Her Best Friend's Brother

by T. J. Dell

  Libby stiffened. He clearly read the discomfort in her expression because he added “It is too warm in here, and we cannot talk. We wil go just outside. The street is wel lit, and popular. I won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable.”

  So prince charming is also a gentleman, she thought and alowed herself to be led outside. “What did you cal me?” Libby asked when the quiet of street made conversation possible.

  “Mia Belezza”

  Libby thought for a moment. “My pretty?”

  “It sounds nicer in Italian, but yes. And you are quite pretty.” He was smiling widely now, and covered the fingers she had tucked in his arm with his free hand. They settled on a bench under a street light, just a little way from the entrance to the club.

  “Does that make you the wicked witch of the west?” Libby laughed at the mental picture of this very masculine man in green face paint.

  “Scusi?” He frowned.

  “Like from The Wizard of Oz—in the movie the witch says I’l get you my pretty and your little dog too!”

  Everything she said seemed to be funny to this man. He laughed loudly “ I can’t say I have ever seen that movie.” Touching her face briefly he continued. “You make me laugh. Perhaps I should cal you mia risata? I would rather cal you by your name.”

  “Libby—it’s short for Elizabeth.” Duh like he realy need that clarification. Why was she so nervous?

  “Elisabetta.” His eyes crinkled like he was stil laughing at her. “You see everything sounds nicer in Italian, Betta”

  “Oh.” He was right; her name was much prettier in Italian. “Umm what’s your name?”

  “Gio, it is short for Giovanni.” He was teasing her! Libby laughed and the tension broke.

  It was very late when Gio and Libby shared a cab, and he let her out in front of her building. Consumed by each other’s company, they had barely noticed the hour.

  Gio wasn’t a student. As a matter of fact he was a teacher at the culinary institute. Not for the pastry classes and Libby was glad because that would have been awkward.

  He was 30 years old and the difference in their ages hadn’t even fazed him. In addition to teaching classes Gio also owned a bistro. And this led to talking about her mother’s bakery/ café, and Libby’s own aspirations.

  They talked about her program at the university, and he was impressed that she was keeping up with two sets of courses. And they discussed what sightseeing she had managed since arriving in Rome. Another round of laughter folowed when she lamented that she hadn’t had a motor bike tour.

  “Like Audrey Hepburn!” He exclaimed.

  “I’m not sure… did she ride a motor bike?” This elicited more laughter. Gio laughed a lot. Libby hadn’t decided yet if she was insulted, or not.

  “In Roman Holiday… it is very famous. You must see it.”

  And that was how they spent the evening: getting to know each other. Libby alowed herself only a smal moment of comparison, and reflected that this was an experience she was missing with Tony. Because they would never have a need to stay up al night exploring each other’s lives and personalities. When the cab stopped in front of her building Gio had smoothly waved away her attempt to pay and he instructed the driver to wait until she was inside the building.

  The next day Libby slept in; she hadn’t gotten into bed until almost sunrise after al. Just before lunch time, Libby’s door buzzed. “Betta, may I come up?” Gio’s rich voice sounded through the intercom.

  Glancing around her smal room, Libby took in the mess. A pile of discarded clothing choices was stil on the floor in front of her closet left from the dressing for the previous night. Her bed was stil unmade, because of course she had only just climbed out of it. Gio would not be impressed, Libby. She scolded herself.

  “I wil come down.” She answered. As quickly as she could move Libby puled on fresh clothes and brushed her hair back into a ponytail. No time for makeup Libby settled for lip gloss applied in the elevator. Outside she found Gio leaned against motor bike parked at the curb.

  “Your chariot.” Gio stepped towards her gesturing behind him to the bike.

  “You have a motor bike!”

  “It is rented, actualy. But the result is the same. Come for a ride with me.”

  And she did. They toured al the major sites.

  Most of which she had already seen, but she appreciated them differently in Gio’s company. Their tour ended at the Trevi Fountain. Gio’s large frame had no trouble parting through the tourists as he brought Libby close to the famous landmark.

