My heart drops through my chest.
It’s from Jana.
Jana hasn’t even called me once since I got here, not even after the big mix-up at the beginning. We’ve emailed a few times, but that’s been it. She’s left me alone, and I’ve been grateful for it.
It’s never good when your agent calls.
Unless it is good.
Hmmm.
Suddenly my mind is running away on me. Maybe this isn’t about my deadline, and maybe it’s not about Claudio or Vanni either, maybe we just sold movie rights or something like that.
“Is that my mother?” Vanni asks, peering at the missed call on the display.
Claudio immediately looks over, concerned. “Jana?”
“I missed her call,” I say feebly. “I better go and call her back.”
I don’t want to call her back, but I won’t be able to sit and watch the game if I don’t. “I’ll be back,” I tell them, then I make my way through the crowded stands until I’m free.
When I find a spot in the shade away from the noise and the crowds, I take out the phone and press redial with shaking hands.
She picks up on the first ring, giving me no time to freak out.
“Grace,” she says in her quick, clipped voice. “How are you?”
I swallow, trying to calm my racing heart. “I’m good. Sorry, I missed your call…”
“That’s fine, I would have kept trying anyway. Listen, sweetheart, I have a free day tomorrow and I thought I would fly down to see you in Lucca.”
No.
My heart drops even further.
“Uh…” I stammer. “Why?”
She laughs. “Why? Because I want to check up on you and see how you’re doing. I feel so bad about you having to be there with my ex-husband and Vanni, I know Claudio can be such a pain in the neck sometimes.”
No, not really.
“Plus, it would be good to hear about the book, face-to-face. And let’s be honest here, I think a little accountability isn’t a bad thing. Plus, I could use some sunshine, it’s just been rubbish weather in London. We’ve had no summer at all. Meanwhile one of my clients is down south, soaking it all up.”
I’m just blinking, trying to figure out what to say.
“Grace? Are you there?”
“Yes, yes, hi,” I tell her quickly, feeling flustered. My face is going hot. “Well, that’s great and all but we’re not in Lucca right now.”
“Where are you?”
“In Florence.”
“Oh,” she says. “Firenze. A day trip?”
“No. We’re spending a few days here.”
“You and Vanni and Claudio?”
“Yes.” Then I hastily add, “And Lorenzo Ducati. You know, that calcium story player.”
“Calcio Storico?” she corrects me. “And yes, I know him. He’s a big muscley piece of man meat if I’ve ever seen one.” Suddenly she gasps. “Oh, Grace. Are you together with him?”
“Claudio?” I squeak.
Another sharp laugh. “Good heavens, no. I mean Lorenzo.”
I can hardly breathe. “No, no…he’s nice, though.” I say that last part a little warmly, hoping to throw her off track.
“Ah, well then,” she says, and I know she’s taken the bait. “That’s great. He’s a good guy. A little scary, but good. Why don’t I come down to Florence tomorrow then, if you’re there for a few days. Where are you staying? The Savoy?”
“Yes…”
“Perfect. It will be easier for me to fly into Florence anyway. Listen, I’ll call you when I land. Don’t forget to warn the boys.”
And then she hangs up.
Holy SHIT.
I don’t sleep a wink.
How can I when fucking Jana is coming to Florence!
After she called, I went to join Claudio and Vanni in the stands, but kept mum on the phone call. I tried to get back into the game, but it was pointless. All I could think about was Jana coming. I barely even noticed when the red team won, thanks to some winning moves by Lorenzo, who ended the game all bloody, beaten and triumphant.
With the game over, we stayed on the streets and partied and drank, until Vanni was tired and wanted to go home. Then, on the way back to the hotel, I finally spilled the news.
Vanni, of course, was all super excited to see his mother.
And Claudio? Well, he was concerned, but not as upset as I thought he would be. Or, at least, not as upset as I was.
I’m still upset. I’m lying in a gorgeous room in the Savoy hotel, a view of the Duomo from my window, feeling groggy and exhausted, and all I want to do is bury myself under the covers and never come out.
But then there’s a knock at my door, spoiling those plans.
I slip a robe over my camisole and booty shorts, just in case it’s room service, and I open the door.
It’s Claudio, leaning against the doorway, looking effortlessly sexy and casual.
“Buongiorno,” he says to me, his eyes resting briefly on my lips. I know what he’s thinking. He wants to kiss me.
I poke my head out of the door, looking down the hall both ways, then push up on my toes to meet his mouth, giving him a quick kiss.
“I better do that now, because I sure as hell won’t be able to do that later,” I say.
He gives me a soft smile, eyes crinkling at the corner. “How are you doing?” he asks me. “You were pretty upset last night.”
I exhale and throw my arms out as I head back into the room. “Why shouldn’t I be?”
He closes the door softly behind me but keeps his distance. I suppose with Vanni right next door, he doesn’t want to get pulled into anything and lose track of time. That’s a bad habit of ours.
“Maybe this is all happening for a reason,” he says calmly.
“So you’re happy your ex-wife is showing up on our little vacation?”
He crosses his arms and frowns. “No. I am not happy. But Vanni is happy. And our little vacation includes him too.”
I close my eyes, rubbing my thumb into my forehead. “Yes. I know. Of course. I just mean…”
“I know what you mean, Grace,” he says. “This has taken me off-guard too. But it is happening and her plane should be landing right now. So, she’ll be here soon, and then we’ll have to deal with it.”
“What do you suppose we should do?” I ask, looking at him for answers.
“Well, we could just continue on like we have been doing in front of Vanni, and we can pretend that we aren’t together, and that I’m not madly in love with you.”
My heart skips at those words. I’ll never tire of hearing it.
“Or,” he adds, “we can be adults and tell the both of them. Two birds with one sword.”
“Stone. Two birds with one stone.”
“I prefer sword. It’s easier to stab them both at the same time,” he says, making a jousting lunge.
“Right. I think that’s a bad idea.”
“I figured you would. Okay, so we just continue as we have. No problems. Okay?”
I nod but I know that it’s not going to be that easy.
I have a bad feeling.
“Look, Vanni is almost ready and then we’re going to head down for breakfast. It is really good here. Why don’t you get dressed and come meet us?”