Now Sailor is on our moped tour, zooming through the streets with the glimmering seascape as her background. “There’s even a guided tour!” Her mint-green Vespa compliments the striped yellow dress that flutters behind her as she rides.
And then she’s out on the B and B patio for golden hour. I appear, wearing Nico’s apron, and scoop gelato into a glass, pouring a shot of espresso over the perfect dome of vanilla. The warm liquid melts the outer layer of the gelato, turning it into a frothy, soupy mess. Sailor spoons it into her mouth as she peers over the edge, looking out over the water. “There’s nowhere else on the coast where you can find a complimentary affogato happy hour. I’m telling you,run,don’t walk, to book this place. You won’t regret it.”
And then she’s in bed, lavender silk eye mask shieldingher eyes, with an untouched nightcap on her nightstand, a limoncello drop martini with a twisted lemon peel garnish, a figurative cherry on top of this picturesquely designed day.
“That’s a wrap!” Sailor sings as the video fades to black.
“She posted it!” I clap. “I totally forgot.”
“Sora, how did you do this?” Nico asks.
“It’s a long story, but she owed me one. She shot all of it the day before the tour, when you were out running errands. I swore your mom to secrecy. It’s my thank-you gift for all you’ve done for me this past week.” I gaze up at Nico. “Has the video generated any more bookings?” I ask, hopeful.
“Well, my mom texted that the website crashed.” Nico grins. “But she said that when it came back up, the bookings were off the charts. We are booked through the calendar year. Even over slow season.”
“Wait, for real?” I prop myself on my elbows. “That’s incredible! What does that mean?”
“Well, we aren’t out of the woods just yet, but we should be able to dig ourselves out of the hole we are currently in. I might be able to travel some, go back to school this fall.” Nico scrolls through his texts, as everyone he knows is blowing him up about the video. “Also, Lorenzo has offered to run the moped tour.”
“Oh, dear God.”
Nico knows exactly where my mind is going. “He has promised to not fraternize with the guests.”
I laugh. “Good luck with that! Although… that’s somewhat hypocritical of you, wouldn’t you say?”
Nico smirks, leaning in for another kiss. I melt into him. He pulls back slightly, brushing a strand of hair back from my forehead, cupping my cheek in his palm. “You don’t know how grateful I am for all of this, Sora. How will we ever thank you?”
A faint smile crosses my lips. “I can think of a few things.”
“Is that so?” Nico turns on his side so we’re facing, and I burn hot all over. He kisses my neck, following the line back down to my collarbones again. He looks into my eyes as he pulls his pendant over his head and loops it around mine. The medallion settles between us. “I want you to have it. So you have something that transports you back here, with me, wherever you are.”
“Nico, I can’t.” It’s a family heirloom; it isn’t mine to take. But he stops me from taking it off, lacing his fingers through mine and bringing them to his mouth to dust a kiss against my knuckles. I go a little misty and lean into him for another kiss. This is all so different and it’s so unfamiliar, but it feels like the start of a new adventure. Nico and I have so much to learn about each other, and we have forever to learn it in. His lips are soft and lingering beneath my own, like he, too, is savoring this moment, pressing it like flowers between pages to come back to again and again.
“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for us,” Nico whispers. “You were wrong, you know.”
“That can’t be.” I flick his forehead. “I’m literally never wrong.”
Nico raises his eyebrows. “I was about to pay you a compliment.”
“Oh? Then please proceed.”
“Earlier, when you were so certain Wes was the sun? You had that all wrong.”
“Is that so?”
“You’re the one who’s always been the sun. That’s why I gave you those lemon seeds. You don’t need any guy to give you a lemon orchard—you create that beauty all on your own. From the moment I met you, you had a glow, a vibrancy. A fearlessness. That’s what you have always been to me.” Nico tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I will help you plant them, though.” He smiles, surely imagining the mess I’d make. “I have seen your attention to detail trying to make a bed.” We both flash back to my brief and unsuccessful attempt at helping him clean the guest rooms.
I bring my lips to his, because if I don’t, I might start crying.
“You know the best part of all this?” he asks.
“There seem to be lots of best parts right now.”
“Yes, but the very, very best part is that this is just the beginning. Of everything.”
“It really is,” I agree, before falling back into him. “Okay, now stop talking.”
“Done.”
