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And then all hell breaks loose.

“WHAT?”

“ITALY?”

“When?”

“You're going to Italy?”

“Both of them?”

“Jude!”

I burst out laughing as questions come at us from every direction. It takes what feels like a million answers and a thousand I'm so happy for yous before everyone finally starts to settle down.

Everyone except Dex.

He's been staring at his twin strangely ever since Jude announced our trip, while Jude seems determined not to notice. Dex looks at me, then Jude, then back at me again before finally getting to his feet.

“Lexy and me will go with you.”

Lexy's head snaps towards him. “What?”

Dex turns to me. “If you don't mind?”

There's something in the way he looks at me, or maybe at Jude, that I can't quite figure out, but before I can give it much thought, Lexy lets out an excited squeal beside him.

I smile. “Of course not!”

“We're going to Italy?” Lexy practically bounces out of her chair.

I laugh. “We're going to Italy!”

She squeals again, and her excitement is so contagious that I find myself getting out of my chair.

“I can't wait to show you around my hometown. And ohhh, the food! You'll love the food. And the beaches, and wait until you see…”

I'm already making my way towards Lexy and Chiara, and within seconds, the three of us are talking over each other, planning everything at once.

Calabria first, where I'll get to show them the place I called home before I ever met Damiano. Then we'll take the ferry across to Sicily, rent a car and visit the places where he grew up, the places he always wanted me to see.

Home.

I haven't even left yet, and I can already smell the sea.

For the first time in so long, I'm not looking backward.

I'm looking forward.

And I can't fucking wait.

Jude

“You bought her fucking tickets?”

“I did.”

“To fucking Italy?”