Tuscan Love Letter

CHAPTER 2

"Finn, c'mon, we are leaving!" Adrian's voice calls out from inside the villa.

"Give me five minutes!" I yell back, my eyes still fixed on the path where the mysterious woman usually appeared.

"C'mon, man, we are leaving. You're becoming a little stalker, don't you think?" Noah's voice suddenly cuts in, and I turn to see him walking over to me.

"I'm just admiring from afar, no harm done," I reply with a casual shrug.

Noah has been really insistent on not getting caught up with this woman, and I can't quite figure out why. It is starting to feel a bit overbearing, honestly. I've only been with this friend group for nearly a year, and while I get along with everyone pretty well, Noah and I always seemed to have a bit of tension. Maybe it is just the new guy syndrome.

"Look, Finn," Noah says, his tone more serious now. "I just don't want you getting your hopes up about someone you don't even know."

I sigh, feeling a bit frustrated. "I hear you, Noah, but it's just harmless fun. Besides, she might be the one."

Noah's expression softens, but there still is that edge of insistence. "Just be careful, alright? Sometimes things aren't what they seem."

I nod, more to get him off my back than anything else. "Alright, alright. I'll be careful."

With that, Noah turns and heads back towards the villa. I watch him go, feeling a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. What is his deal, anyway? Shaking it off, I take one last look at the path, then follow the rest of the group, still thinking about the woman who has captured my interest.

✽✽✽

I climb into one of the rental cars driven by Victor, ready for our day trip to Florence. It is no more than an hour ride from where we are staying, and I am looking forward to exploring the city. In the car with me are James, William, Victor, and Noah.

As I settle into the seat next to William, James turns to me with a smirk. "So, have you seen her?" he asks, his tone teasing.

"No," I groan, leaning back in my seat. "Noah rushed me," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, because we have a long drive, and I intend to visit the city, not arrive there by lunch," Noah shoots back from the front seat, a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Yeah, it's that," I mock, a grin spreading across my face. "Not because you don't want me to take the spotlight off you and your fake girlfriend." I laugh, even though there is an edge of truth in my jest.

Noah turns around, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Finn, seriously, she's not fake. You'll see soon enough."

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see," I say, still chuckling. But inside, I can't shake the feeling that there is more to Noah's insistence than he is letting on. The dynamic between us has always been a bit strained, and I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with this mysterious girlfriend of his.

As Victor starts the car and we begin our drive to Florence, I decide to let it go for now. There will be plenty of time to figure out what is really going on. For now, I want to enjoy the ride and the day ahead in one of Italy's most beautiful cities.

✽✽✽

We spend the day exploring Florence, soaking in the sights and sounds of the vibrant city. Victor, Chris, and I stick together for most of the day since we are the single ones in the group. Even though Noah is technically in a relationship, he might as well be single since his girlfriend hasn't shown up yet. We have made a pact to find someone for at least a summer romance—why not make the most of our time here?