I held the brown and orange plaid outfit up against the bed cushion. “Would you look at that! Grandpa liked to match his boat it would seem!”
Our laughter echoed through the old cabin and I tossed the shirt at her. She caught it and gave it one last glance before dropping her blanket and sliding it over her head. My grandfather was just a bit shorter than my six-foot one frame, so it dropped midway down her thighs.
“Like a runway model!” I laughed while she stood in front of me in the hideous plaid oversized shirt. “Wait. You’re missing something.”
I grabbed a piece of rope from the table and wrapped it around her waist, securing it with a knot.
“Now you are ready for the runway!”
“Go on. Let’s see how good you look in plaid pants.” She challenged me with a look.
“Good. I’m gonna look good.” I yanked them up, holding my breath while I struggled to secure the button that came midway up my stomach. Careful not to catch things, I pulled up the zipper and let out as deep a breath as the too-tight pants would allow.
“Well?” I lifted my arms and did a little spin. “Good, right?”
Shock and awe paralyzed her face. “My eyes!”
“That good, huh? Take your breath away good? That’s what I thought.” I popped a hip and danced my way toward her. The bell bottom legs only reached mid-calf and felt odd bumping against me with every exaggerated thrust.
When I reached her, I shimmied up her leg and continued the dancing assault while she choked back her laughter.
“I’m never going to recover from seeing you in those pants!” she blurted, and I couldn’t keep up my ruse any longer. My laughter erupted again, and she buried her face in my bare chest.
“How did this happen? We look ridiculous!” she said between laughs.
“Speak for yourself. You may look ridiculous, but me?” I stepped back and waved a hand down myself. “I look incredible.”
Waggling my brows, I started dancing up the stairs, tossing her a glance and shaking my ass when I reached the top. “You coming? We’ve got a boat to sail back!”
Her laughter followed me up the stairs and soon she joined me in getting the boat back underway.
When we reached the dock and secured the boat, a few people passing by stopped to stare at the spectacle of our outfits. I moved quickly packing up, mostly because the waistband of the pants was cutting off my circulation. After the boat was secured, we grabbed our bags and ran down the docks hand in hand, our laughter continuing every step of the way. The cab I’d called was waiting, and we rushed into the back seat, collapsing in a plaid heap.
“Thank you,” I called up. “You have the address?”
He nodded, peeking in the rear-view at us before focusing on the road.
“Costume party,” I said, and he smiled and nodded.
“This is so embarrassing.” She giggled into my shoulder.
When we arrived at her hotel, the streets were already packed with people.
“People are going to think I’m crazy!” She eyed them up and slumped down in the seat.
“Fashionable, Ellie! Just get out there and own it, and before you know it people will be wearing orange and brown polyester dresses with rope belts all over Napoli! Here, I’ll go first.”
“Liam!” She laughed as I popped out of the cab, adding a sashay to my walk as I moved around to get her door. Eyes from all over the street fixated on me, and more than a dozen people stopped to openly stare. I ignored them and opened her door with a flourish. “Shall we?”
She covered her face but then took my hand, exhaling a deep breath while she stepped confidently out beside me. A small curtsy emphasized my bow.
“Don’t forget your purse, baby.”
She leaned back in and pulled it out and we stood on the street in our matching plaid attire, while a few more sets of eyes joined the other gawkers.
“Take a nap, a shower, get dressed and I’ll pick you up at two. I’m going to check on my mom.”
“I’ll be ready. And please, don’t wear those pants,” she teased.
“These pants?” I said, giving her a hip thrust. She squeezed her eyes tight and chuckled through pursed lips. A few onlookers cracked a laugh as well.
“Yes, those pants.”
“You’re gonna miss it when my jeans don’t do this!” I shimmied at her once again and a few people clapped me on. I continued shaking around her while she rolled with laughter until I arrived back in front. With one swift move, I tipped her back in my arms and pressed a deep kiss on those laughing lips.
