The Italian

“Oh, that’s crap,” she huffs. “As if you would listen to the internet. Anyone can load something onto Wikipedia, Olivia.”

“But he is really, really rich, Nat. Like horse’s head rich.”

“Because all rich Italians must be criminals, right?” She rolls her eyes. “This isn’t the 1940s, Liv. He probably just comes from a really smart family.”

“You think?’

“It’s a lot more plausible than the frigging mafia rumors. Didn’t you say his brother was a doctor and that he was a policeman?”

“Yeah.” I sip my drink, fascinated with her theory.

“Since when have you ever seen a policeman and a doctor in the fucking mafia?”

“True.”

“Oh, hang on.” She holds up her hand. “I can’t kill criminals today, I’m in heart surgery.”

We giggle. “It does sound ridiculous when you say it like that.”

“But then he sent for you.”

I smile softly. I hate to admit it, but I love that he sent for me.

“He must have been thinking about you all this time.”

“I don’t know. He asked to see me the other night and when I said no, he left in a huff.”

“You haven’t heard from him since?”

“Nope.”

“Hmm.” She purses her lips. “What about how his father died on the day you left?”

“I know.”

“This is like a movie or something. El Caspase Blanco.”

“Is that a movie?” I frown.

“Yeah, maybe, I don’t know. Something like that.” She sips her drink. “I mean, you thought he hated you. He was broken. Huge misunderstanding. He sends for you two years later.” She puts her hands over her heart and bats her eyelashes. “My faith in romance has been restored.”

I stare at her, deadpan. “He’s still an asshole.”

“Totally, but at least now you can fuck him without regret.”

I grab her hand over the table. “Nat, thank you for coming to stay to Milan for me. It means the world.”

“Baby, I’m not here for you. I’m totally here for the men.”

Two hours later,

The club is pumping. The dance music is as loud as can be, and we are outside on the terrace. Inside there’s a large dance area, three or four bars, and a second lounge area. Outside here is a marquee, a big pool and bar area, and it’s not as crowded as inside.

“God, will you look at this place?” Nat whispers.

“It’s something else.”

There’s beautiful people everywhere, and fairly lights light up the sky. “This will be where all the cool people hang,” Nat says.