A Few DAY!s In Italy (DAY! Series Book 2.67)

Chapter 5 - He Agrees, On Her knees, And Unease

Chris was rudely awakened by a feathered alarm clock on the balcony, loudly voicing its discontent with the world. As he begrudgingly peeled his eyes open, a smile instantly spread across his face – the sight of Willow peacefully slumbering beside him was enough to melt even the grumpiest of morning hearts. After a glance at the clock, he reluctantly rolled out of bed at the ungodly hour of 7 am.

Following a mandatory pit stop at the porcelain throne, he stepped onto the balcony to greet the morning air. His gaze was immediately drawn to a lone figure sitting on the beach, staring wistfully at the waves as if trying to solve the mysteries of the universe. Chris knew exactly who it was – because who else would be up at this hour voluntarily communing with the ocean?

Realizing he couldn't greet the day in his birthday suit, he quickly threw on some shorts and a T-shirt. But before heading out, he couldn't resist planting a gentle kiss on Willow's forehead.

With his modesty preserved, he hopped, skipped, and jumped through the house, making a beeline for the beach like a kid on a sugar rush. Once his feet hit the sand, he plopped down next to Colin, who was still deep in contemplation of the ocean's secrets. "Hey," Chris greeted.

Colin acknowledged the greeting with a solemn nod, his gaze still transfixed on the rhythmic dance of the waves. An eternity seemed to pass as the two friends sat in silence, the only sound being the gentle whispers of the ocean. Just when Chris was about to ask, his friend finally broke the stillness, answering the unasked question hanging in the air. "No, I haven't," he murmured. "I couldn't."

"But she wanted to?"

"Yes." Colin's gaze shifted to the wedding ring still adorning his finger. "We met. She has..." He paused, seemingly searching for the right words to describe the encounter. "She showed me a bit of the city, and we grabbed some dinner." He moistened his lips. "And we danced. In the middle of Rome. A tango. And then she kissed me."

"Buuuuuut?"

"It feels wrong, Chris," he exclaimed desperately. "I love Wanda. With all my heart. It feels like cheating." They rose to their feet, and the two friends began a solemn march along the beach. Colin had his hands shoved deep into his pockets, taking deep, meditative breaths like a yogi seeking enlightenment. "You are right. I know that. And it's not that I can't. Or don't WANT to. But..."

"You still love Wanda too much!"

"Yes." He came to an abrupt halt, pivoting to face Chris. "I don't know what to do."

Sensing that his friend was in dire need of some good old-fashioned bromantic support, Chris pulled him into a warm embrace. "I know, buddy," he whispered. "I just don't know how to help you."

Colin let out a soft snort, the kind of sound a person makes when they've reached the point of utter bewilderment. "You can't," he said, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. I have to... sort out my thoughts somehow." He broke away from the embrace, running a hand through his tousled hair as if trying to physically untangle the knot of emotions swirling in his mind. With a nod back towards the house, the two friends resumed their beachside stroll. "But damn it, she's hot."

"Fuck, yes."

"And everything is going great with Willow, huh?" Colin asked, seizing the opportunity to steer the conversation away from his romantic quandary. He was so desperate to change the subject that he was even willing to endure Chris' inevitable barrage of detailed babbling.

And Chris delivered right away, his words tumbling out like a waterfall of unbridled passion. "Dude, Colin, I swear, I've never experienced anything quite like this," he rumbled. "It's like she's cast some sort of spell over me, and my mind is a broken record stuck on repeat, playing the same tune: 'Must. Have. Her.' We'll be lying there, basking in the afterglow of fucking good sex, and then I'll catch a glimpse of her, and BAM! My dick is standing at attention, ready to salute the flag, if you catch my drift." He let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "If I had my way, I'd be banging her twenty times a day."