Read Online Anywhere by J. Meyers - Free Book Online Page A

sentence.
    But still, I’ve never been good with upsetting people.
    And people were Very Upset with me now. So it’s not like I was unaware of the Heavy Disapproval aimed at me from the States. I could feel it even an ocean away.
    “You okay?” Asher said, and I realized I hadn’t said much since we’d left the restaurant and headed toward the grand canal.
    “Yeah,” I said. “Just thinking.” He looked at me expectantly. “Today was the wedding day.”
    “Oh.” He nodded, and we walked a little ways in silence. “Are you regretting this? Coming here?”
    “What? NO.” I shook my head. “God no. I’m grateful to be here. But still I feel bad about the whole situation.”
    “That’s understandable. But if you’re not wishing you’d gone through with it, then you made the right decision. That’s what really matters.”
    I was quiet for a moment again, thinking. Then I said, “What’s your ex’s name? Did you want to marry her?”
    “Tamara. And I don’t know. I thought I did before. But things change, you know?” He was looking right at me. Yes, I did know. “I guess I’ve got to figure that out,” he said.
    We’d made it to the grand canal as light was fading from the cloud-filled sky, and walked the steep steps up to the peak of the Rialto Bridge. When we got to the top, under the huge rounded stone arch, we stood at the railing and looked out.
    The water sparkled with lights along both sides of the canal as people strolled on the sidewalks or sat in crowded restaurants. A vaporetto full of people, lit from within like a candle floating on water, slipped underneath us. This place was laced with magic at night.
    “I wouldn’t be anywhere but here at this moment,” I said, and I could feel Asher turn to look at me though I kept gazing out over the water.
    “Same here,” he said quietly. I glanced up at his face and we just stared at each other for a long moment. Butterflies started up in my stomach, and I was very aware of every breath we took, the air that we were sharing.
    I looked away first, trying to stop the dancing of my heart and regain my calm—which I wasn’t sure was possible with him standing so close and looking at me like that. I couldn’t do this with him. It wasn’t right—not from my end or his, with a hopeful ex waiting for him.
    “Gelato?” I said, my voice sounding breathy, which made me want to cringe. I cleared my throat and pointed to the right bank. “There’s a gelato shop down there. And we do have a Quest.”
    “That we do. Lead the way,” Asher said and waved me forward.
    There were so many people in line that we had to wait, but I took that as a good sign—especially since most of them looked like locals.
    “Oh. My. God.” Asher’s eyes were closed like he was experiencing nirvana, and I had to laugh.
    “I know,” I said. It was even better than at Trevi Fountain.
    “You have got to try the chocolate,” he said and held his cone out to me. I took a bite and moaned—it was chocolate PERFECTION. “Right?” he said.
    I held my lemon and coconut out to him, and he held my gaze—his eyes glinting dark blue in the shine of the street lamp—as he took a bite. I watched his mouth, wanting to catch the drip of gelato on his lips.
    I didn’t.
    But, oh my god, I wanted to. And, oh my god, that scared me.
    “Wow, yours is even better than mine,” he said, licking his lips—oh dear god. “Wanna trade?” He had a devilish grin on his face.
    “No way,” I said, and he laughed, bumping me with his shoulder.
    “NOW,” he said between bites, “I think we can safely say we’ve completed the Gelato Quest.”
    “Only with the caveat that we get to keep having gelato every day.”
    “Well, THAT goes without saying.”
    “I’m glad we’re in agreement on this. Otherwise I’d have to find someone else to travel with.” Ha. Like I would have. I could still feel the effects of his grin.
    Asher laughed.
    And that’s when we felt the first drops.