Page 16 of Off the Grid

“Which is never.” Gia laughs.

“I’m more than fine with hanging with just you two,” I say, ignoring her comment. “Besides, I’ll be way too busy for dating or commitment or having to worry about someone’s feelings.”

“Oh my God, Cami. When did you become so boring?” Gia teases in a whine as she playfully shoves my shoulder.

“I am not boring. I have you guys. I have a job that will be all new to me, so I’ll have to throw myself into it. In the coming weeks when I relocate here, I’ll have a new place to explore in a non-touristy way—grocery stores, coffee shops, that kind of thing.”

“The excitement of it has me on the edge of my seat,” Isabella says drolly.

I hold my finger up to shush her. “And when I want sex—or need a bit of release that can’t be found in eating chocolate and drinking copious amounts of wine—I’ll find a nice guy and have sex without worrying about strings to get tangled up in.” I state the lie with a nonchalant shrug. “See? Your concern over my love life is unfounded.”

“And when exactly did that happen last, huh? And I’m talking about the good sex part?” Gia asks, arms crossing over her chest and eyebrows lifting. “I mean . . . it’s been a cold minute.”

“That’s kind of what happens when you swear off men,” I assert to their blatant snickers.

“See? That’s where you made the mistake. You were supposed to swear off assholes like Daniel and Blake and . . . whoever was before them who jaded you but you won’t talk about. Not men in general,” Gia says. “You’ve simply had bad luck with men. The plus side? Bad luck can be broken.”

Or maybe it’s me who’s broken.

What happened is dead and gone. So what if it’s made me indifferent to sex? That it’s made me push people away?

“Which is why we’re already planning on who to set you up with. The excuse that you live in Rome isn’t going to fly anymore when you’re living right here in the same town with us.” Gia’s eyes light up like a kid in a candy store. That look right there says I’m screwed. That steps have already been taken. That plans are already being made.

Lord help me.

“As I’ve said numerous times, in the many other times we’ve had this conversation, I can handle my own love life, thank you very much.”

Isabella’s smile is a slow crawl across her lips. “Love life is different than sex life. One you purport to have—we know differently. The other is nonexistent.”

“Which is just how I want it,” I lie, willing to die on this hill.

“Great.” Gia flashes a grin. “We can help with that. You won’t put yourself out there for either option so that’s what you have us for.”

Why do I feel like I just fell into their trap I didn’t see coming?

“I told you. I’ll be too busy for sex,” I say.

“Nice try, but you’re not getting out of this one that easily,” Gia says. “Besides, you promised us you were going to put yourself back out there. That was three or four months ago, and I’ve yet to see you even put your pinky toe in the dating pool . . . so your friends are coming to the rescue.”

“I have my reasons.” A truckload of them, actually.

“We all have reasons, but I distinctly remember a specific night in Paris,” Gia says. “A few bottles of wine. A big heart-to-heart. And you taking a fortifying breath and saying you needed a change. With work. With scenery. With your love life. With being braver in how you face the world.”

“It’s almost as if the universe listened, Cami, and is giving you the chance for all of that right now,” Isabella says, joining the pep talk.

And they’re right. We did have that talk. I left that outdoor café a little buzzed and a lot more determined to quit jumping at shadows.

But I’m still jumping, aren’t I?

“So grab it by the balls—or whatever man you find”—Gia winks—“and take it for a ride.”

“In all respects.” Isabella laughs.

“Ugh.” I close my eyes and scrunch up my nose knowing they’re absolutely right. “Fine. Okay. Yes to hair and shoes. To putting myself out there. But can I get settled a bit before we throw me to the dating wolves?” Maybe that will buy me some time. Then I’ll be so busy traveling with the team that it won’t be a possibility.

You’re running again, Cami, and it’s only been seconds since you said you were going to stop doing just that. Kind of pathetic.

Gia gives me a dubious look as if she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. She knows me well. And then says, “So updated hair, still working on the clothes, a few blind dates, what else are we missing, Isa?”