I turn back and find Dev has stopped a few yards behind me. “What the hell is going on? Are you running away from me?”
“No. It’s just—I wanted time alone.” He’s breathing fast and so am I.
“Why? Was it that creepy gondolier guy? I don’t blame you for not wanting to ride with him, but you could have just said that—you didn’t have to run halfway across the city.” He closes the distance between us and looks around. “Where are we?”
“Venice.”
He rolls his eyes. “Nice. What we are is lost.”
“It’s an island. You can’t get lost.”
“Great, then why don’t you lead us back to the hotel?”
“Because, like I’ve been trying to tell you, I need some space.”
Hurt flashes on his face. “Is the idea of sitting in a gondola with me that repulsive to you? I didn’t realize you hated my company so much.”
“I don’t hate your company.” I rub my hands over my eyes and walk slower down a sidewalk. “It’s just—I miss Will. Everything would be better if he were here. Easier.”
Dev’s expression darkens. “Right. If only Willoughby were here to brighten your day with his wit and culture.”
“What’s your problem with Will? You’ve had it out for him since day one.”
“That’s not true.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “All right, fine, it’s absolutely true. But come on, he drives aJaguar? That’s excessive.”
“I didn’t know you cared so much about cars.”
“I don’t.”
“Then what is it? Really?” I stop on the sidewalk and turn toward him. Suddenly, I want to know what he actually thinks of Will. My hands shake and I don’t know if it’s because I’m cold or because I’m nervous about what he’s going to say.
“Ellie, let’s drop it. This isn’t a good conversation for us to have.”
“No, tell me. I want to know.”
“You really don’t... but fine. I don’t like him because he has everything that the rest of us want and he wastes it all. Money, connections, opportunities. It’s like he doesn’t even care.” He heaves a big sigh and meets my eyes. “But mostly I don’t like him because he’s not good enough for you. He’s not even close to what you deserve. And I think he knows it. That’s why he does all this.”
My throat tightens and the shaking spreads down my legs. “You’ve got it turned around. He’s too good for me.”
His shoulders hunch. “I hope someday you see yourself the way the rest of us see you.”
I can’t hold his gaze. I walk away, but Dev keeps pace with me. Rather than think about what he just said, I focus on our surroundings. Our walkway dead-ends into a narrow canal. It’s only wide enough to get a small boat or gondola down. It is pitch-blackhere, the dark half-masking our faces from each other.
“We are so lost.” Dev sighs and sits on the steps leading down into the canal.
I sit as well. My body feels weak and my feet are screaming at me after walking the whole day. We sit for a few minutes in silence, listening to the lapping water and distant hum of a motor.
“Should we try to head back?” I ask finally. “I bet we can find our way eventually. Or maybe we could ask someone.Ci dare indicazioni?”
“You mean,Ci puoi dare indicazioni?”
“You’re intolerable.”
He bumps my shoulder with his. “Aw, I feel the same about you.”
I stand and he tugs at my arm. “Let’s stay a little longer. I mean, unless you really do need to call Will.”
I should call him, but I don’t have to do it this instant. And despite the fact that it’s bitterly cold and the water smells like mildew, there’s also a charm to this forgotten canal. I hesitate and then sit back down. I should be freaking out that I’m lost in the middle of a foreign city, but... I’m not. I don’t feel lost with Dev here.
