the churches in the city, each of them more beautiful than the last, and I started to see that Orlo—and the country itself—was a mix of both the old and the new, centuries-old churches huddled up against and below skyscrapers that stretched up into the sky to touch the clouds.
It was, I thought, most likely what all of Europe was like. The old and the new. Ancient things pressed up against things as they were now. Much like Francisco himself was—a mix of the old and the new. A mix of the playboy, constantly flirting with drama, and the man who secretly wanted to settle down and play a bigger part in the government of his country.
And through it all, through every stop and every dinner, every night spent twisted in the sheets of Francisco’s bed, I felt a common thread. A thread that was Francisco and me twined together, building our own path through the country—and city—that had raised him. Getting to know each other like we never had before, in our short and fairly scattered acquaintance.
And falling more and more in love with each passing day.
Or at least… well, I was. We didn’t talk about it, though, so I didn’t know for sure whether that feeling, that thread, was reaching through his life or not. I didn’t know if it was just me.
A week after I arrived, Francisco told me to wear the new dress he’d just bought for me—the red one—and nice shoes, and I complied, thinking that it was an odd request, but that it most likely at least meant that we wouldn’t be doing much walking.
And after a week of adventuring, I was ready for some sitting, and if he thought we were going to do much traveling while I was in heels, I would just make him carry me. Which was almost as good as just sitting, in my opinion.
When we walked out of the house, though, I saw the sports car in the drive and stopped.
“If you think I’m riding in a convertible after I’ve just gone to all the trouble to control my hair, buddy, you’ve got another thing coming,” I told him sternly.
He just grinned, walked around the car, ducked into it, and pushed a button.
The top moved smoothly up and over the car, and Francisco stepped back and gestured to it.
“As you can see, I’ve thought of everything,” he said. “Get in. I have a surprise for you.”
He barely waited until I’d closed the door before taking off, and I quickly buckled my seatbelt, giving him a sideways glance and wondering what he was so worked up about. His face was turned to the road, though, his eyes intent on our path, and I settled in and turned my gaze to the scenery flying by us.
I knew Francisco well enough now to know that determined look on his face. He clearly had something very specific in mind, and he was going to be so focused on it that he wouldn’t want to talk until we arrived at his intended destination.
I was just smiling at the realization that I knew him well enough now to be able to recognize something like that, when I realized something else. I knew where we were. Or rather… not where we were, exactly, but certainly the general area.
“This is the same road we drove before,” I said. “On the first day, when you took me down the coast.”
When I turned to him, I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. “You’re right,” he said.
“Where are we going? Not to the beach when I’m dressed like this, I hope.”
The twitch turned into a grin, but one that he kept cornered at the side of his mouth. “That,” he said with a sideways glance, “is a surprise.”
We were going, it turned out, to the same restaurant he’d taken me to after that first drive. Only this time, where there had been several other cars and people milling about before, the place looked deserted.
“Is it closed?” I asked doubtfully, not really wanting to get out of the car if it was going to turn out that we weren’t allowed in.
“No,” he said quickly. “Just… reserved.”
Reserved? What on earth did that mean?
Before I could respond, Francisco stepped out of the car and shut the door behind him, and moments later he was opening mine and helping me out of my seat.
“But we’re going to be allowed in, right?” I asked, still a bit concerned.
“Of course!” he said with a