The cheers erupted around us and I smiled. “See. The whole world is rooting for us. I hope we never stop getting applause every time we kiss.”
She grabbed my face and kissed me once more before I stood her up and we took a little bow for the crowd.
“I’ll see you at two, baby,” I called back while I climbed into the cab. She stood in her plaid dress and waved, her grin wide while she watched me pull away. The agony I already felt being apart deepened the fear I had for what life would be like if she didn’t stay. It felt like an anchor was tied around my heart, and she held the other end. At any moment she could let go, and the weight would drag me down into a dark abyss that would swallow me whole.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ellie
“Well?” I asked into the iPad. Louie and Nita just stared, blinking. “What do you think? Am I crazy?”
“I think it’s a terrible idea! What did I do?!” Louie shouted into the screen.
“It is? I shouldn’t do it?”
“No!” he shouted again. “You’re not moving to Italy! I won’t have it! You’re not breaking up the band!” He crossed his arms and sat back.
“Nita? Is this nuts?”
“Nuts? Yes. But a bad idea? As much as I hate to say it, no.”
“Nita! Traitor!” Louie shouted at her. She pushed her hand into his face and turned back to me.
“Well, Louie just informed you that you’ve been fired, so you have no job to come home to. I know someone who can sublet your apartment, and if you’re really feeling this way about each other, then I think you owe it to yourselves to give it a real try. I mean, what other option do you have but to come home and cry?”
I’d messaged when I got back to my hotel and made them call me together. I needed feedback on this decision that wasn’t fueled by the passion I felt for Liam.
“So do it? Just stay here?”
“No!” Louie spat.
“Louie, honestly. Is this a bad idea?”
He pursed his lips and looked away. After a deep sigh, he looked back. “No. You should do it.”
“Really? I’m definitely not thinking with a clear head after sex like we just had, so I’m relying on you two. I’m not crazy to consider this?”
“No, Nita’s right. Aside from us, which is a really good reason to stay by the way, there’s nothing holding you here. So stay a bit longer and see what happens. If it goes to shit, just come home.”
“Do it, Ellie. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
“Holy shit,” I said. “I really thought you guys were going to tell me I’m in a sex haze and to get on the next plane home.”
“If this was some random guy you just met, that would be my answer,” Nita said. “But this isn’t some random guy. This is Liam. And it sounds like he’s been just as miserable without you as you’ve been without him.”
“Did you say, ‘I love you’ yet?” Louie asked.
“No. I feel it. Good God do I feel it. But I’m too scared to say it first.”
“That’s my rule then,” Louie stated. “You’re not moving to Italy unless he says, ‘I love you.’ He needs to be in this all the way.”
“I like that rule,” I agreed.
“But I hope he doesn’t say it,” Louie mumbled, and Nita checked him with an elbow.
“So, we are all in agreement? I’m really considering this? I mean, obviously I need to figure out a job that doesn’t
require me to speak Italian, and we have to research immigration laws,
and—”
“Jesus, Ellie. You’ll figure it out,” Nita said, shaking her head. “Just talk to him and we’ll figure out the rest.”
“Okay, you guys. I will. Thank you. And I’m hanging up now, so he doesn’t show up at my door early and overhear us again.”
“Big hard man boobs!” Louie burst into the same laughter that had left him gasping for breath when I’d told them about our overheard conversation I would never live down.
“I love you guys. Wish me luck.”
“We love you! Good luck!” They called back, and I turned off the screen and took a deep breath.
Nerves had me pacing around my room and I decided to wait downstairs and get some fresh air. After stepping outside, I continued my pacing on the streets until a little red vintage convertible pulled up beside me. I didn’t want to stare, so I turned and continues my pacing.
“Looking for a date?” the driver called.
“What? I’m not a prostitute!” I called back, now questioning the short black dress with the plunging neckline I’d chosen. Turning to level him with a glare, I saw Liam peeking out from behind his mirrored sunglasses.
