“No, we do not,” he laughed as he opened the passenger door for her. “Let’s just go.” He gestured towards the seat.
They arrived at the restaurant and were seated at a table next to the windows overlooking a canal. They ordered coffee and were handed menus.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” Amanda said as she noted the prices on the menu.
He reached over the table and took her hand in his. “Sweetheart, this is our last meal in Italy. Order whatever you want.”
Her eyes welled up and she quickly looked away.
“I’m sorry,” he said, not realizing it would make her emotional.
“It’s fine. I think I probably just have low blood sugar,” she said, trying to make light of it.
“Then perhaps you’ll want the French toast?” he joked.
She chuckled. “I love French toast.”
“Many of the reviews mentioned them.”
“Yeah?” She looked through the menu to find where it was listed. “Wow that does sound good.”
He let her continue looking over the menu while he decided on his order. When the waitress came, Amanda ordered the French toast and Viktor ended up ordering the same.
“I don’t want to say goodbye at the airport,” Amanda said after the waitress left.
“Do you want to say goodbye at all?”
“Yes. Just someplace a little more private.”
“Okay.”
She looked so sad, Viktor wished he could give her a hug. He didn’t want to make her cry by having a serious conversation with her in the restaurant so he decided to try and distract her by asking her questions about her job. It worked and for the remainder of their time having breakfast she simply rattled on about her work, answering all the questions Viktor could think to ask.
After breakfast, Viktor drove them to a park that was on the way to the airport. He shut the car off and turned to her.
“Do you want to talk here or do you want to walk around?”
Before she could even answer, she started crying. He went around the car to her side, opened her door and pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and cried into his chest as he stroked her hair and tried to reassure her that everything was going to be alright.
“You change your mind about me moving to Boston?” he asked.
She chuckled through her tears. “No.”
“You sure?” he asked dramatically for added comic effect.
She laughed and looked up at him. “Stop it.”
Gazing softly at her with a gentle smile, he brushed away a rebellious tear that trickled down her cheek and then tenderly caressed her face. “I’m very glad we met.”
“Me too.”
“I would very much like to kiss you,” he admitted.
“I would very much like you to kiss me.”
Not needing to be told twice he gently held her face as he touched his lips to hers. She quickly reciprocated and they both soon lost themselves in an emotional display of affection. It didn’t even occur to Amanda that she was doing exactly what she detested seeing others doing.
Knowing he needed to come back down to earth, Viktor broke off the kiss and buried his face in her neck as he squeezed her tight. Neither wanted to let go but out of necessity, they did. Viktor took a step back with his arms still around her.
“I can stay for a week in Boston,” he said.
“That long?”
He nodded. “Would you come out to California?”
“Yes. I don’t know when though. I don’t really have any money or vacation time left.”
“I’ll pay for your flight and hotel.”
“No. I don’t want you to pay for me.”
He held her face in his hands and looked her in the eyes. “I will pay for your flight and hotel,” he repeated slowly and forcefully.
She felt so desperate to see him again she lost the will to fight him on it. “Okay.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. I can’t bear to be without you either.”
She let out a light laugh. “How did we get in this mess?”
“Because you’re just too damn precious.”
She laughed again. “You’re silly.”
He pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly for as long as time allowed. Their next stop was the airport and they were both dreading it. Soon, though, they had no choice but to continue on their way. They were both quiet and held hands as the car moved ever closer toward Amanda’s departure. Viktor couldn’t help but think of how the next 24 hours without her in Italy would be torture and regretted not booking his departure the same day.
Amanda tried to hold herself together as they arrived at the drop off point. Viktor retrieved her luggage from the trunk and met her on the sidewalk. She was wiping tears but trying to smile.
“It will not be more than two weeks,” he said, trying to comfort her.
She took a deep breath and nodded confidently. “It’ll be a breeze.”
He grinned and pulled her towards him. “You’re a terrible liar.”
A nervous laugh escaped her lips. She looked up into his bright blue eyes and smiled through her tears. He leaned forward and gently kissed her lips.
“Don’t be sad,” he said. “Start preparing for my visit. You have a lot of planning to do.”
“Planning?”
“Yeah, you have to plan for me to meet your mother, your friends … clean your dishes.”
She giggled. “My dishes?”
“Yeah, I haven’t seen you clean a single thing this whole week.”
She knew he was being silly just to make her laugh but still it worked. She was smiling for real and it helped lift her spirits and refocus her on something happier and more productive.
“Okay. You’re right. I will have to start planning.”
“Good.” He gently caressed her cheek. “Call me when you land.”
“I will.”
He kissed her again and then pulled away. “Time to go.”
She nodded but couldn’t speak. She picked up her bag and walked toward the entrance. She looked back one last time and they exchanged smiles before she disappeared behind the doors.
Viktor called his assistant as he left the airport to try and distract himself with work so that
