A Dance with Danger

Chapter fifteen

**Ilaria’s POV** 

The restaurant was quaint, its charm tucked away from the bustle of the city. Warm light filtered through vintage pendant lamps, and the scent of rosemary and garlic wafted through the air. I had come here to unwind after spending the entire morning helping Amaya plan her baby shower. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it—I did—but the chatter about themes, gifts, and decorations left my head spinning. 

Sliding into a booth near the back, I ordered a simple iced tea and a panini. The quiet hum of the restaurant was soothing, and I let myself exhale, grateful for the moment of peace. 

But peace, it seemed, had other plans. 

“Ilaria?” a voice rang out, bright and unmistakably familiar. 

I looked up, and there she was—Rosie. Her auburn curls bounced with every step as she made her way toward me, her hands fluttering excitedly. 

“Oh my God! It *is* you!” she exclaimed, sliding into the seat across from me without waiting for an invitation. 

“Rosie,” I managed, still processing her sudden appearance. “Wow. Hi.” 

“I can’t believe this!” she said, her words tumbling over each other in rapid succession. “What are the odds? I mean, I was just thinking about you the other day—well, not *just* you, but, like, college and everything, and how weird it is that we all just, you know, *scatter* after graduation. And then bam! Here you are!” 

I blinked, caught off guard by her energy. “Yeah, it’s been a while.” 

“A *while*?” she repeated, leaning forward. “Try five years! Five years, Ilaria! Do you know how much has happened in five years? Oh, who am I kidding—you probably do. You’ve always been so on top of things. So, what have you been up to? Wait, no—let me guess!” 

Before I could respond, Rosie launched into a tirade of guesses. 

“You’re probably doing something amazing, right? Like working for some fancy company, traveling the world, or—I don’t know—running your own business? Or wait! Did you settle down? Are you married? Do you have kids?” 

Her questions came so fast I barely had time to react. “Uh—” 

“Oh, but you don’t look married,” she continued, as if answering herself. “Not that you *couldn’t* be. You look great, by the way. Like, ridiculously great. Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to figure out if dry shampoo counts as a personality trait. Speaking of which, have you tried the new lavender-scented one? It’s life-changing.” 

I stared at her, equal parts amused and overwhelmed. “Rosie, breathe.” 

She stopped mid-ramble, blinking at me. “Right. Sorry. I just—this is crazy! I didn’t think I’d ever run into anyone from college again. It’s like the universe is telling me something.” 

I raised an eyebrow. “Like what?” 

“I don’t know! That we’re meant to reconnect? That we should go on some wild adventure together? Oh! Or maybe it’s a sign that I need to stop procrastinating on that project I keep telling myself I’ll start. You know how it is—life just *happens*, and suddenly you’re thirty and wondering where all the time went.” 

“You’re not thirty,” I pointed out. 

“Okay, but I feel thirty,” she countered, dramatically placing a hand on her chest. “It’s the existential dread. Ages you prematurely.” 

I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound surprising me. Rosie always had a way of pulling you into her orbit, whether you wanted to be there or not. 

“What about you?” she asked suddenly, tilting her head. “What’s new in the life of Ilaria? Please tell me it’s something juicy. Like, ‘I joined a secret cult’ juicy.” 

“Not quite,” I said, smirking. “I’ve been… keeping busy. Family stuff, mostly.” 

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “That’s vague. Are you in the Witness Protection Program or something? Blink twice if yes.” 

I rolled my eyes. “No, Rosie. Just… life. You know how it is.” 

“Ugh, I do,” she groaned, slumping back in her chair. “Life is exhausting. Like, who signed us up for this adulting thing? I didn’t agree to bills and taxes and endless meetings about nothing.” 

I sipped my iced tea, letting her words wash over me. It was oddly comforting, this whirlwind of a conversation that didn’t require much effort on my part. Rosie was doing what she’d always done—filling the silence with her unstoppable energy. 

“So,” she said after a moment, her tone shifting slightly. “You seem… different.” 

“Different how?” 

“I don’t know. Calmer? Quieter? Not that it’s a bad thing! It’s just… in college, you were always so full of life. Like, you had this spark, you know? And now it’s like…” She trailed off, her expression apologetic. 

“Life changes people,” I said simply, my tone more curt than I intended. 

Rosie bit her lip, then nodded. “Yeah. I get that.” 

For a moment, the air between us grew heavier, and I wondered if I’d been too abrupt. But then she brightened again, as if flipping a switch. 

“Well, whatever’s going on, I’m glad I ran into you,” she said. “You were always one of the good ones, Ilaria. Don’t let the world dim that.” 

Her words caught me off guard, leaving me unsure of how to respond. 

Rosie glanced at her phone and winced. “I should go—I’m late for a thing. But we should do this again. Like, soon. Promise me you won’t disappear for another five years.” 

“I promise,” I said, meaning it more than I expected. 

She grinned, her energy as infectious as ever. “Good. Take care, Ilaria. And seriously, try the lavender dry shampoo!” 

As she bounded out of the restaurant, I sat back, a small smile tugging at my lips. Rosie was a whirlwind, no doubt about it, but her chaotic presence had stirred something in me—something I thought I’d lost. 

Maybe life hadn’t dimmed my spark entirely. Maybe it was just waiting for the right person to reignite it.