The weather as they headed further north grew chillier. Keira held on tightly to Cristiano, drawing warmth from his body. Her hair flew backward in the wind and she felt exhilarated, carefree. In love.

Finally, they made it to Verona. Keira looked around her in wonder at the entirely unique city. Its architecture was a mishmash of the two centuries of history she’d come to expect from Italy, but that Verona was once a merchant city was immediately apparent. As the scooter weaved along the street, Keira saw everything from palaces, merchant houses, towers, and statues. They passed piazzas and Roman ruins, things Keira had become accustomed to and perceived as very Italian. But then the bike whizzed beneath a huge stone arch, one the city’s gateways.

Cristiano slowed the Vespa and drew to a halt outside a hotel. He hopped off and helped Keira safely onto the sidewalk. Her legs were stiff from the long journey.

He kissed her. “Did you enjoy that?”

She grinned. “Yes! I want to do it again.”

“Another day,” Cristiano told her, and she thought poignantly about how they only had this day and tomorrow left together. She wondered if he meant another day in the future, after her departure, when they’d arrange to meet up again, or whether he just hadn’t really spent any time thinking about the fact she was leaving imminently.

Inside, the hotel was very comfortable and cozy. Not the impeccable design of Sabrina and Francesco’s home, but gorgeous nonetheless. Thankfully their bags had been couriered successfully and were waiting for them in their room.

Keira turned to Cristiano to comment on the pleasantness of the room, but before she could open her mouth to speak, his lips were on hers, moving hungrily. Neither needed to say another word. Their desires fell into perfect unison. They tumbled onto the bed, unleashing the passion that had become pent up over the last few days.

After making blissful love, they showered together, freshening up for the afternoon and evening ahead. Keira sat on the stool of the desk, combing her wet hair, feeling content and satisfied.

“Where are we heading to?” she asked Cristiano’s reflection in the mirror, watching him button up his shirt over his muscular chest.

“Somewhere every literature graduate should go,” he replied.

Keira laughed and turned on the stool to face him. “And where is that?”

Cristiano paced across the room to her and cupped her face in his hands. “The balcony of Romeo and Juliet,” he said. “The real location that Shakespeare based it on. The very place he wrote the most romantic love story in the world.”

Keira felt a lump of emotion in her throat at the thought of it. So excited was she that she leapt straight up, her hair still wet, and grabbed her purse.

“What are we waiting for?” she cried. “Let’s go!”

She clutched Cristiano’s hand and, laughing, they hurried out the room, flying down the hotel steps and out into the warm Verona air.