Chapter Thirteen

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"How was the bonfire?" Calli asks down the line, her face filling up the screen of my phone as her voice echos throughout the room.

"It was horrific. The guy who invited me was a total creep, Nico said it's probably better off if I stay away from him," I explain and a wide grin spread across her face.

"Nico did, huh?" she smiles and I roll my eyes. I must have given away my thoughts exactly as she gasps. "Have you done anything with him..." she trails off.

"Calli, that has nothing to do with you," I say pointedly and she laughs down the line before squealing.

"That means yes! Did he go down on you? Did you go down on him! I have to know everything, Heidi. Spare no details," she demands and I sigh, knowing she will not hang up until I break down everything that happened between Nico and I.

"Well, Nico suggested we go to this secret cove, that no one ever really goes to, and when we got there we started kissing then one thing led to another..." I say hoping she'll get the gist of it but she stares at me expectantly. "We, you know, and then he did go down on me, yes... multiple times," I feel my cheeks heat.

"Oh. My. God. You are living my dreams!" Calli practically screams. "I'm gonna act like I am not jealous whatsoever," she huffs.

"What are you two talking about?" his voice sounds and my eyes go wide, Calli mirroring my horrified expression.

"Nothing of importance," I shrug, hiding my complete embarrassment by facing the other way. Calli mouths is that him and I slowly nod my head.

"I just wanted to let you know that your first sightseeing will be tonight, I'll pick you up at seven," Nico says and I finally turn to face him, putting the call on mute.

"Now you've got me excited... why is it in the evening?" I ask and Nico smiles.

"No questions allowed. It's a surprise," he explains and I groan. Surprises are the worst. The anticipation mixing with the anxiety it causes is just a recipe for disaster. When I was younger, my mother surprised me with a trip to the ice cream shop, after I got a good grade in a class I was struggling in. By the time we had gotten there, I had already thrown up in the backseat of our car - several times.

"Okay, fine," I mutter and Nico only laughs before walking towards the bed. "I'm still on facetime with Calli," I whisper, like she can hear me.

"What's that?" Nico asks, laying down beside me. He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear and I almost float away to another dimension.

I'm about to ask how he doesn't know what facetime is but Calli stops me. "Hello! I'm still here, you know. Don't start snogging whilst you're on the phone to me, at least have the decency to hang up!" she shouts down the line and I laugh.

Unmuting myself, I give her an exasperated look. "Like I'd do that to you. Listen, I've got to go but it was great catching up," I say and she raises her eyebrows suggestively.

"Don't have too much fun without me," she says before we exchange goodbyes and hang up.

"How do I need to dress?" I ask as I stand and walk towards the wardrobe, rifling through my clothes. "Casual... formal?" I question and Nico laughs.

"I would love to see you in a dress again," Nico says, his voice lower and I pause, taking in his words. I can't deny the flutter that runs through my stomach nor the heat that curdles in my cheeks.

Last night was... eventful to say the least.

Grabbing a pale pink dress that hits the top of my thighs, I turn around to face Nico and hold up the garment. Nico raises his brows. "Perfect." Is all he says.

Giving him a small smile, I place the dress over the back of the creme chair sitting in the corner of the bedroom.

"We need to talk," I say as casually as possible. Nico gives me a confused expression. "About... last night," I clarify and he runs a hand through his dark hair.

When I'd gotten back last night, I had done a lot of thinking about us and whether I'm ready to dive deep into something with Nico. Especially when the likelihood of us seeing each other again is close to zero.

I came to the conclusion that I am simply not ready.

"What about it?" he asks, wariness coating his tone. Sitting down next to him on the bed, I take a deep breath - as though I am about to make some radical confession but truly I'm just trying to clear the air.

"I don't think I'm ready for anything more than friendship. I had a great time last night but I think we should keep, whatever this is, strictly platonic... for the sake of both of our feelings," I explain and Nico stares at me, something brewing in those blue eyes.

"I see how it is. You're scared you're falling and you're cutting off any thread of feelings for me before you get the chance to even figure said feelings out," Nico smirks and I roll my eyes.

"I must say you have an incredibly large ego if you think that I'm falling for you. I don't even know you," I breathe and Nico gives me a questionable look. It was the truth... maybe not entirely, but partially.

