Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“She likes her privacy…” is my half-hearted excuse.
Simone cackles. “Only a truly rich person would say something like that! We all like our privacy, Elle. Some of us just have to find it in a grungy studio flat alongside a smelly roommate.”
Oh god. She’s right. I can’t help but laugh.
“Isabel?” my grandmother calls from behind me. “Invite your friends inside. We’ll make some tea.”
I look back at Simone and Annika, brows arched with hope. “Do you want to come in and stay a few days?”
“Stay a few days?” Simone laughs and steps forward to link her arm with mine. “We’d bloody well like to move in!”
That evening, I lie in my bed with Simone and Annika talking late into the night. We’ve popped popcorn and worked our way through most of the sour candy I picked up at the farmers’ market earlier in the week. The window is open and we can hear the soft hum of the crickets and cicadas carried in with a cool breeze.
“You’re sure you can’t go back with us? Maybe we can convince you before we leave,” Simone asks.
They don’t understand that my mind is already made up. “I promised my parents I’d stay here with Lita through August. I want to make sure she’s okay.”
“I hate this. It won’t feel right to go back without you.”
Annika laughs. “Tell her the truth, Simone! Tell her Felix has already moved into the apartment with you! You two have been inseparable.”
Simone glances over at me and winces. “Yes, well, I didn’t see why he shouldn’t if you weren’t going to be there,” she admits. “Though, of course if you came back, I’d give him the boot!”
I smile. “I don’t care. Really.”
“I know it seems fast.”
“Are you in love?”
Simone frowns at the suggestion. “Maybe? I don’t know. He’s just so bloody hot, and he’s proper good in bed.”
Annika claps her hands over her ears. “I don’t want to hear about my brother in bed!”
“Right. Sorry. I’ll cut off with that. But we’re happy, yeah. We’ve even chatted about staying on after the summer ends. I’ve walked past this trendy hair salon a few times and I might try to see if they’re hiring.”
“Simone. Really?”
She seems embarrassed. “Does it seem daft? To jump in like that?”
I smile wistfully. “No. You should.”
Annika shrugs. “Honestly, yeah. I mean, it’s Felix, so it’s gross on every level, and I think you could do ten times better than him, but he does seem ridiculously into you.”
I laugh. “And you, Annika?”
“What?” She reaches into the bag of candy, picking out the one that tastes like sour cherry. “Will I stay after the summer?” When I nod, she sighs and lies back so she can stare up at the ceiling. “Honestly, everything that happened with Ethan made me want to book a ticket home right away, but I’m glad I stayed. I’ll finish the summer at Aura, but then I’m out of there. I miss home. I miss my friends. I also miss my mom’s cooking. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried her fiskefrikadeller.”
Simone snorts. “I’ll take your word for it.”
I know the conversation is about to loop back to me. They’ll ask about my plans after August and I don’t want to discuss that, so I scoop up the bag of candy and toss it onto my bedside table with a loud bang. “God, I’m exhausted. Aren’t you guys? Should we call it a night?”
“You think I’m leaving this heavenly bed?” Simone groans and rolls over, taking most of the blankets with her. “Shove over.”
Cristiano has called every day since I left Ibiza. Every day, I realize, at ten AM on the dot. He’s persistent, and the day after Annika and Simone arrive, I finally answer with a simple “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asks, his voice immediately affecting me like a soothing balm. I can hear the relief in his question. I’m sorry I didn’t have the courage to pick up sooner. I didn’t want him worrying about me.
I walk away from the house, out into the garden that faces a faraway lavender field.
“For sending Annika and Simone. You didn’t have to go through the trouble, and it’s been so nice to have them here.”
“Of course, nena. How is Caterina? And your family?”
“Lita is getting stronger by the day. It was hard to see her in the hospital, but now that she’s home and the swelling has gone down, she seems mostly like her old self to me. I’m sorry I haven’t updated you sooner. I know I should have answered your calls…”
“Caterina called me a couple of days ago.”
“Did she?”
“It’s how I knew where to send Annika and Simone. They’ve been anxious to go see you.”
And you?
Have you been anxious?
“What did she tell you?”
“We talked about her recovery. Your parents… You.”
Anxiety creeps up my chest. “I’m sure she told you too much…”