“Gorgeous? Check. Italian? Check. Fall in love with and bring home to Mom and Dad? Not. Even. Close.” — Kristin Rae Beauty Copy Share Image
“It’s always good to try new things. Especially if it scares you a little bit.” — Kristin Rae Good Copy Share Image
“Considering Bruno stole quite a large amount of money from me, I haven’t exactly been chatty with him, so that makes things… — Kristin Rae Money Copy Share Image
“Nina’s already thinking about grad school? Is she that much older than you?” “A few years, yeah.” “Whoa.” I refrain from making… — Kristin Rae Comments Copy Share Image
“You’re so tan.” “Spent a lot of time outside,” I say slowly, fingers crossed that she doesn’t want to talk too much… — Kristin Rae Fingers crossed Copy Share Image
“Just the idea of seeing the ruins of Pompeii in person makes me ache deep inside. Then there’s Darren, no longer off… — Kristin Rae Photography Copy Share Image
“ASSIGNMENT NUMERO OTTO: FEEL YOUR FEELINGS Write down the first thing that comes into your mind. Short and sweet. No pondering! Just… — Kristin Rae Psychology Copy Share Image
“We stop at the gate to the apartment, but Bruno’s still hanging on to me. “The key,” he says, swaying his hips.… — Kristin Rae Bruno Copy Share Image
“It seems crazy that people back home dream of going to places like Italy, and people in Italy dream of going to… — Kristin Rae Copy Share Image
“The bathroom appears clean and, thankfully, normal. Although there are two toilets right next to each other. Wait. One is definitely a… — Kristin Rae Toilet Copy Share Image
“My phone blares on the little table between us and we both jump. I hastily mute the ringer, then nearly drop it… — Kristin Rae Staying Calm Copy Share Image
“When I went to meet you, Bruno told me what was going on.” “Bruno did?” I ask, shocked. Morgan’s eyes widen as… — Kristin Rae Copy Share Image
“I look around to find Darren since I assumed he was walking along with us. He’s not. He’s still at the bottom… — Kristin Rae Remember Nina Copy Share Image
“You really didn’t see me trying to push him away?” “You did?” Darren scratches along his jawline. “I guess I was too… — Kristin Rae Angry Copy Share Image
“Chiara! Pippas! Where you go?” “To sleep! You can handle it on your own.” Chiara shouts something else to him in Italian… — Kristin Rae Gaze Copy Share Image
“What did you say to him?” I ask when I’ve recovered the ability to speak. “I told him that he should knock… — Kristin Rae Getting dressed Copy Share Image
“Angela returns to the table, frowning. “She won’t think her own brother’s hot. That’s sick.” “Like you don’t know yours is hot,”… — Kristin Rae Copy Share Image
“I think I may cool off in the water for a few minutes. Do you want to come?” He stands and brushes… — Kristin Rae Cool water Copy Share Image
“Going?” I smile and wait for her to remove her hand before I answer. “Just meeting up with a friend.” Friend. There,… — Kristin Rae Friendship Copy Share Image
“ Giorno ,” says one of the girls working behind the counter. She looks like she’s around my age, maybe a year… — Kristin Rae Communication Copy Share Image
“Something came for you in the mail,” she says, sliding a small envelope across the counter. “From Italy.” I snatch it and… — Kristin Rae Copy Share Image
“Why am I getting so worked up over this? Because I like him and I feel like he’s telling me, in code,… — Kristin Rae Eyes looking Copy Share Image
“There’s nothing else inside the envelope. I turn the photo over and we read the note on the back written in small,… — Kristin Rae Gaze Copy Share Image
“So, how did everything work out in the end? How did your parents deal with the subterfugery?” He looks behind us cautiously… — Kristin Rae Breaking the rules Copy Share Image
“Darren’s been quiet since we stripped down to our bathing suits and waded into the water, like his mind is somewhere else.… — Kristin Rae Bathing suit Copy Share Image
“You could belong here,” he says, his tone surprisingly serious. I turn from him and look back at the cluster of buildings,… — Kristin Rae Foreign country Copy Share Image
“Bruno, this is my friend Pippa. Pippa, my cousin Bruno.” Bruno. The in-with-the-wrong-crowd Bruno. Divinely and supernaturally gorgeous Bruno. And he just… — Kristin Rae Bruno Copy Share Image
“ Benvenuta a la Via dell’Amore,” he says, poking a bright pink lock with Ashlee + Jake written on it in white… — Kristin Rae Afternoon sun Copy Share Image
“Don’t you have your suit on?” he asks, pulling off his shoes. I nod and wait for him to get distracted again… — Kristin Rae Ask for help Copy Share Image
“Darren,” I begin, swallowing the lump in my throat and forcing myself to keep eye contact. I need answers. I can’t go… — Kristin Rae Eye contact Copy Share Image
“Pippas,” he nearly whispers. “I tell you something that you do not know.” My heart picks up speed and I nestle deeper… — Kristin Rae End time Copy Share Image
“You try this before?” he asks. I shake my head. I’ve had versions of it back home, but the sight and aroma… — Kristin Rae Food Copy Share Image
“I was sitting here for, like, an hour before you even sat down.” “Why?” he asks, observing our surroundings with a sweep… — Kristin Rae Gaze Copy Share Image
“Are you writing in your diary?” Even through the whisper I can tell he’s laughing. “No.” I feel in the dark for… — Kristin Rae Eyes looking Copy Share Image
“Overwhelmed with the need to touch him, I reach out and trace along his sharp jawline, stopping just before his lips. I… — Kristin Rae Gaze Copy Share Image
“ Ciao, Bruno! ” someone calls from a boat puttering slowly into the marina. A hard line sets Bruno’s jaw for a… — Kristin Rae Calls Boat Copy Share Image
“I sit at an empty table after the lunch rush and turn to the last assignment in my journal. This one’s the… — Kristin Rae Art Copy Share Image
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say, clasping his hand in mine. “Where were you when you left that voice mail earlier… — Kristin Rae Last minute Copy Share Image
“ Goals update: Don’t get arrested Don’t make a fool out of myself in public--FAILED Get my picture taken… — Kristin Rae Failed Copy Share Image
“I stop in my tracks to look up, completely disrupting the flow of tourist traffic. It’s directly in front of me, in… — Kristin Rae Skyscrapers Copy Share Image
