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“So where are we going?” I asked. I had let him take the lead, which he was more than happy to do as he was a local and knew all the best places to go.
“Well...there is a bar at the top of a mountain in the east of the city that has mozzafiato views,” He smirked at me, helping me to remember the new Italian word. He knew I was trying to learn more of his language. It was sweet. “Or, we can go for dinner in the piazza and then walk the river.”
“Hmmm I like the sound of the mozzafiato views,” I smiled as I linked my arm in with his naturally. It felt so easy to be around him. He was like a breath of fresh air. Charming. Sweet. Kind. There were no games here. He was just Luca. Although I couldn't deny that electric chemistry that I always felt when in Giovanni's company was lacking.
“Then that is where we shall go,” he smiled back at me.
It took us over half an hour, a taxi ride and a cable car up to the mountain to get us there, but I loved it. It gave me the chance to see parts of this beautiful city that I hadn’t before. We chatted easily about his job in a clothes shop in town and his family. We also shared some jokes about Gigi’s antics with tourist men and the conversation just naturally flowed.
When we finally arrived at the bar and ordered our drinks, I turned to take in the view over the edge of the hillside. It was stunning. The entire city of Verona was lit up like a Christmas tree, a warm glow of orange streetlights and windows from below and the river ran through the middle. It made you realise how big the city actually was, as when you were in it, it felt so quaint and intimate.
Walking outside of the bar onto the grass, Luca gestured to two large plastic deck chairs that had the perfect view. There were blankets hung over the back of the seat for customers to use if it got too chilly once the warmth of Italian sunshine dissolved for the day.
“So...” he smiled as he took his cocktail up to his lips.
“So...” I flirted back.
“What is your family like?”
I looked down at my hands. This was why I hated meeting new people. Once I had kept them talking about their lives for as long as possible, the questions would always circle back around to me eventually.
“My mum still lives in London. Alone. I have no siblings, so we are not a very big family,” I kept my answer short and to the point.
“And your papi?”
“He died when I was four. Car accident.” I could say that without the sadness overpowering me now. When I was younger, I used to cry every time someone asked about my dad. But the truth is, I barely remember him. I was too young. I have photos and my mum used to tell me stories before she met Neil, but that’s it.
“I am so sorry. I did not think,” he frowned and reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“It’s okay! Honestly, I don’t really remember him. It was so long ago.”
He nodded once and we both looked out over the city again as the awkwardness took hold. This was what I hated. Not the actual revelation of my past, but the pity and sympathy that came with it. And Luca didn’t even know half of it. Once people find out what I have been through, they change. They don’t know what to say or how to act around me. They see me as broken. A victim. And I hate it.
“So have you always wanted to work in fashion?” I asked quickly, trying to get our easy, light atmosphere back.
He chuckled and shook his head. “No. I want to be a doctor. But...money.” He raised his fingers and rubbed them together. I frowned.
“Do you mean it costs too much to train?”
“Yes. We must pay lots for university and my family do not have money. I am saving but it is slow.” I loved listening to his slightly broken English. The Buccini’s were fluent. You could hardly tell they were Italian apart from their thick accent, but Luca hadn’t had the same level of education and had learnt English himself through Giulia. Her mother was English. She was fluent too.
“Ah, I understand. Well, I am sure you will make it happen. You seem like a very focused and ambitious man.” His handsome face scrunched up in confusion but a broad smile appeared on his lips all the same.
“Ambitious? Thank you, I think that is a compliment?”
I nodded with a chuckle. “Yes, it is. It means hardworking.”
“Ah,” he nodded. “Yes, I am. And you? You always wanted to be a nanny?”
I laughed loudly. “No. I just kind of fell into that job. I want to be a teacher.”
“And what is it like to work for the Buccini family? Are they as... scary as they say?”
I smirked and shook my head. Why does everyone keep asking me that? “It is okay. It has its... difficulties.” I giggled at myself as the few cocktails I had drunk mixed with the memory of what happened today came to mind. “But they are not all scary, no.”
He doesn’t look convinced as he rocks his head to the side and shrugs. It was well past midnight, and at least seven cocktails down when the bar called last orders. I had found my new favourite drink, The Godfather, and I groaned into the glass, knowing it would be my last.
“We should go. It is a long walk back to the city,” Luca slurred and held his hand out for me to take as I stood up from the chair a little unsteadily.
