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I went through that after my father died and you left. It was a double whammy.
You re in the right place, you know. Rome works wonders on the soul.
I sat quietly and retreated to my thoughts. Devin David sat patiently, also
quiet. Then I snapped out of it.
How long are you here for? I asked.
As long as I need to be. How bout you?
For the rest of this week. It s spring break back home.
Well then, looks like we have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
We?
I m gonna show you everything you need to see, take you everywhere you need
to go, and feed you everything you need to taste.
You re offering me your services again?
Geez, was I flirting with him?
He grinned and nodded. You bet.
I have nothing to offer in exchange this time.
Don t be too sure about that. He stood up. So, what time shall I pick you up
tomorrow?
I rarely get up before ten unless I have to.
He dropped his jaw. Are you kidding me? Oye, Andrea! he said, gesturing his
hand demonstratively. So much wasted time! No more. Be ready to leave at seven-
thirty. I looked at him in protest you d think he asked me to be up at three a.m. I m
telling the desk to give you a wake-up call at six, he said. I didn t even attempt to argue
this. Wear sneakers, he added.
That s all I brought.
Well, that s not all you re taking home. I ll be knocking at your door with
biscotti and espresso tomorrow morning. Buona sera. Then he kissed me on both cheeks.
Sleep well.
Thanks, David. I remembered.
After he left, I leaned back on the bed, looking at Sam s picture. I suddenly felt
like he had eavesdropped and was not happy.
I fell asleep in my clothes, and was jarred awake the following morning by the
ring of the telephone at six a.m. For once, time had flown in a flurry.
Chapter Seventeen
Day three in Italy
FOR THE FIRST TIME, I SAW MYSELF IN THE MIRROR and noticed how
ridiculous I looked in Sam s clothes. Why no one had ever said anything, I don t know.
Then again, I don t know how receptive I would ve been if they had. Nevertheless, I
became self-conscious of both my body and my clothes in anticipation of David s arrival.
(I had been practicing calling him David in my mind.) But I hadn t packed anything even
remotely flattering. Moreover, since I d gained weight, I didn t own anything remotely
flattering.
Indeed, at seven-thirty on the dot, David knocked on my door, and I opened it to
find him holding a tray of espresso and biscotti. I was dressed in the hoody and jeans, and
was putting my makeup on when he showed up. I couldn t even remember the last time I
wore makeup. He watched me get ready. Then he went through my drawers and armoire.
What are you doing? I asked, offended.
Looking to see what you brought.
I packed comfortably.
Yeah, I can see that are these all Sam s clothes?
The shirts and sweaters are, yeah. The t-shirts and jeans and underwear are
mine.
Hm. At least you re not wearing his boxers.
I didn t know whether he was kidding. He opened another drawer.
What s with the cotton fruit-of-the-looms? he asked, holding one of my panties
up and letting it dangle.
My friend Miranda told me to buy cheap underwear and throw them away.
He shot me a glance of absurdity.
I didn t come here to hook up with anyone, Devin David, I corrected myself
before he could. What s the point of wearing sexy underwear that s just going to stink
up my suitcase for the rest of the week?
That s not the point, Andi.
What is the point?
He shook my underwear. The point is that these panties say, I m one step away
from wearing diapers because I m just too lazy to go to the bathroom. They say, I don t
have a sexy bone in my body. They say, I give up. Good Lord, didn t I teach you
anything?
Don t start in on me already.
You could have at least gotten the black bikinis. What s with the white briefs?
Are you like, twelve, or something? You re in Italy, for crying out loud!
I don t have a sexy bone in my body.
Do too.
I opened my mouth and stood there for about ten seconds, looking like I d just
been hit with a stun gun.
Cat got your tongue? he asked.
I instantly time-transported back to Devin s Manhattan loft, when he would stand
in front of me with his shirt off and give me a look that would practically bore a hole into
me.
Let s see how sexy you feel after your husband gets plowed by a drunk driver, I
finally blurted.
I m not that kind of guy, he said, with a guffaw.
You think this is funny?
I think you need to start wearing some sexy underwear.
I think you need to go to hell, I said, annoyed by his nonchalance.
I ll get there soon enough are you almost ready or what?
If you would stop ransacking my personal belongings and lecturing me on my
underwear for one damn minute, I could finish getting ready.
He put the panties away, closed the drawer, and sat on the bed, grinning from ear
to ear. This is gonna be fun, he said. Ten minutes later, I grabbed my backpack, water
bottle, and two of the biscotti.
Let s go, Perillo, I said.
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