“Yes, both please.”
“So,” she said, taking a seat. “My brother is in Italy. To visit you, by the way.”
“Santa Madre di Dio. Are you serious?” I put my head in my hand. “But, why didn’t he tell me? Why didn’t he write?”
Lily cocked her head. “He did.”
“When?”
“Weeks ago. You didn’t respond.”
I pulled the letter out of my pocket. “This was the last I received from him.”
She studied the postmark. “He wrote another after this one.”
“I didn’t get it.”
“Right. Well, this is a bloody mess.”
I scooted my chair back; Lily put her hand on my arm.
“You can’t be thinking of leaving.”
“He isn’t here. I’m…intruding.” I knew I’d said it before, but I couldn’t think of a better word.
“Before you go anywhere, let me try to reach him.”
She left the room and came back a few minutes later with a cell phone. “Straight to voicemail.”
“Okay.” This time when I stood, she put her hand on my shoulder.
“Where are you staying?”
“I’m not.”
Lily shook her head. “You aren’t going anywhere until I reach my brother. Your luck, your airplanes will pass in the air.” She tapped her cheek with her finger, something I often did too. “Look, my parents are in Portugal, and I’m here on my own. Stay with me until we can sort this mess out.”
“I don’t want to—”
“Intrude? You’re not. Worst-case scenario, I’ll show you around London, unless you’ve been here before.”
“I haven’t.”
“Come on.” She motioned for me to follow and picked up my bag. “You can stay in Miles’ room.” When she winked and nudged me, I smiled.
I opened my lids the next morning, shielding my eyes from the sun that poured in through the window. My head was pounding, and I felt like I’d eaten a cotton ball.
When we didn’t hear back from Mylos, Lily convinced me to go with her to meet some friends at a pub not far from the house.
I couldn’t remember when I’d last had so much fun. Lily’s boyfriend, William, and several other people joined us, telling stories about Mylos for much of the night. The one we laughed about the most, though, was the fact he’d gone to Italy in search of me, and here I was in London.
“It’s so romantic,” said one of the girls, whose name I couldn’t remember now. I could remember the look on her face, though. It had been wistful in a way that made my heart hurt. Sure, it was a great story, but not while I was living it. I hoped he’d call today. If he didn’t, I should probably accept it as not meant to be and go home.
The next three days, I woke up with the same resolution, and Lily talked me out of it. She kept her promise of showing me around London. Each day was more fun than the one before. Tomorrow, though, I had to leave no matter what.
There was still no word from Mylos. Lily had given up leaving messages, saying instead that she was the one who’d lucked out and had a new best friend. “He never checks his bloody mobile anyway,” she muttered over our morning cup of tea. “I’m sorry, Pia. I truly am.”
We both jumped out of our seats when we heard the front door opening.