Page 48 of Marry Me in Rome

“The train station,” we both said at the same time.

“Are there any trains to Venice tonight?” I asked.

“There’s usually an overnight train. I hope it hasn’t left yet.”

“How far is the station from the city center?” I asked, hurrying back inside and shoving on my shoes. I still looked a fright albeit a bit less insane without my puffy pink dress. My faded jeans and old T-shirt would have to do.

“Five minutes by taxi. I’m getting in my car now, but I’m fifteen minutes away.”

“I’ll meet you there.” I hung up and turned to my sisters. “Matteo confronted his mom and told her off and then disappeared and Vivi can’t find him so she’s worried but we think he might be at the train station trying to follow me so I’m going down there.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Kennedy said. “Say again?”

“Got it and I’m totally coming.” Alexis shoved her shoes on and grabbed her jacket.

“How did you even understand that?” Kennedy muttered as we headed for the door. I barely heard their whispered conversation as I stumbled down the hall toward the stairs.

Matteo was searching for me, and I wouldn’t keep him waiting.

I assumedit would be easy, finding him at the station. But the moment I walked inside under those bold letters that said Roma Termini, it felt impossible. The building felt like a huge airport with hallways jutting in several directions. Arched ceilings hovered overhead with a pattern of small square windows. I didn’t see an information desk anywhere.

“The largest train station in Italy,” Kennedy said, reading from her phone. “80 trains come and go every day. If it’s this busy at 10:45 at night, imagine how busy it is during the day.”

Leave it to my sister to look up trivia about every single stop. “Do you see which platform is bound for Venice? Our only chance is to catch him before he boards.”

“I’m looking, I’m looking. One sec.”

We moved aside to let a large group of travelers through while she combed through her phone. I searched every face, but Matteo was nowhere to be found. Far in the distance, I caught sight of a giant board with platform numbers. “Maybe I’ll?—”

“Got it!” Kennedy exclaimed. “Rome Termini to Venice Santa Lucia. It leaves at 10:55 from platform 21.” She frowned. “That only gives us nine minutes to find it.”

“Then let’s go!” I darted toward the first sign I saw leading to the twenties. My sisters followed.

A few minutes later, my legs and chest ached and the blisters on my feet screamed, but we’d only made it through half the station. I ignored the pain and increased my speed, apologizing to the people I darted around. Platforms sixteen and seventeen. A turn, and then eighteen.Come on.

The speaker overhead blared something in Italian, then switched to English. “Venice Santa Lucia now boarding on platform 21.” The voice said it twice.

With a groan, I sprinted around a turn and slid to a stop in front of a set of turnstiles lit with green lights. A bored security guard sat behind them.

“I need to get to platform 21!” I called to him.

He gestured to the turnstiles. “Swipe your ticket.”

“But I don’t have . . . ” I growled and stomped my foot. “It’s important! I’m need to stop someone from getting on that train!”

“Sorry, miss, but you must have a ticket to enter this area.”

“Here!” Kennedy pulled up behind me, breathing hard. She handed me her phone. “She has a ticket.” On the screen of her phone, I saw a QR code.

“Bless you, Kennedy,” I murmured, scanning the screen. It beeped and the arm slid back to allow me entrance. I jumped through and took off at a run.

“One ticket per passenger,” I heard him say to my sisters as I sprinted away.

“Come on, come on.” I dashed down the steps toward platform twenty. Twenty-one had to be right across from it. The one with the train sitting there.

“Wait!” I called, waving my arms. A few last people boarded the train, dragging their suitcases behind them. Then the doors emitted a ringing noise and slid shut.

“No!” I cried, arriving at the doors and banging on them. “Let me on the train!”

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