  “They say if you throw a coin into the fountain, you are sure to return to Rome one day.” Gio reached into his pocket and offered her a handful of coins. Libby knew the legend and she had in fact tossed a euro into the fountain her first week in Italy. Unwiling to break the magic of the afternoon with that confession-- Libby chose a coin from Gio’s palm, tossed it high into the air, and watched it splash into the water. Without tearing his eyes from Libby’s face Gio dropped the rest of the coins into the fountain. “So that you might return many times, Mia Betta.” He said when she raised her eyebrows at him.

  Dear Mel,

  I met someone! His name is Gio, and he incredible.

  He took me for a motor bike ride last week, and then he cooked me dinner a few nights ago. Next weekend he wants to take me up the Almalfi coast for a picnic on the beach at Positano.

  Love, Libby

  Ps: you would approve of his accent

  Dear Libby,

  Details!

  Love, Mel

  ***

  I hope things are well—you haven’t written in awhile. I guess you are busy. I have to admit the time has passed more quickly than I thought it would. I can’t wait to see you this summer.

  -t-

  Sorry I have been busy. The thing is, I won’t be home this summer after all. I was accepted into a certificate program at the Culinary Institute. I am going to finish my degree at the American University of Rome this fall, and then I will spend an eighteen week term full time at the culinary institute. I could hardly believe my mother agreed to it, but it is an incredible opportunity.

  I can’t wait for the first Raines book. I have all my friends pre-ordering copies. You’ll be releasing in Europe before you know it!

  -l-

  That’s great Lib. I am happy for you.

  -t-

  Dear Libby,

  We are getting married! I hope I looked surprised when John asked, but to be honest I found the ring weeks ago. We are planning for June—you’ll be home by then right? We have to have time for your maid-of-honor dress fittings.

  Love, the future Mrs. Jonathan Evans

  Dear Mel,

  Congrats! Of course I’ll be home. I should be back by the end of April which leaves me plenty of time to plan a bachelorette party. I am so happy for you. John too.

  Love, Libby

  Can you believe it about Mel? I guess John has grown on me by now. But she seems too young to get married. Wow.

  I left the Examiner. I am renting an office in Lindstown with an apartment above it. I have decided to start my own paper. What do you think?

  -t-

  That’s awesome Tony! I want you to send me every issue!

  -l-

  Libby decided not to mention that Mel was an adult. It was probably time to let that old argument die.

  I can hardly believe I am finished. The last few months were killer, but totally worth it. Why didn’t you tell me that graduating college was such an affirming experience?

  It was sad not to have Mel and John here. But, my mom and Stuart are staying in Rome for a second honeymoon and it has been good to see them. I know you’re busy, but I wish you could have been here.

  -l-

  Chapter Thirteen Affirming? Tony didn’t remember his graduation feeling quite so profound. But he supposed it might be a girl thing. He probably could have gone, but he didn’t think he could face Libby’s Italian boyfriend. Anyway she would be ho
me in a few months. Mel seemed sure that Libby was serious about this guy. But Libby was stil planning on coming home, so that was as good as a green light for Tony. He knew he had handled her news badly before she left, but now he had had time to think about it and Libby had been right. She needed to go to Italy, and after al this time waiting at extra 20 months didn’t seem like such a hardship. Moving on hadn’t worked. Libby was burned so clearly into his brain that eventualy Tony had given up taking other girls out.

  Mel had been very clear in her verbal abuse of him when Libby had left for Italy. Apparently Libby deserved better than a few emails and phone cals. Apparently he had deprived Libby of ‘flowers, and nights out, and al the things real couples did.’ She was right, Libby did deserve those things. So when she came home Tony would be ready. He had a new business, and he was house hunting now that the paper was supporting itself. He was a multi-published author. Which wasn’t a lawyer or an Italian chef but it certainly seemed to impress Libby. He would take her on real dates, and bring her flowers, and make her fal in love with him. This was clearly Tony’s only option, since he was more certain now than ever that Libby was the only one for him.

