you guys will not believe this,” Daniel says. “I came up here early this morning to make sure everything was all set for the brunch, and all of the tents and showers were gone.”
Valentina and I exchange a quick look.
“Well, I happened to find them over there in the woods and put them all back. Must have been a gust of wind or something that blew them away. Could you imagine if they weren’t here? It would have completely ruined Sofia’s vision for the brunch!” He smirks and flips his imaginary hair. “I literally just saved the day. Hopefully, the bridal shower tomorrow runs more smoothly.”
“Yeah, that would have been terrible,” Valentina says between clenched teeth. “We should get changed, Isa. So glad you were here to save the wedding, Daniel.” She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the tents, where I wait for the next available shower.
When it’s finally my turn to step into the shower to get this mud off, the warm water envelops me, easing the tension from my muscles after that hike. I can already tell I’m going to be sore tomorrow. The steam rises, surrounding me in a cocoon of warmth and relaxation. I close my eyes, allowing the water to beat down on my skin, washing away the mud and sweat of the hike.
After drying off and changing into my slip dress and flats, I head over to Valentina, who has already taken up residence on one of the seats. I notice Silvana waving at Valentina to sit next to her and see Valentina shake her head. I sit down next to her and can almost feel Silvana burning my skin with her glare.
“Your ex doesn’t like me very much,” I say.
“You mean your cousin?” She smirks. “Yeah, she’s intense. We dated for a summer. It was just a fling. This was also, like, five years ago.”
“What happened?”
“She just became too much. We weren’t on the same page. Always texting me. Getting mad if I spent too much time with Sofia. Complaining I didn’t give her enough attention.”
“So, like a normal girlfriend?” I laugh. “It sounds like you were just maybe caught up on someone else. As we both know.”
Valentina pauses, a flicker of something crossing her face before she shrugs. “Maybe,” she says, her tone softer. For a moment, she almost seems lost in thought, as if there’s more she could say but won’t.
