She shakes her head at me, but her smile tells me she might actually be lightening up around me.
After we get ready, we walk towards the water right outside of our hotel. She looks beautiful in a pair of light green shorts anda white top with brown sandals. Her hair is down, and she’s wearing minimal makeup, which she pulls off easily because she’s so damn beautiful.
We are led to the hotel’s dock which, apparently, has a water taxi that stops by every thirty minutes. We don’t talk much as we wait. We both continue to look around at everything around us. It’s easy to just get lost in thought while you take in what surrounds you.
When the boat finally arrives, I motion for Layla to go ahead of me.
“Buongiorno bellezza,” a young, attractive-looking male says to Layla as he holds his hand out for her to step onto the boat.
I make a mental note to look it up, but I think he called her beautiful.
“Grazie,” she replies flirtatiously.
I follow her to the front of the water taxi, where she takes a seat next to the railing. The water around us is so clear you can see the rocks and fish everywhere. It looks like a swimming pool instead of a lake. You don’t see water like this in America.
“I think he’s checking me out,” Layla whispers to me.
“Who?” I reply roughly as I scan the boat.
I’m ready to beat whoever is making her feel uncomfortable until I look up at her and see her smiling and fixing her hair. Is she fucking kidding me? I follow her line of sight and see the Italian guy who works on the boat ogling her.
He’s not subtle, nor is she, and I’m not thrilled.
“You two on a romantic vacation?” he dares to speak to us in his thick accent.
I move to put my arm on the railing behind her, trying to signal to the man to back off.
Layla lets out a ridiculous giggle. “Oh, we aren’t together. He’s just a friend. If you could even call him that.”
I swallow hard, trying not to reveal the anger that her words evoke in me. I didn’t sign up to be some loser who follows her around while she flirts with every guy in sight.
“A woman like you shouldn’t be out with afriendin beautiful Como. You should be treated to all the luxuries this place can offer by a man who knows what he has in front of him.” He raises his eyebrows at me with a challenge, as if daring me to be man enough to be that guy.
And there Layla goes with another hideous giggle. This time, I can’t hold in my groan.
“What’s your problem?” she asks with a hint of annoyance.
“Nothing at all. Just enjoying the beautiful views around us,” I say, then turn my head away from her.
Thankfully, Fabio gets pulled away to do some actual work on the boat. The rest of the ride I’m able to actually take in the scenery and slightly enjoy myself, even though his words echo in the back of my head.
Even if I was interested in exploring this with Layla, which I’m obviously not, I can’t afford to spoil her with all the luxuries this place has to offer. I’m no fool. I know George Clooney doesn’t have a place here for its affordability. I could never give Laylawhat he was referring to. I’m just your average man who works a blue-collar job and brings home enough to be comfortable.
And I’m okay with that. I’m happy with that, actually. It’s not until I’m near Layla that I’m reminded of my lack of success in this world.
“What’s first on the agenda?” I ask her as soon as we’re off the boat.
She looks up at me through her sunglasses. “I wanted to stroll around first if that’s all right with you.”
I shrug my shoulders. “It’s your trip. I’m just here to tag along.”
Como looks exactly like any Italian city I picture when I close my eyes. It has cobblestone streets, old buildings made of stone or cement.
We stroll through the streets as crowds of people take up every inch of space. There are restaurants, stores, and bakeries everywhere. It seems like every other yard someone is walking with their dog. Layla squats to greet all of them. I never knew she was such a dog lover.
“Oh, look at this restaurant,” Layla wanders over to a corner restaurant with seating out front on the cobblestone. “Can we eat here?”
“You’re the food expert. I trust your instincts.”