Her Best Friend's Brother (13 page)

The next day Libby slept in; she hadn’t gotten into bed until almost sunrise after al. Just before lunch time, Libby’s door buzzed. “Betta, may I come up?” Gio’s rich voice sounded through the intercom.

Glancing around her smal room, Libby took in the mess. A pile of discarded clothing choices was stil on the floor in front of her closet left from the dressing for the previous night. Her bed was stil unmade, because of course she had only just climbed out of it. Gio would not be impressed, Libby. She scolded herself.

“I wil come down.” She answered. As quickly as she could move Libby puled on fresh clothes and brushed her hair back into a ponytail. No time for makeup Libby settled for lip gloss applied in the elevator. Outside she found Gio leaned against motor bike parked at the curb.

“Your chariot.” Gio stepped towards her gesturing behind him to the bike.

“You have a motor bike!”

“It is rented, actualy. But the result is the same. Come for a ride with me.”

And she did. They toured al the major sites.

Most of which she had already seen, but she appreciated them differently in Gio’s company. Their tour ended at the Trevi Fountain. Gio’s large frame had no trouble parting through the tourists as he brought Libby close to the famous landmark.

“They say if you throw a coin into the fountain, you are sure to return to Rome one day.” Gio reached into his pocket and offered her a handful of coins. Libby knew the legend and she had in fact tossed a euro into the fountain her first week in Italy. Unwiling to break the magic of the afternoon with that confession-- Libby chose a coin from Gio’s palm, tossed it high into the air, and watched it splash into the water. Without tearing his eyes from Libby’s face Gio dropped the rest of the coins into the fountain. “So that you might return many times, Mia Betta.” He said when she raised her eyebrows at him.

Dear Mel,

I met someone! His name is Gio, and he incredible.

He took me for a motor bike ride last week, and then he
cooked me dinner a few nights ago. Next weekend he
wants to take me up the Almalfi coast for a picnic on
the beach at Positano.

Love, Libby

Ps: you would approve of his accent

Dear Libby,

Details!

Love, Mel

***

I hope things are well—you haven’t written in
awhile. I guess you are busy. I have to admit the time
has passed more quickly than I thought it would. I can’t
wait to see you this summer.

-t-

Sorry I have been busy. The thing is, I won’t be
home this summer after all. I was accepted into a
certificate program at the Culinary Institute. I am
going to finish my degree at
the American University of Rome
this fall, and then I will spend an eighteen week
term full time at the culinary institute. I could hardly
believe my mother agreed to it, but it is an incredible
opportunity.

I can’t wait for the first Raines book. I have all my
friends pre-ordering copies. You’ll be releasing in
Europe before you know it!

-l-

That’s great Lib. I am happy for you.

-t-

Dear Libby,

We are getting married! I hope I looked surprised
when John asked, but to be honest I found the ring
weeks ago. We are planning for June—you’ll be home
by then right? We have to have time for your maid-of-honor dress fittings.

Love, the future Mrs. Jonathan Evans

Dear Mel,

Congrats! Of course I’ll be home. I should be back
by the end of April which leaves me plenty of time to
plan a bachelorette party. I am so happy for you. John
too.

Love, Libby

Can you believe it about Mel? I guess John has
grown on me by now. But she seems too young to get
married. Wow.

I left the Examiner. I am renting an office in
Lindstown with an apartment above it. I have decided
to start my own paper. What do you think?

-t-

That’s awesome Tony! I want you to send me every
issue!

-l-

Libby decided not to mention that Mel was an adult. It was probably time to let that old argument die.

I can hardly believe I am finished. The last few
months were killer, but totally worth it. Why didn’t you
tell me that graduating college was such an affirming
experience?

It was sad not to have Mel and John here. But, my
mom and Stuart are staying in Rome for a second
honeymoon and it has been good to see them. I know
you’re busy, but I wish you could have been here.

