Page 42 of The Italian Obsession

She puts her hands over her mouth. “You? Had sex with a stranger?”

I laugh at her shock. “Not just any stranger. God’s gift to women.”

“Fuck off.”

I laugh. “Yes.” I get out my phone, go to the photos, and pass it over to her. “His name is Enrico Ferrara.”

“Sounds so Italian.” Her eyes bulge as she sees the photos of him. “What the fuck?”

“Gorgeous, right?”

“Jesus.” She scrolls through the images. “Gorgeous doesn’t cut it.”

“He’s a policeman.”

She puts her hand on her heart. “Oh, please, it gets better.”

“And he took me to The Pantheon and told me he thinks our story isn’t over.”

She frowns as she listens.

“You know I have nothing holding me in Australia now.”

She holds up her hand. “Woah… slow down girl.”

“I know it sounds crazy—”

“Because it is. You don’t even know this guy.” She hands my phone back in disgust.

“Don’t wreck this for me by being all sensible.”

“Oh, God, Liv.” She sighs. “Someone has to think clearly around here. It doesn’t sound like you are.” We eat in silence for a moment. “Sorry. I’m being a bitch. Tell me about your weekend with him.”

I smile sadly, hating that she’s not as excited as I am. “It was just really great, you know? We connected, and it wasn’t just because of the awesome sex.”

“The sex was awesome?”

I put my hands on my forehead and then fake an explosion in the air with my fingers. “Mind-blowing.”

She smiles.

“And I’m not moving here, I’m…” I shrug and my voice trails off.

She watches me intently. “What?”

“My life is shit back home. I’m boring and comfortable and I’ve always done the safe things in life. Where has it got me until now?”

“This is true.” She sips her wine.

“Maybe this trip is to teach me about myself.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re not getting all, Eat, Pray, Love on me, are you?”

I giggle. “Maybe.”

“Maybe you should go to Bali, take up yoga and fuck the gorgeous guy in that movie like Julia did.”

I laugh. “My guy is better.”