Chapter Six
Libby spent a sleepless night tossing and turning in her bed, tormented by thoughts of Luca. Everything had changed for her since that first kiss. By chance she had a day off the next day, and so did Luca. He texted her first thing asking her if she wanted to meet up. She was torn between playing safe with her emotions – protecting herself from potential upset, and living in the moment, following her instincts. Her heart wanted to run into Luca’s arms and see where the journey took her, but her head was urging her to proceed with caution. She leant out the window to get signal on her phone and called Jules. There was no way she was going to risk someone overhearing this conversation.
‘Jules? It’s me.’
‘Hi Libs. To what do I owe the pleasure of a phone call at this early hour of the morning?’
‘I need to talk.’
‘What’s going on?
‘It’s Luca.’
‘The hot barman?’
‘Yes… despite my determination not to, I have really started to like him—’
‘Ooh Libby, Iknewit!’
‘He saw me flirting with this American guy called Bret, and yesterday I could tell he was in a mood with me.’
‘Right…’
‘I confronted him and forced him to tell me why he was acting so strangely.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He told me that he had feelings for me, that he’d seen me with Bret and had been really jealous, that he wanted me to give him a chance.’
‘Whaat?This ishuge!’
‘I know!’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I don’t know. This is the guy who told me when I first met him that he doesn’t “do” monogamy. That he falls in love easily, but just as easily out of love…’
‘Well, he hadn’t fallen for you then, Libs. You might be the one to change everything!’
‘Unlikely. I always thought it sounded romantic being the woman to tame a serial ladies’ man, but now I’m not so sure. It just sounds like a recipe for heartbreak.’
‘Anything is possible Lib—’
‘And I’m also going to be leaving in a couple of months.’
‘So what? See how it goes… You can’t plan your whole life out. Just live each day as it comes.’
‘So you think I should go for it?’
‘Absolutely. What have you got to lose? Sure, it could all go wrong and you might end up with a broken heart, but at least you will have given it a shot. Hearts always mend…’
‘You’re right,’ Libby said thoughtfully. ‘Nothing lasts forever. Look at Mum…’
‘Exactly. She’ll never stop loving Ronald but time has definitely healed her. And that was losing the love of her lifeandher husband.’
‘Yes, that’s true… God, I’m suddenly terrified.’
‘Well I’m excited for you. What are you going to do? Run downstairs and jump over the bar?’
