Chapter 11
Eleven
WE GOT THE BUS to Gianicolo Park. I sat on a wooden bench and gazed out at the white busts of patriots that lined the grass.
I was alone, blissfully so. Stefano had wandered off in a huff to find snacks.
That morning we’d done a guided tour of the Colosseum.
Stefano had spent the first few minutes of it attempting to lead me into dark corners away from the crowd.
But, when a large Spanish-speaking group got between the two of us, I managed to peel off and steal the rest of the hour for myself.
I made my way to the highest walkways of the amphitheatre and gazed out over the crumbled grandeur of the Forum.
I stood there, grazing my hand along the ancient stone walls, feeling the baked warmth of the city beneath my fingers.
I tilted my head back and stared up through the trees.
A pigeon landed by my feet. I scuffed the dust with the toe of my sandal and it waddled away.
Park-goers drifted past me: an impossibly beautiful Roman couple, eyes locked and limbs tangled; a harried au pair chasing two infants as they toddled towards the road; a gaggle of American teenagers, hormonal, horny and het up on the promise of who they might be outside school.
And then another figure, so familiar, so like V in her manner that I smiled to myself at the comparison.
But it wasn’t V. Victoria was in the States, a whole world away from me.
The stranger caught my eye and grinned. She began walking towards me.
I turned and looked over my shoulder, thinking she must’ve recognized someone nearby, or else confused me for a friend.
I smiled hesitantly, trying to shield the woman from the embarrassment of her mistake.
As she came closer, I held my arm up to block out the sun and saw, with a jolt, that it was me who was mistaken.
‘Ciao, bella,’ she said, waggling her fingers as she drew nearer.
It was her. Undoubtedly, unbelievably, her.
‘V—’ I stood up. ‘How did you – what did you—’
She was wearing a cream linen suit and a pair of tortoiseshell Gucci sunglasses which covered half her face. She came closer and pulled me, still stunned, into her arms. ‘Hello, sweetie.’
‘I just can’t – I mean, I can’t believe you’re here,’ I gabbled, gripping her tightly, only then realizing just how much I’d missed her. Her hair smelled citrussy, herbal; it was still damp from the shower. ‘What happened to your East Coast road trip?’
‘Ugh, I got sick of my family, the States, everything. I just had to get away.’ She released me and held my elbows. ‘And then I’ve been texting Jolly, who mentioned you were here, and I had the time to spare, so . . .’ She shrugged. ‘Voilà! I arrived yesterday. I figured, what’s a night or two?’
I thought back to that morning, sitting in the grimy metro station toilet cubicle and messaging Jolly back and forth, telling him about our plans for the day.
Just then, Stefano came around the corner, holding two teetering swirls of pistachio ice cream. ‘Victoria?’ he said uncertainly. ‘What the fuck – no way, man, is that really you?’
He handed me the cone. Victoria flicked the curled tip and sucked her finger. ‘It’s really me.’
WE GOT A TAXI. Victoria insisted on treating us to lunch at a darling little place she knew not far from the Spanish Steps.
Soon three steaming plates of cacio e pepe were placed in front of us, along with a slim carafe of pinot noir.
I glanced sideways at Stefano, trying to discern his mood.
At first, he’d seemed pissed off at Victoria barrelling in on our plans, which I understood.
This wasn’t exactly turning out to be the trip of a lifetime for either one of us, but she hadn’t been invited, nor even had the decency to warn us of her arrival in advance.
But then, as the meal continued and the minutes ticked by, he seemed to soften.
Victoria could do that if she wanted to, sprinkle glitter over whatever rancour you were feeling and make you fall in love with her all over again.
It wasn’t long before the two of them were teasing each other and cracking filthy jokes, as if she’d been there with us the whole time.
‘So, what have you lovebirds been up to?’ she asked, twirling spaghetti around her fork.
Lovebirds. I cringed inwardly at the word but pretended not to.
