Page 80 of Rhodes

"Because telling him this morning would've been insane. Not because it's wrong, but because it's ten hours old, and we need to wrap our heads around it first."

I turn that over. If I'd walked out and said Hey Coop, me and Rhodes, you know, bow chica bow bow, he'd have decided we'd both lost our minds. Everyone would. And they wouldn't be all the way wrong.

"I don't regret it," I say. He needs to hear that first. "I'm not hiding because I'm ashamed."

"Neither am I."

"But there's no word for this yet."

"No."

"So there's nothing to tell anybody."

Rhodes watches me for a second. "Exactly."

Something about the yet tugs at me, but I don't dwell on it.

"So nobody knows," I say. "For now, especially Coop and Libba."

"For now."

I stand and smooth my dress. It's a futile attempt to make it not look like it was ripped off and left in a crumple on the floor.

He fishes my other shoe out from under the window and my clutch out from behind the door. He puts them in my hands without a word, and then he goes down on one knee and comes up with my underwear hooked on one finger. The look he gives me while he holds it out garners a laugh from both of us.

I make it back to our villa without running into anyone, which feels like a major victory. Libba's still asleep, one arm off the bed. I've never been so relieved to find her passed out. I know her passcode because we've had the same four digits since we were fourteen, so I grab her phone and delete my ridiculous text. Now no one has to believe I slept on a bench in Italy.

I shower fast, pull on shorts and a real shirt. By the time I come out with wet hair, she's stirring, mumbling about a hike and not asking a single thing about where I slept last night.

My phone buzzes on the dresser.

Made the shuttle. Kissed everybody but didn't want to wake you and Libba. Had fun last night. Love you Til.

My thumb hovers. That easy warmth of his, and me standing in a room that isn't the one he thinks I slept in.

Sorry, dead to the world. I had so much fun with you last night. Thanks for making the trip. I know it meant a lot to Cain, too. Love you, Coop.

I set the phone down, and under the guilt there's a different thing I don't argue with. Coop's on a shuttle to an airport, headed back to another foreign land, and the rest of the week is just here. Sun and terraces and a coast I haven't seen.

And Rhodes.

I find him on the terrace an hour later, two proper coffees in front of him. When he sees me, he slides the second cup toward my side of the table.

“What’s everybody doing today?” He asks.

“Libba’s hiking with Banksie and a couple of the cousins. With Banksie going, I'm not sure how rigorous it will be. Reeves and Charli are doing something with a boat later. I think some of them are heading down the coast this afternoon.”

“You thinking Vespa ride down the coast? I heard you mention something about it last night.”

“Yeah. Seems quintessential Italy.”

He takes a drink of coffee. “That sounds better than hiking. Mind if I join?”

“Anything sounds better than hiking. Not at all.”

“Cool.”

I don’t give it away, but I’m looking forward to spending the day with him, which shouldn't be noteworthy. We've known each other forever. But somehow it does.