“You asshole!” I laughed and walked over to the sexy car. “Who are you, James Bond? Did you steal it?”
“Nope. Another gift from Grandpa. It’s his old 1963 Fiat Spider. He drove this car for forty years. And it’s the absolute best way to experience the Amalfi Coast. Hop in.”
He leaned over and opened the door, and I climbed into the front seat, which happened to be the only seat of this little two-seater red car. The black leather felt hot on the back of my legs, but after a moment the slight pain subsided. Looking over, Liam looked impossibly dashing in this car. His classic white t-shirt and jean’s accentuated the whole look and I couldn’t help but lean over and kiss him.
“You look so hot in that dress,” he said, looking me up and down and pausing at my breasts before pushing his sunglasses up into place.
“You look even hotter.”
“Oh, yeah? We’re not going with ‘As do you as well do you too’ today?” he said with a cocky grin, repeating those awful words I’d pieced together when I saw him on our first date.
My mouth dropped, though I wasn’t sure if it was from surprise he’d caught my mishap that night, shock he’d remembered it verbatim, or astonishment he hadn’t teased me about it until now.
“What? You didn’t think I caught that? Thought maybe I just blamed it on my English comprehension like you did with those emails? Yeah. I knew about that, too.” He waggled his brows and I dissolved into laughter.
“Shut up and drive.” I said, shaking my head. “Asshole.”
“Yeah, but I’m your asshole.” He grinned and grabbed my hand, closing it over the stick-shift with his on top. Together we shifted, and the zippy car jolted forward into the street.
Using my free hand, I slid my sunglasses on as we drove through Naples. The way he handled this car reminded me of his skills with the sailboat while he masterfully negotiated the traffic out of town. The feeling of the sun on my skin and the wind whipping through my hair only amplified the experience, and I glanced over to catch his eyes on my face. His smile stretched wide, and if I hadn’t been sitting, the sight of him would have made me weak in the knees.
He pointed out all the best landmarks during our two-hour drive down the Amalfi Coast. I looked at everything with a different set of eyes today. This time, I tried to imagine living here, seeing the beauty of these sights every day. The breathtaking landscape of the coast, and the other gorgeous sight sitting at my side certainly did a lot to make a move here seem like a sensible idea. I added two check marks into the pro side of the mental pros and cons list I’d been making about staying.
When we reached Positano, I didn’t know how much more of the overwhelming beauty I could take. The plunging cliffs, colorful houses and the cerulean waters didn’t do much to make a trip back to Chicago seem appealing. I could get used to this, I thought while he pulled us into the car park.
“How does dinner in Positano sound? I know this perfect little beach bar called Da Ferdinando on Fornillo Beach. The food is great, the sunsets stunning, and not to worry, there’s no stuffy Italian server.”
“That sounds amazing.”
With a smile, he hopped out and trotted over to open my door. I climbed out and took his open hand, and he led me into the bustling town of Positano. We made our way through the crowds into the shopping district filled with colorful fabrics, artwork, soaps, and all the Italian crafts I could imagine.
“I owe you something,” Liam said while I perused the jewelry on the street.
“What’s that?”
“A new swimsuit.”
“Oh! You mean to replace the one you threw in the ocean?”
“Hey, I threw mine in too, if it makes you feel any better.”
“A little.” I smirked and squeezed his hand.
“Over here.” He pulled me in tow to a little swimsuit shop filled with colorful bikinis and swim shorts.
We browsed the collections, and I picked up a floral halter top and the only bottoms that wouldn’t ride up my ass. These Italian women certainly weren’t as concerned with covering their assets as I was. Liam grabbed a pair of blue and white trunks that matched his eyes perfectly.
“Try not to throw these in the ocean,” I teased when we left with our bags in hand.
“Don’t distract me with your bare breasts, then.”
“Though, I will say the loss of my beloved suit was worth seeing you in those ridiculous pants.” I chortled.
