The Tailor's Razor

16. When the Shoe Gets Stuck on the Other Foot

Week's end, but not the weekend (Friday)
Via Faleria, in a lovely part of Rome, actually not too far from the Colosseum

Taylor was rapidly adapting to the Roman way of life: good coffee, dinner after ten (nothing but carbs), and sweating his arse off in bed. Still, he couldn't complain; the only thing that would improve this junket would be if Madison was sweating in bed with him. It was while he was debating the ethics of seeking an extra-curricular bedfellow that he noticed a familiar pair of scoundrels at the sushi joint just up the road. He'd been at the supermarket, buying pineapple juice and corn chips, when he met eyes with his American belle who, pausing with the sushi before her lips, smiled at him. Romauld, sitting opposite her, swivelled on the bench and rolled his eyes.

How was Taylor to resist such an invitation?

Sauntering over to the alfresco tables Will squeezed Romauld's shoulder, shaking his hand before kissing Madison on each cheek, "So what brings my two favourite people down to this part of Rome? Sick of the cold weather in Milano, Rommie?"

Madison laughed, "This is where it's at. Hey Mahdo! How are you, you big, beautiful boy?" the dog pushed his paws into her lap and stood up, delicately licking her cheek as she shrieked in laughter.

"Get down Mahdo!" Taylor dragged the dog back onto all fours, "Jeez you're a loose unit. But yeah, Milan's nice for a weekend I reckon, but you want heat in summer. All in or nothing. What d'you think Romauld? Like this kind of heat?"

"Yeah it's good," he shrugged; the wasabi was sub-par, something that did not impress this sour puss. Mahdo, however, was determined to cheer everyone up and dropped his big head onto Romauld's bare thigh, looking sheepishly up at the boy.

"So what brings you to this part of Rome?" Madison leant in close.

"Oh, you know... curiosity... of the, uh, nuclear variety."

Madison laughed, "You're a dork, Will."

"I'm the dork?"

"Yeah! Look at those stripy shorts; they're almost underwear."

"Advertising, love; gotta show off the assets," winked the lad, flexing his big thighs, "Besides, what insanity are you wearing? Look like a harlequin!"

"Now you're just being mean," Madison tilted her head.

"Soz, prego."

A waitress appeared at the table, asking Will if he was going to order anything.

"I dunno? Depends on whether Romauld wants to talk to me about anything?"

With his foppish blonde hair Romauld nodded, patting Mahdo's head.

Will grinned wickedly, "Love a bit of smoked eel, if you would, darling? Cheers. Prego. Bloody love this language!"

"Best language in the world!" Madison declared.

"Not as good as French," Romauld winked, and the girl pantomimed shock.

"He thinks he's the expert cos he can speak five."

"You're joking!" Taylor chickened his neck, "How's that?"

"Europe, brother."

"I can speak two," said Madison, puckering her lips at Romauld, "But my Japanese ain't great."

"Christ," Taylor shook his head, "That's shot my confidence."

"Well if you can speak English there's not much-"