  Gio and Libby were sharing a late dinner at his bistro on Libby’s last free day before her program at the culinary institute started. They had spent most of their free time together over the last few months. At first Gio had impressed Libby by not pressing her physicaly—sharing a few passionate kisses here and there but nothing more.

  Now she was getting impatient.

  “Thank you for celebrating so much with me this week.” Libby moved closer to him in the booth they shared.

  “Prego, Mia Betta” Gio kissed her. There wasn’t the al consuming heat she had felt in Tony’s arms. But there was warmth, a slow comfortable burn.

  “Maybe we could keep celebrating?” Libby winced at her own words – they were so corny!

  “Aahh, Betta. I think that would be inadvisable.” Gio tucked her under his arm.

  “Am I a bad kisser?” Libby was shocked into asking a question that had been plaguing her for years. And she was, for once, relieved when Gio burst into laughter.

  “Oh Mia Risata!” Gio covered her mouth with a slow deliberate kiss. “You are quite skiled, I think.”

  “Then I must smel bad?” Libby covered her embarrassment with a joke.

  “I am afraid there is someone else in your heart, no?”

  “No.” Libby wanted to be with Gio, she was sure of it.

  “You wil be leaving in four months. I do not wish to make love to you knowing you are leaving.”

  “Oh.” He had a point. She was leaving. And as much as she loved Rome she knew she didn’t want to live here permanently. She missed her friends and her family desperately.

  “I have never been to America. Perhaps when you are finished your course and you have returned home—

  perhaps I could visit you? You can take me for a motor bike tour! And then we shal see, Betta.” Libby nodded.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Could America have a scent? Libby was sure she smeled ‘home’ when she stepped off the airplane. Mel and John were waiting for her, and she ran into a squealing jumping hug with her best friend. It was good to be home.

  “Tel me you brought gifts!” Mel joked as she linked arms with Libby and left John to grab her bags. The three of them drove back to Lindstown in a blur of conversation bouncing so quickly between Italy and Wedding plans that John wisely kept to himself.

  Libby felt wonderful being home. She was even glad to see her postage stamp bedroom in Stuart’s house.

  It was impossible for Libby to think of his townhouse as her home. She liked Stuart and she was glad he made her mom so happy, but it wasn’t home. Of course she was only going to stay their temporarily. She had a plan.

  She was going to operate a catering/made to order business out of her mother’s kitchen. First order: Mel’s wedding cake. The idea was to build up a name, and save some money until she qualified for a business loan to open her own place. Stuart’s house would do until she had at least found a location, because she wasn’t quite sure that Lindstown could accommodate two bakery cafes. Libby was resigned to relocating to another town.

  On her second day home, after eating a slightly awkward but mostly enjoyable breakfast with Stuart (her mother having already for work), Libby headed out the door for a run. She would have to make time to go and renew the membership at the Y, but in the mean time she didn’t want to get out of shape. Walking out the door, Libby had just begun her stretches when she looked up to see Tony striding towards her.

  Memories did not to justice to those beautiful legs.

  Nerves engulfed Tony, momentarily leaving him frozen on the sidewalk.

  “Hi!” Libby bounded over to him for a hug.

  Stil immobilized Tony barely managed to return her hug before she puled away. “Hi.” Smooth, Marchetti.

  Tony chided himself. “Got a minute?”

  “Can you keep up?” Libby smirked at him playfuly.

  He wasn’t dressed for a run, but he keenly remembered his last disgraceful attempt of keeping up with Libby, and he had been training, so he agreed. They kept their pace slow and steady which Tony was grateful for in light of his heavy cargo shorts. “So are you settling back in?”

  “Yeah al 24 hours I’ve been home.”

  Tony winced a little. He had meant to give her more time. It was probably going to be hard for her to readjust. And then there was the matter of her needing to get over the Italian boyfriend. Tony hadn’t been able to help himself; a need to see her had overwhelmed him. Wel seeing didn’t satisfy al his needs, but it would do for now.

