Izzy simply slammed her drink down, sending the contents sloshing over the edge, and told me that I was fucking crazy to give up this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Maybe she was right. If I had gone with her, at least I’d be with someone I know right now instead of sitting at a corner café table overlooking the Piazza Doumo, alone and uncertain, agonizing over all my stupid decisions.
Cade’s voice has risen to an angry pitch. “It’s justwhat?” he snipes, growing annoyed and impatient as he runs his hand through his tousled bedhead.
Blowing out a breath, I come clean. “I’m stranded. In Florence. I’m down to my last few Euro’s that will only get me through the night, and my wallet and my passport were stolen last night. I was hoping…”
I’m unable to finish the sentence when he interrupts.
“Jesus H. Christ. You’re stranded in fucking Italy? What is the matter with you, Kady? Can’t you ever do anything without it becoming a full-blown drama?”
While his assessment of my past behavior is rather hurtful, but perhaps accurate, I try to hold myself together. Being respectful of the time and his whereabouts, I place my finger against my closed lips, asking him to be quieter.
“Pipe down, Mr. Hostile. You’re going to wake Ainsley and Anika. What I was trying to say is that until I’m able to pull more money out of my trust fund, which I can’t get to right now until I have an ID, I need some help. It’s just a temporary loan until I can pay you back at the beginning of the month.”
To fund my trip of a lifetime, I’d tapped into my trust fund established by my grandparents when I was a kid. I’m only allowed a specific withdrawal amount every month until I turn twenty-one, unless I have a specific purchase that supports my future – like oh, for example, college tuition.
Cade’s wheels are turning. I can see it in the flash of his blue eyes. I hold my breath and wait.
His response is emphatic. “No.”
My head jerks back with the force of his denial.
“No? Are you serious right now? You’re just going to leave me stranded here, alone, without any money? Without a place to stay? Cade, please…” My lip quivers in terror, and my whine is that of a two-year-old girl.
Even if I penny-pinch my meager allowance and find ways to be frugal with my day-to-day expenses for the next few weeks, it’s not enough to prevent me from ending up on the streets like a vagrant.I don’t know anyone in the city, or any place to crash temporarily. No way to get a job. I’m desperate.
Cade shakes his head, clearly frustrated with me.
“Listen,” he starts, rubbing his temples. “I didn’t say Iwouldn’thelp you. I’ll wire you enough to get you by for the next day or so. But Kady, you got yourself into this mess, you need to figure a way out of it. I’m not going to bail you out completely. It’s called being an adult. But I may know a guy who’s over there playing ball for one of the Italian teams. He’s Christian Lancaster’s younger brother.”
I flip through my brain archives to see if I can recall ever meeting Christian. He played with Cade on his ASU basketball team. I think he was the tall, dopey guy I met a few times. He’s kind of an idiot.
As I’m mulling this over, the waitress from the café stops by my table and asks me if I’d like more coffee.
I nod my head and hand her my empty cup. “Si. Per favore. Grazie.”
Cade’s eyes bug out on the screen when the girl walks away.
“Wow, she was…”
I scowl at him for his indecent behavior. “Dude, you’re an engaged man. You can’t be looking at other women now.”
He laughs, taking a peek behind him at his closed bedroom door. Yeah, that’s what I thought. “You’re right. But I’m not dead. A guy can admire a beautiful woman. Are all the Italian ladies that hot?”
From behind me I can hear the waitress snicker from inside the doorway of the little café.
“Yes, they are. And shush, she can hear you, ya know. And I’m sure Ainsley can, too. Don’t be such a douche canoe. You’ve got a gorgeous fiancée in your bed right now.”
Cade nods. “Yeah, I know. I’m a lucky son-of-a-bitch. Anyway, getting back to your predicament.”
I consider the options in front of me. I may be stuck in Firenze a little longer than I expected. Maybe I can get hired on in one of the businesses around here temporarily. And as far as accepting help from this guy, perhaps I could crash at his place for just a few nights until I can figure out a more sustainable plan.
“So, what’s this guy’s name and how do I get in touch with him?”
Cade’s typing something in his phone. Probably a text to Christian.
“It’s not a sure thing. I don’t even know if he’s in Florence or not. He might be out on the road. But, for what it’s worth, his name is Gavin. And as soon I hear back from Christian, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, find me a place where I can send you some money.”
I smile sweetly at my older brother, tears prickling at the corner of my eyes. While we might have our differences, he’s always been someone I can count on. Maybe I don’t mind his savior complex.
“Thanks, Cade,” I say, pressing my hand above my heart so he can see my sincerity. “I really appreciate this. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
I blow a kiss at the computer screen as he flips me off and grunts.
“Just stay out of any more trouble for now. Okay?”
I can make no such promises.
