hair, olive skin and big brown eyes. Ava couldn’t
help but envy her friend’s exotic look. Of course, Ava was
beautiful too with her all American good looks: tall and curvy,
with long blonde hair, cornflower blue eyes, and a smattering of
freckles. Even fashionably dressed in a bold print skirt, with a
bolder jacket-turned-shirt, there was no mistaking that she was
American.
Just as Michelle led Ava towards the bull
mosaic on the ground, a well-dressed man approached them.
“Good afternoon ladies,” he said kindly in a
cultured Italian accent.
Ava eyed him warily but Michelle smiled and
said hello in Italian. The man raised his eyebrows and paused, but
then spoke to Michelle in rapid Italian. Ava rolled her eyes as
they spoke and Michelle grinned as she turned towards Ava.
“So there is a brand new restaurant that is
opening outside of the city and they are trying to bring in new
customers. We can go tonight for half price and free drinks!”
“I don’t know, Michelle, it seems kind of
sketchy,” Ava whispered, her brow furrowing with concern.
Michelle smiled at the handsome stranger.
“Look, this guy seems completely legit. I know all about the weird
scams that they try to pull and this doesn’t seem like one.” She
fingered the glossy business card that had the restaurant’s name
and emblem on it. “Come on! I’m so over these pricey city
restaurant meals, aren’t you? Let’s go check out some authentic
Northern Italian food outside the city!”
Ava bit her lip with nerves, she couldn’t
help shake the bad feeling she had, but Michelle was the expert not
her. “How do we get to this so-called amazing restaurant?”
Michelle smiled. “This guy offered to drive
us for twenty Euros.”
“Drive us?” Ava exclaimed, “No way, Michelle!
I mean, if we want to take a cab or something that is fine, but I’m
not letting some stranger drive us.” She fiddled with her
engagement ring, wondering what her fiancé, Drew, would say if he
knew that Michelle wanted them to have some stranger drive them all
over northern Italy.
“Please,” Michelle pleaded in a whisper.
“This guy is so sexy and I could use a hot Italian fling before our
work takes over.”
Ava shook her head stubbornly.
“Please,” she whined. “It’s not fair that
you've already snagged the hottest guy in New York. I need a little
romance luck.”
Ava winced as she thought of the ugly breakup
Michelle had gone through a few months earlier. Michelle thought
she had found The One, only to come home to find “The One” banging
his secretary in he and Michelle’s king-size bed. Apparently,
Michelle wasn’t “The One” for him, and neither was his secretary,
legal assistant, colleague and fitness coach, all of whom Michelle
learned he was sleeping with while Michelle was putting in long
hours for her new business.
“Fine. Okay,” she agreed, rolling her eyes
with exasperation.
“Yes!” Michelle squealed, before quickly
speaking in Italian to the man. The man smiled and motioned for the
women to follow him.
“Let’s go,” Michelle said, pulling Ava along.
They worked their way out of the square to where a sleek black car
sat double-parked. The man smiled at the women, and chivalrously
opened the back door before bowing slightly. Michelle giggled and
climbed in but Ava hesitated outside of the door. She hadn’t even
texted Drew to tell him her plans.
“Ava,” Michelle groaned and Ava quickly
climbed in behind her. A divider was up for privacy and Ava felt
relieved.
The man pulled out into traffic and Ava
watched as the city began to pass outside their windows. She
quickly pulled out her phone and sent Drew a quick text. It was
eleven in the morning at home, and he would be at work.
Michelle is dragging me to a new restaurant
outside of Milan. Should be interesting. I’ll call you later.
Drew responded almost instantly.
Okay. Be safe. Let me know once you make it
back to your hotel tonight. Love you.
Ava smiled
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