Chapter xxvi
xxvi
I HAD NOTHING SPECIAL TO DO IN ROME, SO I DECIDED to visit the Colosseum and look for gifts for my kids. I ended up finding a graphic novel about Italian artists for Sam, an Italia soccer jersey for Violet, and a vinyl record of an Italian band called 883, which the man at the record shop swore was fantastic, for Liam.
I treated myself to pasta at the hotel bar and fought my desire to text Dax. I messaged Jay instead, since he still hadn’t replied with anything more than a thumbs-up to my last text.
I’ll be home tomorrow, maybe we could find time to catch up?
I saw that he read it, and then a few minutes later he wrote back: Sure, once you’re back, let me know when you’re free.
I sighed; I knew that was code for Let’s see if you follow through. How much do you actually want to see me? I knew this code, because I often employed it myself with people I didn’t want to outright reject but didn’t really want to get together with either. When had I become one of those people for Jay? I knew I had to fix what was broken between us. I thought I might know how, but it wasn’t only my choice to make.