“You know I looked good,” he joked back.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
We laughed together, and I added another check mark into the reasons to stay box. He made me laugh. A lot. Maybe that should count for two check marks, I noted to myself.
I followed him down the beautiful little stone path along the ocean he said led to his favorite place in Positano. Each turn of the ten-minute walk took my breath away, and I made another check in the pro column. After reaching the end of the path, we stepped out onto the beach dotted with chairs and umbrellas. The fading light had chased off most of the beach goers, but the music and laughter coming out of the beach bars showed plenty of life still around this quieter corner of Positano.
“Here. Da Ferdinando. My favorite.”
He led me up the ramp to the tables overlooking the beach, and we found an open one.
“Now this is my kind of restaurant!” I said, appreciating the open-air, beach view, and the casual vibe.
“Mine, too. We have so much in common.” He reached across the table and pulled my hands into his. “We always did.”
Our shared love for the water, animals, long talks and cheese were just a few of the things that made me love spending time with him. But it was our opposites that made me love us. He pushed and I pulled, but the tension between us was just right. When he jumped too soon, I urged caution. When fear stopped me from experiencing things, he made me brave. As much as we were similar, we were also opposites, and it’s what made us work. I added another checkmark to the pros column. We work.
“Ciao!” our server in the black-and-white striped shirt said when he approached.
“Ciao!” we answered in unison.
“Ellie, you feeling brave enough to let me order all my favorites, or do you want to look at a menu and wield your veto power?”
“I trust you,” I answered, and he squeezed my hand.
He rambled in Italian and the server jotted it all down. The speed with which he could talk intimidated me, and I had to put living in a country where I didn’t speak the language in the cons box. Everyone here spoke English, but to get a job I would need to be fluent in Italian, and that would take time. Considering I’d maxed out my credit cards getting here and was still paying off my school loans, I couldn’t indulge in the luxury of not working.
<
br /> “You’re gonna love it!” He turned to me when the server walked away.
“I can’t wait to see what you ordered!”
“What do you think of Positano?”
“Ummm, it’s beautiful. Everyone is friendly. What’s not to love?”
“I wish it wasn’t quite so far from my office in Naples, or I’d pack up and move my mother here. Naples is a little too busy for my taste.”
“It’s a lot to take in. Do you two live in the city?”
“Just on the outskirts where it’s a little quieter. It was my grandfather’s house, and his father’s before him. It’s nothing fancy, and it’s no quiet cabin on a lake like I’d prefer, but it’s home.”
Our server returned with wine and we broke apart our hands to hold our glasses while he filled them. After taking a breath of the fragrant wine, I took a sip. “Whoa, that’s really good.”
“It’s my favorite. It’s a Tempranillo and this is the only place that carries it. One of the many reasons it’s worth the extra walk down here. If you decide to live here, we’ll come all the time.”
I saw his face tighten when he realized how free he’d been with his thoughts. “Sorry, I’m not trying to pressure you. I know it would be asking a lot. I just get carried away thinking about it.”
“Me, too,” I admitted.
“You’re thinking about it?” His eyes widened. “Really?”
I nodded. “Well, I found out I’m officially fired today.”
“Oh shit, Ellie. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Not ideal, but it’s not like it was my dream job. I am going to miss working with Louie, though. But, that’s just one more reason I’m thinking about your proposition.”
“Ellie, I can’t even tell you how happy I am you’re considering it. Now that I’ve seen you again, I don’t want to be apart anymore.”
“Me neither, Liam. But I don’t know how it’s going to work.”
“We’ll figure it out!” he announced confidently, as he always did. I tried to let his confidence replenish mine.
“Liam. You know me. I don’t leave the house without a plan. ‘We’ll figure it out’ is not going to help me find a job, learn Italian, find a place to live, and somehow find the money to support myself when I can’t get a job because I don’t speak Italian.”
The Big One (Second Chance Romantic Comedy) Page 15
