Page 5 of Bound to You

I struggle to hold in an annoyed groan. This trip couldn’t be going more haywire if we tried.

“No,” I snap, “it’s just that our first plan kind of fell through.”

“So you were just going to go to Sorrento, and what? Go door to door at hotels asking if they had any space?” he asks.

“Yeah, pretty much,” May responds after a long pause.

He turns back to the front and turns the key in the ignition.

“Okay, you’re not doing that.” He laughs like this whole situation is funny to him. “I know a place that has vacancies. I will take you there.”

“Look, this is really nice of you, but we can look after ourselves,” I add.

“Yeah, you really proved that with the whole handbrake thing.” My cheeks heat at the memory. “And you’re already in my car, so buckle up.”

“Are you at least going to tell us your name, Fernando?” May asks.

“It’s Caio.”

He doesn’t leave much room for discussion as the car rumbles to life, so we just strap in and hope for the best. I figure this is probably a good time to update my brother.

Me

We made it to Italy.

Miles

Alive and well? All limbs attached?

Me

Well, our rental car broke down about an hour into the drive and we’re now in the back of a Ferrari on the way to an unknown hotel with an unknown Italian man who picked us up.

Miles

I hope you’re kidding.

You’re kidding, right?

Me

If we die, make a true crime doco about us x

chapter two

ISLA

Caio driveswith one hand on the wheel, his other arm carelessly hanging out the window as his fingers drum the outside of his car to the light beat of Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy.” He’s got good taste in music, I’ll give him that.

He follows the same windy road we started out on for another half hour and soon, houses start popping up as we get closer to what must be the nearest town.

The scenery quickly changes from beautiful to breathtaking and I’m grateful Caio slows down, allowing us a moment to take it all in.

Citrus stands sit along the edge of the road, some of them with kids advertising for freshly squeezed lemonade. Caio honks the horn at them as we pass, and I catch a smile tugging at his lips as they wave back.

A welcome sign comes into view a few meters up on my side of the road. I’m still squinting to read the faded letters when Caio says, “Welcome to Ruby Cove, ladies.”

My head connects with May’s as we both lean into the middle seat to see out the front windshield.

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