Page 46 of Tour Wars
To her relief, Dusty replied to her request with a thumbs-up. Seconds later, Emilia’s phone buzzed with a call.
“Hey, Dusty,” she said.
“Em! How goes the tour? Are you still on the Amalfi Coast?”
“Nope. We’re in Paestum. About an hour and a half south of Sorrento, right on the Tyrrhenian Sea.”
“Did you go to the ruins there? I’ve never been, but Stuart said they’re worth visiting.”
“Yeah, the site was fabulous. Some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, plus a great archaeological museum. But honestly? My favorite part of the day was our lunch at Campania Bufa, where they make buffalo mozzarella. We had a tasting with five different kinds of cheese.”
“Fresh mozzarella?” Dusty whined. “I’m so jealous. The only cheese in our fridge is a block of stale cheddar. Stuart left for a three-day seminar, and I’m fending for myself.”
“Youcouldlearn to cook, you know.”
“Why bother when Stuart is so good at it? His pasta is to die for. Well, obviously not as incredible as the stuff in Italy, but he’s a masterful chef.”
Emilia plopped down on the sand and brushed off her feet. After putting her flip-flops on, she started walking back to the hotel. While she could happily spend hours chatting with Dusty about random shit, she needed to address the TJ situation.
Fortunately, Dusty brought it up first. “How’s it going with TJ? Have you been arguing nonstop?”
“Actually, he’s been great. Super helpful, and patient with the guests, and…”
Dusty laughed. Not just any laugh, but a maniacal cackle worthy of an evil villain plotting to take over the world. “Iknewit. Stuart owes me fifty bucks.”
“What?”
“You and TJ. I bet Stuart this tour could go one of two ways—you’d hate each other forever, or you’d end up fucking. Guess who picked door number two?”
Emilia rubbed her forehead. “We’re not fucking. Even if we wanted to, it’s—”
“Against the rules. Iknow. You already told me about them. They’re in that huge-ass binder you carry around everywhere. But you want him, right?”
She did. For the first time since Vince had shredded her heart to ribbons, she was so consumed with longing she could barely focus. “Yeah, but…”
“But what? Once the tour ends, you’ve still got two months left at Pompeii. What’s to stop you from spending every weekend at a cheap hotel screwing your brains out?”
“You’re such a romantic,” Emilia muttered.
“Well, yeah, because this is just about sex. Clearly, you’re ready to get back on the horse, but it’s not anything more than that.” Dusty’s voice trailed off. “Is it?”
Emilia stared at the phone, unable to answer. For the past two years, her sex life had been as dry as a California desert. After the way Vince had hurt her, she’d closed herself off to all sexual and romantic relationships. Instead, she’d focused on writing her dissertation, applying for jobs, and working every side hustle available. From the sound of it, TJ had been operating the same way. Now, they were stuck together on a ten-day tour, both ready to let off a little steam. Of course it was just about sex.
Right?
“Em? Did I lose you?” Dusty asked. “It’s okay if you want more than sex. That’s what happened with me and Stuart at Troy. We fell in love, and look how well it turned out.”
But Dusty hadn’t been through the same emotional turmoil. She’d always known Stuart was the one she wanted. Hell, she’d been in love with him for most of her adult life. Emilia hadn’t been so lucky. She’d trusted someone and allowed herself to imagine a future with him, only to get her heart broken. Did she really want to take that risk again? Her life was uncertain enough as it was.
“I don’t think love is in the cards for me,” she said.
“Really? I’m not going to push you, but I think you owe yourself more than that. In the meantime, why not have a little fun? Smoking-hot, no-strings sex with TJ until you leave Italy. Like I said before, what’s stopping you?”
Whatwasstopping her? Why was she assuming every guy would treat her the way Vince had?
Even if she and TJ couldn’t have sex yet, she could let him know she was interested. And once the tour ended, she could act on it.
* * *
