“How are you?” I ask shakily, avoiding whatever just happened.
“I’m slightly tired, very stressed,” he admits, then pauses. “But mostly proud of you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, looking at the notes I read. “What’s the occasion?”
“I don’t need an occasion to make you feel special,” he says simply, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Sometimes you forget how much you are, T, and I won’t ever let you forget again.”
I press my lips together, trying to answer, but my throat is too tight.
My heart is too full.
He chuckles softly at the silence. “Eat something, then sleep. Call me when you wake up, okay?”
I have no idea what just happened, and that’s an understatement.
Luca, your best friend, just wrote you thousands of notes because he noticed my insecurity and made sureit wass a surprise.
Nope, still don’t understand.
“I miss you, Luca,” I whisper.
“I miss you too, Tilly.”
“Luca?” I ask quickly, before he can hang up.
“Yeah?”
“How long did it take you? To put up all of these?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Doesn’t matter. You deserve every second.”
Chapter 11
Luca
“Hi, Nonna.” I greet my grandmother after she answers three calls in.
“Ciao, Luca. How are you?” Her accent wraps around the words, reminding me of core memories.
“I’m feeling ok. I just wanted to call you because it's been ages since we talked.” I force a smile into my voice.
“Well, that’s not my fault, is it?” Her sarcasm makes me chuckle.
I love my Italian grandmother more than I can put into words.
She’s funny, and I wouldn’t be me without her.
Growing up, any visit from her was the best time ever. She has this way of turning ordinary moments into little adventures, leaving the rest of the world behind.
I remember one particular visit better than the other ones.
It was winter, and the mountains were heavy with snow.
I grew up basically walking through the mountains to get to school.
One morning, she woke us at four a.m., before the sun dared to rise. My siblings and I groaned, but she laughed and shoved us out the door. My parents had no idea.
That was always part of the thrill.
