Holly takes a nauseated breath at my game plan and Dino is quick to notice her unease.
“I don’t have work until tonight,” he says. “And I have a car. If you like, I could drive you around, so you don’t have to take the Metro everywhere. You can even take pictures where I work. I’m a chef at the Borelli Hotel. The restaurant has a nice roof deck, and no one will be there to see you. Maybe then you wouldn’t have to go to so many places.”
Holly’s eyes light up. She’s all about it and Dino beams at her reaction. Their wordless exchange is reminiscent of a pair of Labrador puppies scampering through a meadow of daffodils, and I’m not even overexaggerating.
“I’d be good with that,” Holly says, turning to me and Marco. “What do you guys think?”
“I’m in,” I answer.
Marco hesitantly nods. “I agree, it does sound good, but just give us a second to confirm.” He abruptly pulls me off to the side, out of earshot of Holly and Dino.
“What’s the matter?” I ask, taking in his stressed expression.
“Listen, I’m sorry to be a downer, but a stranger in a foreign country wants us to get in his car and go to a hotel with him, and we’re just going to do it? When this kind of thing happens in a horror movie, there’s onlyonesurvivor, and—news flash—neither of us are Final Girl material. You and I are the dispensable friends and we’re the first to go.”
“Oh, come on,” I tell him. “Dino seems harmless and more than that, I’m confident the three of us could overpower him if we needed to.”
“Not if we get to his hotel and it’s actually his underground bunker.”
“Okay, you are banned from watchingSVUpast 8:00 p.m. anymore. I don’t know why you keep watching it when it always upsets you.”
“I’m serious,” he says. “We need to think about Holly. Give me one movie example where a sweet, young girl meets a stranger in Rome, and it turns out well.”
I barely have to think about it. “The Lizzie Maguire Movie. Boom.”
“Are you kidding me?” Marco asks, aghast. “Her Italian love interest was a stone-cold sociopath and our girl was lucky to escape with her life.”
There’s no denying it. It’s a valid point.
“Fine,” I reply. “Should we say no, then?”
Marco considers it for a few seconds until he walks around me with purpose, heading toward Holly and Dino.
“Hey, Dino, quick question,” he says, his voice surprisingly friendly. “Can we take a picture of your driver’s license to send to our professor? I assure you, it’s standard protocol. We do this all the time. And just so you know, each of us will be sharing our phone’s location with her as well.”
Dino seems confused and slowly reaches for his wallet.
Half an hour later we’ve made it to the Trevi Fountain after surviving a fun and bumpy automotive experience in Dino’s bright orange Fiat Panda. It felt a bit like a go-cart and getting into a fender bender would probably result in us meeting Jesus, but still, I’m relieved that Holly was able to skip riding the Metro in her striking ensemble.
Now assembled at the base of the celebrated fountain, it’s hard to focus on our assignment when all I want to do is stare at the enthralling sight that’s two feet away. The misty air from the running water fills my belly with the same exhilaration I’d get whenever I’d smell a pool as a child. Of course the priceless carvings and statues of the fountain far outdo any pool I could imagine, but I’d still throw on some swimmies and dive in were it not for the fine and jail time that would follow.
Dino and I are serving as human buffers around Holly, who’s posing between us as Marco fires away with the camera. We’ve created a decent circle of protective space for her, and she thankfully seems a little more comfortable than she did at the Spanish Steps. The job isn’t easy, though. At least, not on my side. While Dino is untroubled and could easily win an award for the world’s most gangly bodyguard with the sweetest face, I’m frighteningly close to catching an elbow from an overzealous nun who’s itching to cut into our prime location.
“You’re doing amazing,” I tell Holly, shifting my back to the encroaching crowd as I get jostled a bit. “Just a few more shots and we’re on to the next.” She leans forward at my words, serving up a full-on look, and I am living for it. I can’t stop myself from cheering and egging her on, and Holly instantly breaks character, even though she’s smiling.
“I think we’re done here,” Marco happily announces. Holly straightens with relief and Dino looks at her like she’s the most amazing thing in the world. He inches down to say something in her ear, and I glance away, giving them some privacy and turning to take in the spectacular view. A second later I feel Marco pushing in to stand beside me, also stealing a glance at Holly and Dino before looking away.
“I’ll say this. I’m usually not a fan of insta-love, but in their case, I kind of ship it.”
“Me, too,” I reply.
Marco wraps his arm through mine, sighing as he takes in the otherworldly fountain for himself. The light from the sun and shade from the sculptures cut across the stones, making the depicted ocean scene seem stormy and wild. Even so, it’s perfectly calming. Time is forgettable in a place like this. Every glance leads to something new. There’s hidden beauty everywhere.
“Let’s not forget this, okay?” Marco asks.
I lean my head on his shoulder. “We couldn’t if we tried.”
The Colosseum is equally spectacular but in a different way. Just looking at it feels like you’re sneaking inside history, into thousands of untold stories. It’s astonishingly tall—a fortified arena that’s partly preserved and partly crumbled. We didn’t brave the massive line to get inside, but we did find a great vantage point across the street. We’re in a somewhat secluded spot and Holly seems pleasantly resigned if not fully comfortable as she poses. Dino is leaning against the hood of his car a few yards away, taking in the scene with quiet enjoyment.
