WHISPERS OF LEGACY

Chapter 19: Unspoken Tensions

Lisa slipped quietly inside the villa, her cheeks still faintly flushed from her evening with Luca. The scent of jasmine and warm Florence air still clung to her, as if she'd brought a piece of the city back with her. She paused in the foyer, adjusting to the dim glow of the villa's lighting, her mind still half-lost in the night she'd just had.

But as she wandered further in, voices drifted down the hall, guiding her to the living area, where Theo, Sam, and Gen were sprawled across couches, deep in conversation.

"Lisa!" Gen's face lit up, her eyes bright with curiosity. "You're back! And, might I add, looking particularly radiant." She raised an eyebrow, grinning. "How was your day with Luca?"

Lisa rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "It was...nice," she replied, trying for nonchalance, though her tone betrayed her excitement.

"Nice?" Sam teased, leaning back and crossing his arms. "You've got the look of someone who just walked out of a romance novel. 'Nice' doesn't cover it."

She sighed, sinking into an armchair. "Fine, maybe it was a little more than nice." She paused, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "It was... something. We went all over Florence—hidden gardens, tiny trattorias, streets that felt like they were meant just for us." She shrugged, trying to sound casual. "It was...perfect."

"Oh, here we go," Theo muttered, giving Sam a knowing look. "Classic Lisa. Meets a guy for five minutes, and suddenly, he's perfect."

Lisa rolled her eyes, though her smile didn't fade. "I mean, can you blame me? It's Florence, he's Italian, and he has that accent."

Before Theo could reply, Gabe strolled in, looking a little more worn from the day than usual. His gaze flickered to Lisa, then back to the rest of the group, and he slid into an armchair opposite her with a casual nod.

"What are we talking about?" he asked, keeping his tone light, though Sam noticed the way Gabe's gaze lingered on Lisa, his expression a touch more guarded than usual.

"Lisa's perfect day with her perfect Italian," Sam explained, smirking as he watched Gabe's face. "She's been all dreamy about it since she walked in."

"Ah, so she's already head over heels," Gabe replied, raising an eyebrow at Lisa. "Didn't take long, huh?"

Lisa shot him a look, folding her arms. "Not like you can understand. Just because you spent the day pretending to be an Italian motorcyclist doesn't mean you have any authority over my romantic life."

"Not judging, just... making an observation," Gabe replied, his voice even. But there was an edge to it, and Lisa picked up on it instantly.

"Sure, Gabe. I'm sure you're totally unfazed by the fact that I'm capable of having an Italian adventure without you hovering around," she retorted, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"Alright, kids," Theo interrupted, eyeing the two of them. "Let's not turn this into a boxing match."

"Yeah, some of us are here to enjoy Italy without the drama," Sam added with a smirk, though his gaze flicked back to Gabe, catching the tension simmering beneath the surface.

Gen quickly chimed in, sensing the shift in energy. "So, are we doing a big day out tomorrow? All of us? There's so much more to see, and we've barely even started."

The tension lightened as they discussed the next day's plans, though Gabe remained a little quieter than usual, his responses clipped, his usual sarcasm more subdued.

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Later, as the villa quieted down and everyone began retreating to their rooms, Lisa wandered into one of the sitting rooms, needing a moment alone to process the day. The lights were dim, casting soft shadows over the room's rustic, elegant decor, and she let herself sink into the plush sofa, reliving moments from her day with Luca.