-l-

Chapter Thirteen
Affirming? Tony didn’t remember his graduation feeling quite so profound. But he supposed it might be a girl thing. He probably could have gone, but he didn’t think he could face Libby’s Italian boyfriend. Anyway she would be home in a few months. Mel seemed sure that Libby was serious about this guy. But Libby was stil planning on coming home, so that was as good as a green light for Tony. He knew he had handled her news badly before she left, but now he had had time to think about it and Libby had been right. She needed to go to Italy, and after al this time waiting at extra 20 months didn’t seem like such a hardship. Moving on hadn’t worked. Libby was burned so clearly into his brain that eventualy Tony had given up taking other girls out.

Mel had been very clear in her verbal abuse of him when Libby had left for Italy. Apparently Libby deserved better than a few emails and phone cals. Apparently he had deprived Libby of ‘flowers, and nights out, and al the things real couples did.’ She was right, Libby did deserve those things. So when she came home Tony would be ready. He had a new business, and he was house hunting now that the paper was supporting itself. He was a multi-published author. Which wasn’t a lawyer or an Italian chef but it certainly seemed to impress Libby. He would take her on real dates, and bring her flowers, and make her fal in love with him. This was clearly Tony’s only option, since he was more certain now than ever that Libby was the only one for him.

Gio and Libby were sharing a late dinner at his bistro on Libby’s last free day before her program at the culinary institute started. They had spent most of their free time together over the last few months. At first Gio had impressed Libby by not pressing her physicaly—sharing a few passionate kisses here and there but nothing more.

Now she was getting impatient.

“Thank you for celebrating so much with me this week.” Libby moved closer to him in the booth they shared.

“Prego, Mia Betta” Gio kissed her. There wasn’t the al consuming heat she had felt in Tony’s arms. But there was warmth, a slow comfortable burn.

“Maybe we could keep celebrating?” Libby winced at her own words – they were so corny!

“Aahh, Betta. I think that would be inadvisable.” Gio tucked her under his arm.

“Am I a bad kisser?” Libby was shocked into asking a question that had been plaguing her for years. And she was, for once, relieved when Gio burst into laughter.

“Oh Mia Risata!” Gio covered her mouth with a slow deliberate kiss. “You are quite skiled, I think.”

“Then I must smel bad?” Libby covered her embarrassment with a joke.

“I am afraid there is someone else in your heart, no?”

“No.” Libby wanted to be with Gio, she was sure of it.

“You wil be leaving in four months. I do not wish to make love to you knowing you are leaving.”

“Oh.” He had a point. She was leaving. And as much as she loved Rome she knew she didn’t want to live here permanently. She missed her friends and her family desperately.

“I have never been to America. Perhaps when you are finished your course and you have returned home—

perhaps I could visit you? You can take me for a motor bike tour! And then we shal see, Betta.” Libby nodded.

Chapter Fourteen

Could America have a scent? Libby was sure she smeled ‘home’ when she stepped off the airplane. Mel and John were waiting for her, and she ran into a squealing jumping hug with her best friend. It was good to be home.

“Tel me you brought gifts!” Mel joked as she linked arms with Libby and left John to grab her bags. The three of them drove back to Lindstown in a blur of conversation bouncing so quickly between Italy and Wedding plans that John wisely kept to himself.

Libby felt wonderful being home. She was even glad to see her postage stamp bedroom in Stuart’s house.

It was impossible for Libby to think of his townhouse as her home. She liked Stuart and she was glad he made her mom so happy, but it wasn’t home. Of course she was only going to stay their temporarily. She had a plan.

She was going to operate a catering/made to order business out of her mother’s kitchen. First order: Mel’s wedding cake. The idea was to build up a name, and save some money until she qualified for a business loan to open her own place. Stuart’s house would do until she had at least found a location, because she wasn’t quite sure that Lindstown could accommodate two bakery cafes. Libby was resigned to relocating to another town.

