He ignores this. ‘Plus, they really want to meet you.’ It’s not working, and he purses his lips before changing tactic. ‘You do this for me, and we can go to Verona.’
I sit up straighter, watching him dangle the perfect bait.
Given the three-hour train ride and the fact we were in Italy, I downloadedLetters to Julietto watch on the way here. After crying my way through it, I took myself on a deep dive and discovered it’s real – you can actually respond to theletters people write to Juliet in Verona. Upon finding this out I immediately woke Noah and demanded we travel to Verona next, but he was reluctant. We’ve already gone past it and he didn’t want us to go back on ourselves. However, I know him better than that.
‘You would have given in anyway,’ I say, calling his bluff.
He smirks. ‘Yes, but this way it’s tit for tat. Way more owed.’
I lean forward, bartering hat on. ‘And you’ll join in and write a letter too?’
His face scrunches up. ‘I’m not a writer.’
‘But it will befun! I mean – we actually get to volunteer andbeJuliet! How cool is that?’
He smiles fondly. ‘You’re cute when you nerd out about writing.’
The smile, like butter, stops my heart in its tracks. I feel sweat break out on my forehead. ‘Noah...’
‘I know, rules one and seven, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... You gonna help me or not?’
He rolls his eyes.
I look down and sigh, casting the flutters in my stomach away. Healwayscalls me cute. It’s friendly. It. Means. Nothing.
‘What time do I need to be ready for?’ I ask begrudgingly.
He leaps from his seat. ‘I’ll get all the deets from Jake. Love you.’
He runs over to me and kisses my cheek, before grabbing his laptop and heading to his room.
I mutter in response, ‘Love you too.’
He’s already out of earshot, which is definitely for the best. We may both say the words, but only one of us says them in a way that could harm our friendship.
. . .a question
Noah’s friend decided he was already ‘done with Milan’ so invited us on a day trip to Como instead. I wasn’t mad about it; it was on my list to check out. ButIwouldn’t have planned for the day to start at 8 a.m. I drag myself out of bed with a steely resolve, powered only by the fact that Noahneedsme. By the time I’m dressed and verbal, Noah’s ready to go, a power bar in his hand with my name on it. He buys me a coffee on the walk and thanks me profusely yet again, stopping only when we are face to face with his friends.
‘Scholly!’ a man calls out as he strides over to Noah, coming in for a hug and a pretty solid thud on the back. ‘How’s it been slumming it across greater Europe? You look rested.’
‘Hardly,’ Noah says as they laugh. ‘Where’s Ally?’
A gorgeous redheaded woman appears behind him, teetering in wedge sandals, and immediately throws her arms around me. The surprise is enough to nearly knock me clean off my feet. I feel Noah’s hand fly to the small of my back, subtly anchoring me in place.
‘Amorie, it’s so nice to meet you! Although I have to say, I feel like I already know you. How is it going? How’ve your travels been? How are you finding Milan? Sorry, I’m chatty!’ She pauses for breath and a small self-aware giggle.
‘Ally’s your biggest fan,’ Noah’s friend adds, extending a hand. ‘I’m Jake, by the way. Me and Scholly go way back.’
He shakes my hand vigorously.
‘Nice to meet you both,’ I say. ‘Scholly?’
Noah grunts. ‘Forget about it. Stupid nickname. There’s a train in fifteen, so we could probably get snacks first.’
Jake stifles a laugh. ‘Train? You’re so cute. I booked a driver,’ he says brassily.
I watch as Noah’s eyes narrow. ‘You didn’t say anything about a driver.’
