“If you say so,” she whispers, shifting away and sitting forward to pick at her baked clam.
Forty minutes later I’m finishing off my second and final glass of prosecco as I gaze over the terrace railing. Holly’s gone off to bed, Matt is carrying the empty trays of food inside, and Marco and Professor Leoni are sitting together, chatting and laughing. If Holly wants to be wary of love affairs, she’d be better off keeping her eyes onthatblooming soulmate connection. Though, I can’t really fault the professor for falling under Marco’s friendship spell. He brings out the best in everyone.
Smiling at the thought of it, my eyes are drawn to a couple walking hand in hand on the sidewalk far below when I feel a presence looming beside me.
“I thought you told me you worked in the arts,” Matt says in his now increasingly familiar timbre.
I turn to look at him and my smile disappears. “I do work in the arts. I’m a full-time fashion student.”
“And if I didn’t know that before, I certainly do now. Especially since you’ll be sleeping two doors away from me.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Are you really only two doors down?” He nods and I shake my head as I return my gaze to the street. “You know, on a certain level, I always knew that the universe hated me. But I still have to applaud it on its creative ways of showing it.”
“Thank you for that,” Matt replies. “I’ve always wanted to be a physical manifestation of the universe’s ill will.”
“I’m sure you have.”
“In other news,” he says, “has your ex reached out to you yet?”
I let out a heavy breath and lean on the railing in front of me. “Of course he did. He saw our picture and an hour later he called and begged me to run away with him.”
Matt leans on the railing as well, and I have no idea what he’s playing at. “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Just give it time, though. I’m sureGregwill be reaching out very soon.”
I twist my head to face him, once again giving my unamused expression free rein. “I really don’t want to talk about this with you.”
“Why not?” he asks.
“Because I just don’t. Now, can you please not make fun of me anymore on my first night abroad? I’m trying to create a core memory here and you’re ruining it.”
“Kind of like how you ruined hours of my writing when you decimated my computer?”
I think I actually growl in response. “Sweet mother of pearl, how many times do I have to apologize? You bring up your laptop, I say I’m sorry, then you say I say sorry too much, and we go round and round in this vicious cycle. If I’m such a horrible person who destroyed your work, why did you sit with me after and take a picture with me?”
Matt seems like he’s about to smile but stops himself, and it makes me want to pull my hair out. Or better yet, pull his hair out.
“I sat with you because you looked like you were about to burst into tears, and I didn’t want to be responsible for you hysterically sobbing in public.”
“Okay,” I say with a bitter laugh. “Well, thanks for saving me from myself, but from now on, let’s just keep our distance and get through this month unscathed.”
“Sounds good to me,” he answers blandly.
“Fantastic,” I counter. “Have a great night.”
“Youhave a great night.”
“I absolutely will. Farewell.”
“Farewell,” he answers, pushing up from the railing and walking away. I think I’m finally free of him when he tosses out one last comment over his shoulder. “See you in the morning.”
I whip around only to find that he’s halfway across the terrace. I can’t see his face, but I just know he’s smiling.
The wretched toad.
Five minutes of talking to him and I’m utterly exhausted. With a tired turn, I gaze out again at the addictive view. A warm, calming breeze blows across my cheek and it’s a stark comparison to the chaotic cluster of thoughts that are currently battling for dominance inside my head—the competition, the internship, a suspicious Holly, a grating Matt, my impending bankruptcy—all of them pile on top of each other with no assurances in sight. Assurances will have to be for another day, if they even come at all.
But none of that belongs in this moment. In this moment there’s only me and this place. I lift up my prosecco and the distant lights shimmer on the sides of the crystal glass. I watch as they flicker then fade before I take my last sip with a silentCheers.
Here’s to my very first evening in Roma.
