I take a sip of my coffee –ah-mazing, as expected – and watch my phone screen intently.
‘Come on, Cherie,’ I say quietly.
I’ve signed us up. See you there. *smiley face emoji*
It’s done. But now I have to get Nick on board.Andignore the angel on my shoulder, who is having a conniption fit. Any second now, she’ll send me to my room without supper.
When I get to the hotel, Vittorio’s at his post, only now I’ve changed trajectories, I don’t need his help.
‘Signorina Cole,’ he calls out.
‘Damn it,’ I mutter under my breath.
I switch on a winsome smile and cross the lobby.
‘Buongiorno,’ I say, ‘Come stai?’
Geez – busting out the Italian like I’m bilingual.
He smiles but it instantly vanishes. ‘I have news.’
‘Oh, have flights resumed out of Naples?’ I ask, my stomach clenching.
If flightshaveresumed, there’ll be nothing preventing Nick from joining Pippa in Iceland. Other than whatever’s happening between us.
‘No, not yet. But I have somewhere for Signor James. A room –here.’
‘Here?’
‘Sì– it is a smaller room, but it is good, yes?’
My little angel perks up – this is the perfect solution to the close-proximity issue – but my little devil leaps from one shoulder to the other and whacks my little angel on the head, knocking her out cold.
‘Oh, uh – thank you, Vittorio – that’sgreatbut we’re not gonna need it.’
He’s shocked by that – but no more than I am.What the fuck did I just say?
My little devil does a victory dance like she just scored a touchdown.
‘You’re sure?’ he asks, giving me ample opportunity to walk this back.
‘Totally,’ I say. ‘Anyway, I should…’ I hold up Nick’s coffee. ‘Don’t want it to get cold.’
I spin around before he can ask me again if I really,trulywant to keep sharing the suite with Nick – because I do, even if it is a terrible idea – then I speed across the lobby and head upstairs.
20
NICK
I’m on the balcony in the egg chair, using my toes to rock it back and forth. I may be a giant ball of confusion, but I’m clear about one thing: I’m not in love with Pippa – I may never have been – and I can’t continue this engagement any longer.
She deserves the truth.
Only this isn’t the sort of conversation you have over the phone – unless… I unlock my phone and navigate to our text thread.
Our most recent exchange was last night. In a cruel twist of irony, Pippa’s message arrived right when Delaney and I were kissing under a full moon. I only saw it once I was out here, trying to get comfortable on the stupid sun lounger.
Went to the wonders of Iceland museum today. Very interesting. You would have liked it. What did you get up to? Px