Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
It would be so much fun.
But my sensible side kicks in quickly. “Thank you for the offer. It means more to me than I can say. But I couldn’t possibly.”
“Why not?” Fiero says.
“Well, a lot of reasons, but for one, I can’t afford it.”
He frowns at me. “We would pay, of course.”
I’m already shaking my head before he finishes speaking. “Thank you, but it wouldn’t be appropriate.”
His frown becomes a scowl. “What does that mean?” I know he’s not asking about the literal meaning of the word. “There’s nothing wrong with us taking you.”
There are so many things wrong with it, especially where Matteo’s concerned, but before I can start to list them, my professor speaks up. “Daniela, it would mean a great deal to us to show you our country. Please, let us give you this.”
“Matteo …”
“Do not make me beg, Dani.” His tone is light, but he’s a proud man, and that simple sentence is enough to underscore how important the request is.
I can’t hold out anymore, and I also can’t hold back the smile that spreads across my face as I accept their generous invitation. “Okay. I’ll go.”
“Excellent.” Fiero claps his hands. “You have a passport, yes?”
“Yes. I haven’t used it in several years, but it should still be good.”
His grin is a thing of beauty. “Perfect. We will make all the arrangements. You will be our honored guest.”
Matteo, sitting next to me, rests a hand on my knee. “There is just one other thing we need to work out.”
My stomach tightens. I know instantly what he’s going to say.
“As you know, we come from a small village. Everyone knows everyone, and they all know each other’s business, especially le nonne, the grandmothers. I don’t want to sneak around when we’re in Italy.”
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“You should decide which of us you want to be with.”
They’re both watching me closely. I look back and forth between them, and though it’s the last thing I wanted to have happen, I can’t stop the tears that come.
And they’re not dainty little droplets I can stem with a few dabs of my fingers. No, they’re big fat tears, accompanied by an audible sob from somewhere inside me. All of the pressure of having to make this agonizing choice seems to press down on me at once, and I can’t do anything but let my emotions out.
Matteo jumps up and returns with a box of tissues. I grab a few and turn away from him, and he pats my back while I take deep breaths and pull myself together.
Why, after a lifetime of so many bad guys, do I have two good ones at the same time? I know I shouldn’t complain – I’m not complaining; I know I’m so lucky – but it’s truly not fair.
I wipe my nose and turn around. Fiero is close now, sitting on the coffee table in front of me, and he puts a hand on my knee as Matteo continues to rub my back.
I straighten my spine and try to keep my voice steady. “I know you are expecting an answer from me, and you deserve an answer, but no matter how hard I try, I haven’t been able to make a choice.”
I’d been looking down at my lap where my hands twist at a tissue, but I quickly risk a glance at both of them before concluding in a rush, “It’s probably best if I don’t go to Italy with you, and I understand if you want to stop dating me altogether.”
“No, no, no.” Matteo’s voice is firm but soothing. “Of course we don’t want to stop seeing you, and you must go with us.”
“Everything will work out,” Fiero says, giving my thigh a squeeze.
Matteo wraps an arm around me and pulls me close. “Please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“We both care about you, Daniela.” Fiero squeezes in next to me on the small sofa and leans close, so that I’m cradled between him and his brother.
“We care about you a lot,” Matteo echoes.
And that’s where I spend the rest of the evening, nestled between the two of them, wishing it could always be like this.
Welcome to Italy
The next few weeks pass in a flurry of activity. In addition to the time I spend, mostly separately, with Matteo and Fiero, both my classwork and trip preparations demand a lot of attention.
Even though the Bestia brothers will be my guides, I research their region of Italy in order to be a knowledgeable visitor and get more out of the experience. I also put in extra time studying the phrases I’ll need as a tourist and as a guest of their family. Finally, I take care of an unpleasant task: informing my mom about my change of plans.
I break it to her during a video chat. “A great opportunity has come up, and I won’t be able to come home during break.”