  “Good. I know you are probably busy with umm settling in, but I thought you might like to go to the wine festival with me on Saturday?”

  “The wine festival? You don’t strike me as a wine guy.”

  “Wel I’m not.” Damn it, this was crumbling fast.

  Mel had said Libby was realy into wine these days. “But I am covering it for paper, and Mel says you know a lot about wine so….”

  “Yeah okay. Sounds fun.” Libby was panting a little. Tony felt a surge of pride that he hadn’t been winded yet.

  “Great. I’l pick you at 4:00?”

  “How about I meet you at your office? I’d love to see it. I was hoping to talk with you anyway, about some ad space.”

  “Yeah sure that’s fine. Come a little early we can get you set up with whatever you need.” Tony would have rather picked her up. But he could adjust.

  They had circled the block several times by now, and Tony slowed to a walk.

  “Had enough?” Libby taunted lightly as she jogged in place.

  “Nah. I just have to get going. I am going to have to go back home and change now before I get to the office.”

  Libby’s face dropped in remorse. “I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking! You should have just said!”

  “Calm down Lib. I’m the boss, I can be late if I want to… and today I wanted to. I’l see you okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Tony turned and walked to his car. Waving again out the window Tony drove away.

  Saturday came quickly for Libby. She had spent the early part of the week refining her business plan, and working out what sort of and what size ad she would want to run in the paper. She had a menu she wanted to include in the Sunday inserts, but she thought a daily ad would be beneficial too until she got a name built up. Tony’s paper had become very popular and most of the town seemed to subscribe to The Lindstown Daily Press.

  Libby walked into Tony’s office a little after 3:00.

  “You’re early.” Tony popped his head out of a back office. “Just let me change my clothes.” Tony disappeared back behind the door, and Libby concentrated on not thinking about him changing clothes.

  The outer office was pretty smal, but Libby supposed that a newspaper wasn’t the sort of place that received a lot of foot traffic so that probably wasn’t a problem. A
cross one wal there were a few coin operated newspaper dispensers, and what looked to be a photo printing kiosk. Looking to her left there was a reception desk, and behind that there were two smaler desks. One long wal was decorated with a mural that depicted an old fashioned busy news room. It was comic book style with curved lines indicating ringing phones, faceless reporters in suits and hats scurrying about, and a shouting red faced man that Libby suspected was supposed to be Tony. It was positively charming, and exactly something Libby would expect from Tony.

  “I like it too.” Libby whirled around to face Tony.

  He had changed into a green colared shirt. Green was He had changed into a green colared shirt. Green was most definitely Tony’s color. “A couple of students from the high school did it for their senior project. Then we ran a story about the importance of arts in school curriculums.” Tony guided her back towards his office. “The best part?

  Al the drywal underneath that mural is chipped and cracked!” He cocked her a grin. “You can’t tel a bit now-

  - pretty smart huh?”

  “I would expect nothing less.” Libby grinned back.

  “This place is great Tony. Realy great.” Inside his office Libby was unsurprised to find his desk strewn messily with papers. He never had been exactly neat. Hanging on the wal were three shadow box frames-- one each for the first copy of the Daily Press, and both his novels to date. In one corner sat a wire waste paper basket, and the floor surrounding it was littered with crumpled paper bals. An image of how they got there sprung into her mind—typicaly Tony.

  “Wel it barely supports itself, but it is more a work of love than anything else. I have a couple of teenagers wiling to work part time for peanuts and bylines, and I am subletting the apartment upstairs now that I’ve moved out—

  that helps.

  “Where did you move to?”

  Pride and excitement colored Tony’s face. “I bought a house. About two months ago. It’s an old Victorian on Pine Street. The down payment took what was left of my book advance, I can’t afford furniture, and the place probably needs 60,000 dolars in repairs. But I’l get there. I can’t wait to show it to you.” Libby tried to remember when she had ever seen him so happy. Nothing came to mind. “Wow. You’ve done realy wel Tony, I’m glad. Al your dreams are coming true.”