On her second day home, after eating a slightly awkward but mostly enjoyable breakfast with Stuart (her mother having already for work), Libby headed out the door for a run. She would have to make time to go and renew the membership at the Y, but in the mean time she didn’t want to get out of shape. Walking out the door, Libby had just begun her stretches when she looked up to see Tony striding towards her.

Memories did not to justice to those beautiful legs.

Nerves engulfed Tony, momentarily leaving him frozen on the sidewalk.

“Hi!” Libby bounded over to him for a hug.

Stil immobilized Tony barely managed to return her hug before she puled away. “Hi.” Smooth, Marchetti.

Tony chided himself. “Got a minute?”

“Can you keep up?” Libby smirked at him playfuly.

He wasn’t dressed for a run, but he keenly remembered his last disgraceful attempt of keeping up with Libby, and he had been training, so he agreed. They kept their pace slow and steady which Tony was grateful for in light of his heavy cargo shorts. “So are you settling back in?”

“Yeah al 24 hours I’ve been home.”

Tony winced a little. He had meant to give her more time. It was probably going to be hard for her to readjust. And then there was the matter of her needing to get over the Italian boyfriend. Tony hadn’t been able to help himself; a need to see her had overwhelmed him. Wel seeing didn’t satisfy al his needs, but it would do for now.

“Good. I know you are probably busy with umm settling in, but I thought you might like to go to the wine festival with me on Saturday?”

“The wine festival? You don’t strike me as a wine guy.”

“Wel I’m not.” Damn it, this was crumbling fast.

Mel had said Libby was realy into wine these days. “But I am covering it for paper, and Mel says you know a lot about wine so….”

“Yeah okay. Sounds fun.” Libby was panting a little. Tony felt a surge of pride that he hadn’t been winded yet.

“Great. I’l pick you at 4:00?”

“How about I meet you at your office? I’d love to see it. I was hoping to talk with you anyway, about some ad space.”

“Yeah sure that’s fine. Come a little early we can get you set up with whatever you need.” Tony would have rather picked her up. But he could adjust.

They had circled the block several times by now, and Tony slowed to a walk.

“Had enough?” Libby taunted lightly as she jogged in place.

“Nah. I just have to get going. I am going to have to go back home and change now before I get to the office.”

Libby’s face dropped in remorse. “I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking! You should have just said!”

“Calm down Lib. I’m the boss, I can be late if I want to… and today I wanted to. I’l see you okay?”

“Okay.”

Tony turned and walked to his car. Waving again out the window Tony drove away.

Saturday came quickly for Libby. She had spent the early part of the week refining her business plan, and working out what sort of and what size ad she would want to run in the paper. She had a menu she wanted to include in the Sunday inserts, but she thought a daily ad would be beneficial too until she got a name built up. Tony’s paper had become very popular and most of the town seemed to subscribe to The Lindstown Daily Press.

Libby walked into Tony’s office a little after 3:00.

“You’re early.” Tony popped his head out of a back office. “Just let me change my clothes.” Tony disappeared back behind the door, and Libby concentrated on not thinking about him changing clothes.

The outer office was pretty smal, but Libby supposed that a newspaper wasn’t the sort of place that received a lot of foot traffic so that probably wasn’t a problem. Across one wal there were a few coin operated newspaper dispensers, and what looked to be a photo printing kiosk. Looking to her left there was a reception desk, and behind that there were two smaler desks. One long wal was decorated with a mural that depicted an old fashioned busy news room. It was comic book style with curved lines indicating ringing phones, faceless reporters in suits and hats scurrying about, and a shouting red faced man that Libby suspected was supposed to be Tony. It was positively charming, and exactly something Libby would expect from Tony.

“I like it too.” Libby whirled around to face Tony.

He had changed into a green colared shirt. Green was He had changed into a green colared shirt. Green was most definitely Tony’s color. “A couple of students from the high school did it for their senior project. Then we ran a story about the importance of arts in school curriculums.” Tony guided her back towards his office. “The best part?