‘Oh, not much.’ I didn’t want to mention yesterday, the dance; I didn’t want to discuss our conversation back at the flat, Stefano’s lewd assessment of Victoria.
‘Just seeing all the touristy stuff, right?’ I continued, glancing at Stefano for confirmation. He nodded in response, his mouth full.
‘Hmm. Funny.’ She chewed, swallowed. ‘I’d have thought you’d be locked up in your hotel room. I mean, Rome is just so romantic, don’t you think?’
‘We’re not staying at a hote—’
‘We’ve had lots of time together,’ Stefano said, cutting me off. ‘This one can’t keep her hands off me.’
‘Oh, really?’ Victoria said, flashing me a knowing smile and reaching for her glass.
I rolled my eyes, playing along. Stefano and I hadn’t slept together and, after last night, I felt certain we never would. But I knew for his pride’s sake, and to get through the final two days of the holiday, I should probably keep up the pretence of a rampant shag-fest.
Stefano cupped the base of my neck. ‘Yeah. Don’t worry about us.’ I inched my chair away, but his grip only tightened in response. He grinned at me, the smile never quite reaching his eyes. ‘We’re having a great time.’
‘I’m so glad,’ Victoria said, tearing off a chunk of bread. ‘Where are you staying?’
‘On the outskirts,’ he answered, enjoying the fantasy. ‘This nice little place, out in the sticks, rural.’
‘Sounds divine.’ She thought for a moment.
‘Yes, sometimes the smaller places can be so much more charming than these grand hotels.’ She gestured airily in the direction of the five-star St. Regis where she was staying.
‘You don’t get the same experience, you don’t feel the actual heat of a place, you know? ’
‘Yes,’ I agreed, trying to ignore the tang of bitterness in my mouth. ‘Say, where shall we go next?’ I asked them both, wanting to change the subject. ‘There’s still so much of the city I haven’t seen yet.’
‘Oh wherever, I’m easy,’ Victoria said. ‘You decide, Shannon.’ Then: ‘Oh, sweetie.’ She tapped her cheek at Stefano. ‘You’ve got a speck of something.’
He wiped his chin with the back of his wrist. ‘Did I get it?’
‘No. Here, let me.’ She licked the corner of her napkin, leaned over me and, placing her palm on my thigh to steady herself, dabbed at the edge of his mouth. When she pulled away, Stefano’s gaze darted towards where her hand lingered near my crotch. A glimmer of opportunity flashed behind his eyes.
Victoria threw the napkin onto the table and sank back in her chair.
Stefano cleared his throat. ‘So, V, I meant to ask, did you come here alone?’
‘Alas, flying solo,’ she sighed.
‘You know, it’s a shame Obi couldn’t come,’ Stefano continued.
‘Yes,’ I agreed, longing for his steady presence. ‘It would’ve been great, all being here together. We could’ve made a real few days of it.’
Victoria placed her hand over mine, a wry smile playing on her lips. ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ She looked at me directly. ‘Sometimes three can be more fun.’
‘Is that so?’ Stefano said, resting his elbows on the table and muscling his shoulders forward.
‘Sure,’ Victoria replied, her eyes still fixed on mine.
I felt my skin flush, but I forced myself to meet her gaze.
I wanted to freeze time, to take a mental picture of the way she was looking at me, the way her thumb was caressing mine.
I wanted something to return to, something I could hold up to the light and view from all angles. Proof that she cared.
Her lips parted slightly.
‘Well, we should order more wine then,’ Stefano said, shattering the moment. He reached for his wallet. ‘Let’s have fun, the three of us.’
‘Honey, no,’ she purred, letting go of my hand and gesturing to the waiter. ‘Allow me.’
I watched Stefano as Victoria ordered more drinks. I watched him sizing her up, like an animal nosing the ground for its prey. I thought back to our conversation last night.
Are you saying Victoria’s a whore?
Sometimes, yeah. I mean, she sucked that guy’s dick.
I shrank down in my seat and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to think about what was running through Stefano’s head, what terrible possibilities might be blooming there.