Page 17 of Finding Love in the Clouds

The bell rang, announcing the third floor, and they exited. Both took a deep breath and chuckled at their identical response.

“I feel like saying ‘jinx’ would fit this situation but also be very juvenile,” Sophie said, smiling as she walked down the hall.

“I agree,” Fernando replied, a step behind her.

“To which one?” Sophie asked, stopping and turning at the door to her room.

“Both. Hey, we’re neighbors.”

“They asked about our relationship when I booked the tour, and since Boss and Personal Assistant wasn’t the direction we were going, I told them the fake dating thing we agreed on but was very clear we expected two rooms throughout the trip. I guess they took that as wanting to be side by side.”

Shrugging, Fernando unlocked his door. “It will make escorting you to your door every night easy.” Winking, he walked inside and closed the door.

Moments later, Sophie dropped her purse on the bed and took a look around.

“EEEK!” she squealed upon turning to find Fernando standing in her room. “You scared the daylights out of me!” she shouted, throwing a pillow at him.

“I guess they took our relationship to mean we wanted separate but adjoining rooms with open doors,” he said, swinging the door he had just entered through. “I was looking for the bathroom and found you instead.”

“I hope that doesn’t mean we are sharing a bathroom. That would be awkward,” Sophie inwardly groaned but found a small bath tucked into the corner of her room. “Here is mine. Go look and see if you have one, too.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Fernando saluted and walked back into his room to search the opposite corner. “Bingo! I have one. There’s no need to share.”

“Does this door lock, or is it a family suite?” Sophie wondered aloud, investigating the door. It had a lock on it, but it was a two-way key, and there was no key. “Should we ask the front desk for a key?”

“Only if it will make you feel safer. I promise you that I will not infringe on your privacy. You have nothing to fear from me. If it will make you feel better to have that door locked, I will go request the key myself,” Fernando stated earnestly.

“No, it’s fine. I trust you. You can’t even tell me what type of clothes I wore in the office for the past three years. I know my honor is safe with you. The door can be unlocked but closed unless we agree to open it for conversation or something.”

Her grin reflected honesty and trust, so he would let things lie but made a note to ask for locked doors for the duration of the trip. He didn’t want any woman to feel pressured by him in any way, and an unlocked door left things to chance that shouldn’t be. If she said she would prefer it locked, it made things awkward, like she was accusinghim of something. If she said she was fine with it unlocked, it could imply other things. It was better just to lock them and be done with it.

Chapter Seventeen

After taking time to clean up and refresh themselves, they went exploring. The concierge recommended an evening tour of the Colosseum as opposed to one during the day, as it would be less crowded, and you could go onto the theater floor. The evening tour also came with a historian tour guide instead of a headset tour. He then provided a map and marked a possible path for them to take as they explored the city.

Map in hand, they linked arms and made their way to the Colosseum, a few minutes’ walk from their hotel. The Colosseum looked like it glowed in the fading twilight.

As they stepped into the Colosseum, Sophie was immediately struck by its sheer size. Their guide, Giovanni, who was extremely passionate about his topic, pointed out the arena’s various levels, explaining how it once accommodated up to 80,000 spectators. They walked through the labyrinth of underground tunnels, where gladiators and wild animals were held, awaiting their fate. Standing on the arena floor, Sophie imagined the cheers and roars that once filled theair as battles unfolded and felt the weight of history surrounding her, from the blood-soaked sands to the towering walls that stood the test of time. She wasn’t particularly well informed about the early Romans and their entertainment, but she had never heard that the Colosseum was flooded to hold mock naval battles before.

By the time the tour ended, Sophie was feeling emotional, and Fernando noticed. He placed a protective arm around her shoulder and tucked her into his side. “Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.

Nodding her head, she rested it briefly on his shoulder as they made their way down the sidewalk. “That was just a lot to take in. The thought of standing where so many had stood before. It was like being a part of history, but such a tragic part of it. It was overwhelming. Is it totally crazy that I felt sad for them? When I was in the cell and put my hand on the wall that so many prisoners about to die a very violent death had placed their hand on, it was like I could feel it. I wanted to cry, and they died thousands of years before.”

Fernando stopped walking and turned Sophie so her face was buried in his chest. He held her while she cried, stroking the long brown curtain of hair down her back. He didn’t shush her or tell her it was okay. He just let her feel the emotions running through her and held her safely in the circle of his arms.

When the tears dried and she retrieved a tissue from her bag, they turned and continued strolling hand in hand. They decided to extend their exploration, making their way toward the nearby Roman Forum. As they walked, Fernando pointed out the juxtaposition of ancient ruins against the backdrop of modern life. The dimly lit ruins cast long, mysterious shadows that drew them in and hinted at days gone by.

“Do you think this will be a good inspiration for your next mystery novel? It looks like a good place to hide secrets. You could make themystery from any era since these have been here for over a millennia,” Sophie noted as they walked the maze of paths leading through the ruins.

“Between the Colosseum and the Forum, my imagination has no limits right now. I am strongly considering signing up for the Crypt and Catacombs tour. How long will we be in Rome?”

“One more day and night, so you will have to get it in tomorrow. They offered the pre-tour excursions because this is a starting point and not really a destination on the tour, probably because it is so easy to tour independently. You will have to check out the catacombs on your own, though. That would give me nightmares for the rest of my life,” Sophie said, a shudder wracking her small frame.

“Why, Sophie, is that a phobia I detect?” Fernando teased.

“No, not a phobia, really, just the creeps. Who, besides a mystery author, would want to see a bunch of dead people and old bones? It definitely isn’t something that intrigues me.”

After standing in awe of the towering columns and crumbling structures that held more whispers of the past, but thankfully less disturbing and emotional than the Colosseum, they made their way to a quaint piazza tucked away in the corner of the Forum. The small square was alive with activity, filled with locals and tourists alike enjoying the balmy evening air. They were blessed to find an outdoor table at a charming trattoria overlooking the piazza. Sounds of animated conversations in a variety of languages and the clinking of cutlery filled the air while a live band played in the background.

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