“You really are my favorite condom, Lev.”
His face puckers in adorable confusion as I laugh with a flippant shrug. “You’re always protecting me when things get hard…”
A gigantic smile breaks across his face, filling me with a lightness that’s all Levi James.
“Christ above, Elodie. You really have a unique way with words.”
I wink playfully before returning my attention to the slim menu on the table. “This place comes highly recommendedcourtesy of Trip Advisor. It’s the highlight of theentiretrip, and I fuckingrefuseto allow that prick to ruin our last day. Okay?”
He nods with a lingering grin before returning his gaze to his own menu. “I’ll get the bruschetta to start, I think. What about you?”
“Caprese salad, followed by the lasagna.” My eyes blow wide with anticipation. “And tiramisu to finish.”
Levi chuckles. “I’ll be rolling you onto the plane tomorrow.”
“That’s the goal, my beautiful friend.”
We’re still laughing when a handsome olive-skinned waiter pops up beside Levi. “Benvenuti a Melograno.I’m Adriano, your server this afternoon.”
Adriano’s eyes stay wholly focused on Levi as he slowly fills our water glasses. “I’ll be back in a moment for your order.”
Levi, my bisexual bestie, hasn’t had sex in over a year, but judging by the eye contact between these two, I have a feeling that the dry spell might be coming to an end.
“You shouldabsolutelyhit that.”
Levi swings wide eyes around to mine, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. The sight makes me snort as I take a sip of my water.
“He’s a million miles out of my league, Ellie.” Levi shakes his head, making his slightly too-long dark hair swish into his eyes. He pushes it back with a wry grin. “And youknowI don’t do well with rejection.”
“The man was practically undressing you with his come-fuck-me eyes, Lev.” I shake my head with an exaggerated eye roll. “Live a fucking little. Rock his cock.”
Levi chews his bottom lip pensively. “I dunno…”
“If you’re ready…” Adriano’s wide green eyes train on Levi as his deep intonation fills the area. “May I take an order from you,signore?”
His heavily Italian-accented question is filled with innuendo that has me biting my bottom lip to curtail a giggle.
“I’ll have a Caprese salad, please.” Adriano flicks his eyes in my direction, duly noting my order on his pad, and I grin as an idea takes hold. “Actually…what time do you get off?”
Levi’s foot connects with my shin beneath the table as I blink innocently up into the laughing eyes of our server. “This is my last table for the afternoon,signorina.”
“In that case…” I push my seat back, toss my napkin onto the pristine white tablecloth, and rise to my feet. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
“But you said this place is the highlight of the trip…”
Levi stands as I grab my bag from where it’s hanging off the back of my chair and hold up a staying palm while making eye contact with the waiter. “My friend Levi here would be happy to do a little sightseeing this afternoon if you’reupfor it.”
Levi’s groan fills my ears as I lean closer to press a kiss to his cheek before whispering, “And if I see you back at the hotel later, I’ll personally castrate you.”
In the early evening sunshine,the promenade bustles behind me. Vendors sell their wares to an army of tourists while restaurants along the seafront open their doors to the masses, the scent of authentic Italian cuisine filling my nostrils.
The stone pavement beneath my butt is warm from the rays of the sun as my bare feet dangle over the edge of the pier, the turquoise waters of Lake Garda lapping against the wall lazily.
My eyes linger on a boat far out in the middle of Lake Garda, far removed from the busyness on the pier, and I long to be out there in the calm solitude rather than sitting lakeside with my racing thoughts.
Tomorrow is looming over me. I knew it was coming before I’d even left the States. But there was no way I could miss my childhood best friend Wren’s wedding.
Plus, her billionaire husband’s private jet was the only way I could leave the US, thanks to Nico’s confiscation of my passport.
