I toss and turn all night, despite the cloudlike bed. I find a text from Will when I wake in the morning.
Father continues to be impossible. I hope I haven’t missed anything too fun. Can’t wait to see you.
I run a hand through my hair, guilt coursing through me. I know it’s stupid because nothing happened between me and Dev last night... but at the same time it kind of feels like something did. It’s like I saw him in a way I’d never allowed myself to before. Could he be feeling the same way? I shake my head in annoyance.My brain is being dumb. I’m really happy with Will. It doesn’t matter what Dev is feeling.
I text Will back to say that I miss him and wish he were here, then roll my shoulders back. Today is going to be a good day. Agreatday. Thank god Sage is arriving. I’ve missed her so much.
Dev comes up to me as soon as I walk into the breakfast room. “Are you coming to Ca’ d’Oro with me?”
“Don’tdoit,” Huan coughs into his hand.
“Ignore them. They wouldn’t recognize art if it slapped them in the face.”
At that, Frank spins toward Huan and slaps him. I suck in a breath, but Huan grins and grabs Frank in a tight hug. “Art!How are you? It’s been so long!” He holds Frank out to get a good look at him. “You aren’t nearly as pretentious as I remembered you being.”
They dissolve into laughter and Dev rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, get back to buying your overpriced souvenirs from China.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know I’ve been invited to beatbox in St. Mark’s Square.”
“Whoa, really?” I ask. “Who invited you?”
“A group of hip-hop dancers from France,” Frank says proudly. “They’re hoping the tourists will take some videos and it’ll go viral. We watched them yesterday. They’re quite good.”
“They said they’d split their earnings with me.”
Dev cocks his head. “And what are you going to spend your money on?”
“Overpriced souvenirs, obviously.”
“Obviously.” Dev turns to me. “You won’t abandon me, though, right? You’re the only one who’ll appreciate the museum anyway.”
“Um...”
I shift from foot to foot. I want to spend the morning with Dev, but another wave of guilt hits me. Is spending all this time alone with him wrong? Should I force Huan and Frank to stay with us? But as soon as I think that, I know it’s ridiculous. We’re only touring a museum, not going for candlelit dinners or... gondola rides.
So we split up, agreeing to meet at the Rialto Bridge at one, when Sage should arrive.
The museum is housed in an unreal palace on the Grand Canal. The interior courtyard is a masterpiece of intricately carved columns and mosaic tiles in shades of terra-cotta, green, and cream. I’d be happy to spend the rest of the day right here, but Dev assures me there’s much more to see.
He takes me through the galleries like this is his museum and these are the paintings and sculptures he’s carefully curated over time. I’m in awe of the details he remembers about the artists. Dates, places of birth, tidbits about their lives that even I have to admit are pretty interesting. He seems to remember it all so easily, as if he was born with the knowledge instead of having to learn it.
I keep my eyes on the art, or on the plaques next to the art, or on the arched walls and tiled floors. I don’t stare at Dev. I don’t notice how his eyes sparkle with excitement when he points out gory details in the Renaissance paintings. I don’t notice the way his jeans fall low on his hips or how his hair is curling into waves along the nape of his neck. I don’t notice because Ican’tnotice. I have a boyfriend waiting for me back in England.It’s only Venice, I tell myself. It must do funny things to people’s brains.
Chapter
33
Will calls me when we’re waiting for Sage by the Rialto.“Elle! I’m glad you picked up. You never called me.”
I wince. “Oh god, I’m sorry—I’ve been so caught up in everything...”
“Well, things have been horrid over here. Father has kept me running from meeting to meeting since I arrived in London, then pestering me with advice for the lunch whenever we’re alone. It’s a nightmare.”
I make a sympathetic noise, relieved that he isn’t going to grill me about how I’ve been spending my time here.
“When is your big lunch?”
“Soon. I’m at my parents’ right now. I have to do a fashion show so Father can approve my clothes like I’m a child. He wants to make sure I look professional.”