"I'll pick you up at seven," Nico confirms before getting up from the bed and stalking towards the door. It opens with a slight creak, the wood old and slightly decaying. Soon after, I hear the front door close and I try not to focus on the surprise and more so the day ahead.

Soon enough, seven rolls around and I'm wearing the pale-pink dress with my hair curled to perfection and my makeup light and bronzed.

A knock sounds at the front door and I say goodbye to everyone before opening it. The oak door opens to reveal Nico dressed in a white dress-shirt and black jeans. Both casual and formal.

"Beautiful, amore mio," Nico says, his voice just below a whisper to keep from prying ears.

A blush rises in my cheeks, although I am unpleasantly reminded of our conversation. Strictly platonic. "You look very well, yourself."

Nico holds out his arm, gesturing for me to take it. Reaching out, I loop my hand around his bicep ignoring the rush I get from his touch. My incessant brain reminds me of his hands on me, touching me in places a friend would never think of.

Places that the word platonic does not exist.

Nico leads the way as I try to scrape my brain out of the gutter. Platonic, I repeat until my mind is nothing but mush and friendship. "Where are we going?"

My anxiety has increased to shaky hands and a knot in my throat. "You'll see... are you sure you understand the rules of a surprise?" Nico asks in jest, mocking me for my continuous array of questions.

I roll my eyes. "Yes I understand... I just don't like surprises," I rush the last bit and lower my voice, hoping that he doesn't hear me. But it's Nico, so of course he hears.

He furrows his brows as he guides us towards the stairs. Eyes glued to the floor, I make sure to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground. Ever since I'd fallen down the stairs at Calli's house I've been extra paranoid.

"But surprises are fun?" he says more like a question than a statement. It makes me query whether he believes that himself or not... he doesn't seem too sure of his own words.

"They're a cause for excessive stress... Although I am very excited as well. Thank you for doing this," I add to make sure I don't sound ungrateful.

Nico has gone out of his way several times to make sure I make use of every moment I have here. Used his own time to show me the island, to take me on trips. It's truly appreciated. I'm not sure I've ever had someone show so much interest in how others experience things. Although, I've come to realise that Nico's home means a lot to him.

"Well, I'm afraid I cannot say there will be no more surprises," Nico says and I smile his way. I've also come to realise that I enjoy spending time with Nico much more than I should.

"Consider me already anxious," I laugh and Nico glances my way, watching me for a while but I continue facing forwards. The feeling of his eyes on me... it's comforting but also sends shivers flooding through me.

We trail through the town, the atmosphere just as euphoric as every other night. It's almost as if the town never sleeps. There's always one thing or another taking place. Always stools crowded with food and people, restaurants loaded with the same wondrous aromas, seats always filled with bright smiles.

Nico takes me through a narrow street between two buildings, the stairs an uneven cobble with sections jutting out in corners. Simply screaming fall over!

I follow, hesitantly, letting Nico lead the way. I haven't an inkling as to where we are going. Though, through the gaps between the buildings, I manage to spot Doria Castle. Nico had briefly mentioned how his parents owned the castle but I hadn't thought about it much afterwards.

Excitement and anticipation curdled in the hollows of my stomach.

My thoughts were confirmed when we reached the top of the stairs, the view of the town unspeakably beautiful from higher up.

"Bellisima," I say and a warm smile lifts Nico's lips. I seem to get a rather positive reaction when I say even the tiniest bit of Italian in front of Nico. He doesn't even attempt to hide his smile.

I'm about to stop in my tracks but Nico continues walking towards the tower. "We're going higher?"

Nico smiles. "We haven't gotten to your surprise yet."

My confusion multiplies. What could possibly be the surprise? I had presumed that the surprise would have been visiting Doria Castle itself. But no... there's more.

I find myself beyond intrigued as Nico leads us further up the stairs of the tower. With each step I grow more excited and eager. Until we reach the top and I am filled with complete and utter awe.

Nico had set up our own mini picnic, over looking the ocean and the sky that would soon fill with a palette of pastel hues. A candle-lit dinner placed upon a small checkered blanket.

It was probably the best surprise I have ever been given.


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