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I smiled back. “Yes, I suppose I am. Although, we’re no longer engaged. We’re just friends now.”

“Oh?” Claudia stared at me like I’d grown two heads. “No, no, cara mia. Don’t let him go!”

“Nonna!” admonished Guilia. “She is always meddling. She is right though. You should not give up so easily.”

The dance ended and Levi approached, holding out his hand for Signora Visconti. “Signora, per favore.”

***

The rest of the afternoon wasn’t torture like I’d anticipated. I actually enjoyed it. I let go of my hurt and anger and let myself be charmed by watching Levi with these women. He had them completely wrapped around his little finger, and it was no wonder. Anyone who didn’t know him well would think he was the most easygoing, carefree guy in the world. But I still saw the sadness beneath it all.

I wondered if we’d ever talk about it. About Josh. We never really had. In the days and weeks following his accident, we’d all been in shock, grieving in our own way. Levi had tried to be strong for us all. The last time I saw him at Thanksgiving, though, he was a shell of himself—distant and surly. He’d already been living with a broken heart. Ashleigh had refused his proposal only a month before Josh’s accident. I mistakenly believed that he needed comforting and hadn’t left his side all evening. Then, after dinner, I’d followed him outside and he’d pushed me away, warned me that I’d be better off without him.

He blamed himself for Josh’s accident, and I couldn’t figure out why because he never shared anything with me. Not with anyone. It was a lot to carry, this grief. It ate you up from the inside.

He carried it still; I could tell. And at same point maybe we’d talk about it. Or not. It was silly to think we’d continue to be in each other’s lives longer than this short favor he owed me. We were no longer the same people. Whatever had tied us together before was just a ghost of memory, thin and frayed like an old knot.

I must have been staring because Levi’s eyes met mine and he was walking toward me. “You all right?” he asked as he fisted his water bottle from the table behind me. “You look pensive.”

“Not used to so much dancing.”

“Usually, dancing gets you out of your head. Not into it.” He raised an eyebrow. “It does for me anyway.”

“Well, you’re a good dancer. I still have to think about where to put my feet,” I argued.

“There you go again. Not giving yourself enough credit. Sure you don’t want to give it another try? You used to love dancing.”

I shook my head, and he studied me as he raised the bottle to his mouth. I tried not to notice the way his neck muscles moved as he drank, but old habits die hard. He caught me staring again and held out the bottle. “Want some?”

“No, I do not want your cooties.”

“Cooties?” He laughed. “So, what do you think? Are they ready for their Parisian debut?” He nodded toward Signora Visconti and Giulia who were practicing their waltz steps and laughing in the middle of the room.

“Not bad, but they could use a little more practice before the big day.” Why had I said that? It was the equivalent of suggesting we have a repeat performance of today, which would mean more time in Levi’s company. Was I a total masochist?

He nodded. “Yup, I said as much to Helen. She agrees. So, same time tomorrow.”

“What? I have to work tomorrow!” I protested even as a small thrill ran through me. “You can’t just volunteer my services without asking first.”

“I’m sorry? Did you not sign me up for the role of your lovesick ex-fiancé before consulting me?”

“Lovesick was your choice, may I remind you.” I crossed my arms.

“It was the only way to play it. Any guy would be devastated if you threw him over.”

“Please, just don’t.” I couldn’t handle the false flattery. It might be charming to women, but not to me.

“Anyway, were you even able to bring up your fellowship with Claudia?”

I rolled my eyes. Claudia? He was on a first-name basis with Signora Visconti too? “Well, no, it didn’t seem appropriate. I don’t want her to think that I arranged all this just so I could get an invitation to her event.”

“Isn’t that what you did?”

“Yes, but she can’t know that!”

When I saw Helen Harris approaching, I gestured at Levi to stop talking. “Have you arranged things, Levi?”

“I do believe I have, Helen. Diana will just need to ask for the day off.” Levi shot her a brilliant smile and winked at me.