NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 28

Despite the long journey, Anna was happy to return to the old place from which it all began. The atmosphere immediately changed. Friends were always joking, and nothing seemed to overshadow the last days of her trip to Milan.

Randall, ignoring the tourists' problems, behaved still thoughtfully and courteously, tried to please the girl, showered her with kisses and compliments. Anna bathed in benevolence and did not want to even think about how she would need to return to Garth city in a couple of days.

"What happens then?" she asked as they both lay on the sofa, dangling their legs.

"What do you mean?" Randall, busy reading the news feed on his phone, asked blankly.

"What will happen to us, then?"

"Beauty, don't worry your head about anything, just hold me tight." He kissed her on the lips and went back to reading.

Anna sighed heavily. She looked at him. So handsome, he perused unimportant to Anna pages. Randall adored reading political news, controversies, debates, and various stand-up comedies. He could laugh for hours at different videos and always made Anna join him, who curled up near and listened to his ringing laughter.

But now, he read something more severe than the jokes because his forehead showed frown lines. Sometimes he would mutter to himself some paragraphs, messing his shiny hair.

Today he was wearing a wide white t-shirt and jeans, but this casual style only added to his charm. His tanned skin contrasted spectacularly with the material, and his jeans were a bit tight, giving enough to understand how tall and stately he was.

Anna smiled. Soon she wouldn't be able to look at Randall like that, immersed in reading. She clung to him and kissed him.

I love you, Randall Parleo... she thought to herself, but not a word was said aloud.

"I love you, Anna!" Bernardo's voice rang out.

She was taken aback. Bernardo flew into the room and, with a laugh, fell right on top of the couple.

"How about some tea?" he asked defiantly. "All set!"

Randall put the phone down and made a face.

"Some tea! Bern, your company is superfluous but sure! Who needs a personal life when you got tea! Come on, then! Bring up da cupsies!"

The guys laughed as he stood up and wandered into the kitchen, endlessly calling Anna. She looked at the flashing screen of Randall's phone. The temptation to check the device overshadowed all logical thinking, and Anna pressed the chat button.

The screen was flooded with flirty messages with hearts emojis from a ton of girls. None of the chats was read.

"Hey, Anna!" Randall shouted from the kitchen. "Where you at?"

Anna hastily closed the chat and shouted, "Coming!"

What did she expect to see? Why was she on the phone even? Did he talk to all these girls?

Her head was spinning from all these questions, but she obediently wandered into the kitchen.