Page 75 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
“Why not?”
“Well, because, I — I can’t just fly off to Italy. Besides, I can’t afford a trip like that right now.”
“I’ll pay for the plane ticket. My brother, Marco, has a large villa on Ponza and we can stay there so you don’t have to pay for a hotel.”
“Nicco, I can’t do that.”
“Says who? Don’t you want your book to be realistic?”
“Of course I do. That’s why I got the guide.”
“This?” I hold it up. “This is crap.”
“Come, let me show you in real life.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come. And tonight, we say goodbye for now.”
Folding one arm across her body, she rests her opposite elbow on it and touches her finger above her lip. Her eyes shift back and forth between mine. “I’ll think about it.”
“I have projects the next two weeks. You’ll come after that.”
“I’llthinkabout it.”
“You know this is the best way to do your research. Please come.”
“You have phone calls to return and an early flight.”
Leaning in, I cup her face in my hands, my heart feeling lighter, and kiss her left cheek then her right. “Ciao, mia dolce ragazza.”
“Ciao. Have a safe trip home.”
As I head to my car, I feel a little guilty. Though I know I should leave her alone, I can’t. Now, having kissed her, tasted her, I’m so fucking addicted. I’d forgotten what it feels like to kiss a woman. Destiny isn’t just any woman and that was far from just a kiss. She consumes me.
Having basically invited us to Marco’s villa, I call him when I get back to my hotel to make sure he’s okay with us staying for a few days.
“Hey, bro. What’s going on?” he asks.
“Hey, not much.” I sit in the chair on my balcony and light a cigarette, sucking in, and blowing the smoke out my nose. “I’m getting ready to come back. I have to come back early for work so I’m leaving tomorrow instead of Sunday.”
“Okay. So, how was the rest of your trip?”
“It’s been amazing, man. I fuckin’ love it here. I told you I was taking Destiny to Ranch Inn to celebrate me getting representation over here and it was beautiful. When you and Angelina come here to visit me someday, you’ll have to go there.”
“Fuck bro, it’s happening. You’re on your way.”
“It’s all because of Destiny.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, Destiny and her mom.”
“Seems like you’re into this woman. How’d you leave things now that you’re coming home?”
“Actually, that’s part of why I’m calling. I told you I have that brand shoot when I get back. When that’s over, I invited Destiny to come here so she can experience Italy as research for the book she’s writing. I’m thinking to show her around Rome for a few days and then I want to bring her to your place for a few days, if you’re okay with that. What do you think?”
“Hell yeah, that’s okay. We’d love to have you. I’ll double-check with Angelina to make sure we don’t have anything else going on, but I’m pretty sure the timing is good.”
