Living with Her [Book 3]

Chapter 8

"Are you sure you're not mad at me?" Ashley asked for the third time as she checked her reflection in the mirror.

"It's honestly fine," Dusty reassured her.

"But I feel like I'm letting you down." Ashley sighed, dropping onto her bed. "I mean, this is supposed to be a man- free vacation, and here I am, ditching you on our last day in Europe to meet a guy for coffee! What am I doing? I'm the worst friend ever!"

"Ash, relax. It's okay." Dusty smiled. "You like Ricardo; you might as well meet him for coffee today. I'd never forgive myself if I stood in the way of true love!"

"As if he's my true love." Ashley playfully threw a cushion at her friend in protest. "He's just some waiter I met on vacation."

"Then don't go," Dusty challenged, seeing the pained look flicker behind Ashley's eyes at the thought of not meeting with him. "It's okay to like him, you know." Dusty laughed.

"I don't."

"You do. You're just in denial." Dusty grinned.
"It always happens initially."

"Promise you're okay for me to go?" Ashley asked once more.

"I promise!" Dusty raised her voice to reinforce her sincerity. "Now you need to get going or else you'll be late for your date!"

"Okay, okay, I'm going." Ashley got up and quickly spritzed herself with a fresh dose of perfume.

"Tell Ricardo I said hi," Dusty called after her friend, who left the room amidst the smell of vanilla and hair spray. Alone in the hotel room, Dusty wondered how she should spend her final day in Rome. There was still so much to see, so much of the culture to take in. A part of her wanted to go to Vatican City, just to see it.

But then there were the museums, which were bursting with great works of art, but the Mona Lisa had been a disappointment; perhaps art wasn't the way to go as she sat deliberating, Dusty felt unbearably lonely. She realized in that moment, as she sat on the bed looking down at maps and tour guides, just how much she missed being in a relationship, having that person to connect with, to explore the world with.

She knew that if Kyera were there, she'd want to take in as much art as possible. She'd haul her around all the museums, spouting wisely about each piece they stood in front of.
Valentine was more of a mystery; Dusty wasn't sure what exactly she'd do if she were in Rome. Dusty imagined Valentine did care more for the history of the ancient city, exploring the Coliseum in detail and visiting other historic spots.

Sighing wistfully to herself, Dusty wondered what the two girl who haunted her mind were doing at that exact same moment, and if they, too, were thinking of her. But then she thought of the man who eclipsed them both, her father. He was always so much fun on vacations. He'd take Dusty and Dust to theme parks and join them on all the rides. Her father had made life seem so exciting, making each moment count.

Looking back, it was almost as if he'd known that his time with them would be cut short, but of course, that was impossible. He just lived for the moment and didn't take anything for granted. Full of renewed purpose, Dusty decided to follow her father's lead and do as much as possible on her final day in Rome. She would visit the Vatican, stroll through museums, and absorb as much of the city as she could.

****

As the sun began to set on Rome, Dusty sat alone at a small café, nursing a cappuccino. Ashley had been gone all day, as she'd anticipated even though she'd insisted that she wouldn't be long. In eight short hours, they would be flying away from Europe, back to America.

It seemed strange to imagine being back home, as Dusty sat outside in the lazy evening heat, watching couples walk past, talking excitedly together in a foreign tongue. A faint breeze danced through Dusty's loose blonde hair, stroking her cheek. She glanced at her cell phone positioned on the table before her. She'd texted Ashley a few times but heard nothing back.

Picking up the device, Dusty scrolled through her list of contacts and settled on one name, staring at it intently. Drunk on the freedom of being away on vacation, Dusty wanted to call her, to hear her voice again. She wanted to speak to Valentine. But it had been so long. What would she even say? For at least ten minutes, Dusty looked at her phone and debated whether or not she should call her.

In her mind, she reread the last letter she had sent her; she had promised to wait for her, however long that would be. Four years had passed since their romance ended. Shouldn't feelings have dulled in that time? Dusty looked at her name on her digital touch screen. Her number might not even be the same. But she'd only know if she called. Dusty moved her thumb to initiate the call when her phone beeped to alert her to an incoming text message. It was from Ashley. She was back at the hotel.

Briefly, Dusty was struck numb. She had come so close to calling Valentine, but it was as if fate had intervened, distracting her from connecting with her. She paused for a moment, still considering calling her, and then ultimately decided against it, raising her hand to a nearby waiter to ask for the check.