Suddenly, Keira became aware of the sound of clapping and cheering around them. She pulled back, blushing, and realized the crowd around them must have assumed they’d just gotten engaged. Keira’s instinct was to feel embarrassed, but Cristiano basked in the moment, in the ludicrousness of it.

He gave a little bow and exclaimed, “She said yes!” He tugged Keira’s hand into the air in triumph.

Just like she’d done with the kiss itself, Keira stopped fighting the moment. She let herself play the role, and reveled in it.

Cristiano slung his arm around her and walked her slowly to the end of the bridge.

“I know this is moving very fast,” he said, then jokingly added, “what with us being engaged now and everything.”

Keira laughed and shook her head, amused by the whole thing.

“But,” Cristiano added, “I’d like for you to meet my parents.”

Keira laughed harder. Then she looked at him and saw his earnest expression. She frowned.

“You’re not joking?”

“I am deadly serious, Keira,” Cristiano replied. “This is my home city. My parents live just the other side of the hill. I want them to meet you, and you them. They’re good people. And they’ve made far too much food for All Souls’ Day.”

Keira was shocked. She found herself floundering. But she reminded herself to let go, to go with the flow and see where life took her.

“Okay,” she said, finally, exhaling, giving in. “But I have to do one thing first.”

She took her phone out of her pocket and deleted the draft email she’d been about to send Elliot. Once it had been erased, disappearing into cyberspace, she went to her text messages and pulled up the thread with Shane, the one she’d left dangling and began to type.

I’m sorry I didn’t reply before. I think it’s best if we don’t message each other anymore. It’s over. I’m sorry.

She hit send, her heart clenching momentarily at the enormity of what she’d just done. She’d chosen her future, had shaped her own fate. She’d chosen to write instead of quit, and to be with Cristiano instead of pining for Shane.

The pain lasted only momentarily and was replaced by a surge of power, a sense of being in control.

She looked up at Cristiano and smiled. “Let’s go.”

She was expecting him to lead her in the direction he’d pointed, the hillside his parents’ village was the other side of. But instead, he walked her down a side street and paused beside a Vespa.

“Wait,” Keira said, surprised. “We’re going on that?”

Cristiano winked. “Hold on tight, my Keira. I drive fast.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Wind whipped through Keira’s hair as she held on tightly to Cristiano. The countryside outside of Florence was stunning, with beautiful rolling hillsides and farm yards. As they went, Keira saw more of the traditional All Souls’ Day celebrations; red candles burning in the windows of houses, children in the streets throwing confetti at one another, and gorgeous processions of flaming torches, candles, and chrysanthemum bouquets. It was like watching many funerals taking place at once, Keira thought, but with none of the melancholy. Instead, what Keira felt coming from the people they passed was joy of cherished memories.