The Italian

“You seem much older—so pretty.”

I really like her.

Rico smiles, happy that we’re both making the effort to get to know each other.

The doorbell sounds. “Who’s that?” Olivia asks.

“I’ll get it,” Rico says before he disappears. We hear him talking in the distance, and then he appears again with two people.

“Francesca and Olivia, this is Angelina and Giuliano.” Rico frowns as he looks between us. “They are friends of Lorenzo.”

Olivia’s eyes widen. “Hello.” She smiles, as if excited, and she shakes their hands. “Can I get you both a drink? Welcome, welcome.”

I smile awkwardly as I twist my fingers in front of me.

Angelina is a blonde woman, pretty and middle aged. Giuliano, the boy, is around my age. His eyes come to me and I feel a flutter in my stomach.

He has dark hair, huge brown eyes, and olive skin. He’s tall, lean, and he has big red lips.

Oh…...

He frowns as his eyes hold mine.

My heart begins to beat faster—so fast, that I have to concentrate on breathing.

The adults talk for ten minutes and I sit nervously to the side. I can feel him staring at me. Every now and then I glance over, he doesn’t look away but gives me a soft smile instead.

I can hear my heartbeat in my ears.

Oh…he makes me nervous.

“Francesca, why don’t you show Giuliano around the property? I need to talk some business with his mother,” Enrico says.

Giuliano stands immediately. “That would be nice.”

Oh my God.

I force a smile and nod. “Okay.” I gesture to the backyard. “This way.” I walk out and he falls in line beside me. We walk in silence for ten minutes through the garden. I’m too nervous to speak. The air between us is electric.

“Hello,” he eventually whispers.

His voice is deep and raspy. It does things to me.

“Hi.”

“And to think that I didn’t want to come today,” he says.

I frown. “Why do you say that?”

“You are so beautiful,” he whispers.

My heart completely stops as we stare at each other.

Not as beautiful as you.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asks as we walk around to the side door.

I shake my head. “No.” I want to ask him if he has a girlfriend, but I can’t push the words past my lips.