Page 87 of It's All Sun and Games

‘Oh, Robin,’ he says, laughing as he pulls me into his chest for a hug. ‘Sometimes, I wish that you don’t ever learn Italian, because you make me laugh. But I will help you learn.’

‘Ah, but that is going to take time,’ I reply. ‘I am going to try to learn but, while I’m trying to learn the language, I’m going to need a translator. Someone who will be by my side, everywhere I go, to make sure I don’t say anything stupid. Oh, and someone here at home too, all of the time, you know, just in case.’

I turn around in Andrea’s arms just in time to see the realisation take over his face.

‘I see,’ he says with a smile. ‘Robin, are you asking me to move in with you?’

‘Sì,’ I reply. ‘It doesn’t have to be a big deal. But I know you’ve been living with your parents, while you work out what you’re going to do next, and I owe you one thousand favours so, yeah… Would you like to move in with me? Even if it’s just until you figure out?—’

‘Robin, I would love to,’ he says, interrupting me, just in time to stop the self-doubt pouring out.

I know it’s so soon in our relationship, but I’m only staying here while I’m working, he’s living with his parents – it just makes sense. And I meant what I said – I really do owe him (and I probably do need a 24/7 translator, if a bowl of pene really is a bowl of penis).

I jump into his embrace, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.

As we start kissing, Andrea carries me across the room. He must walk straight into the bed because we go crashing down together.

‘Sorry, sorry,’ he says.

‘That’s okay, it’s our bed,’ I remind him. ‘And while we’re down here…’

I roll onto my back, signalling for Andrea to get on top of me. He doesn’t need telling twice.

Isn’t it amazing how much life can change in the space of a couple of weeks? I really do feel like – dare I say it – I have landed on my feet this time. Dream job, dream location, dream home, dream man.

Okay, so some of those things are short term – but then again, isn’t everything, unless you stick with it and put the work in? – but the future is looking brighter. I may not know what is going to happen when my time in Italy comes to an end, but right now I don’t mind. I’m just happy to be here, in the moment, with Andrea.

I’m grateful for what I have now.

What comes next? We’ll have to wait and see.

39

TWO YEARS LATER

‘The weather has been so crap this week,’ Priya says as she glances out of the window, shooting a dirty look at the rainy streets of Manchester. ‘It’s times like these I bet you miss living in Italy.’

I laugh, swirling my wine in its glass.

‘Well, I was born in the rain, so it makes sense that I live in it most of the time,’ I reply.

‘True,’ she replies. ‘I’m a firm believer in destiny and, if you’re supposed to live in the rain, why fight it?’

‘At least here we can pretend we’re in Italy,’ I point out.

‘Yep, as Italian restaurants go, it doesn’t get more authentic than this,’ she says with a smile.

‘So, how’s work been lately?’ I ask, taking a sip of my wine before I dig into the bowl of taralli on the table.

‘Same old, same old,’ she replies. ‘James is still Rick’s number one special boy, and Liz is still Liz.’

‘Sometimes people don’t change,’ I say with a shrug.

‘Yep, and it’s always the ones who should,’ she jokes. ‘It’s all much of the same really. Your replacement is fine, but we don’t have much in common. I still really wish you would come back.’

I know she’s only being semi-serious. Well, I’m sure she would love me to be back there, like the good old days, but I know that she’s happy for me now.

‘I miss parts of it too, mostly working with you,’ I admit. ‘But when it was time to move back to England, I just knew that I needed a change.’

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