Her Best Friend's Brother by T. Dell (read the beginning after the end novel .TXT) 📕

tearing his eyes from Libby’s face Gio dropped the rest of the coins into the fountain. “So that you might return many times, Mia Betta.” He said when she raised her eyebrows at him.

Dear Mel,

I met someone! His name is Gio, and he incredible.

He took me for a motor bike ride last week, and then hecooked me dinner a few nights ago. Next weekend hewants to take me up the Almalfi coast for a picnic onthe beach at Positano.

Love, Libby

Ps: you would approve of his accent

Dear Libby,

Details!

Love, Mel

***

I hope things are well—you haven’t written inawhile. I guess you are busy. I have to admit the timehas passed more quickly than I thought it would. I can’twait to see you this summer.

-t-

Sorry I have been busy. The thing is, I won’t behome this summer after all. I was accepted into acertificate program at the Culinary Institute. I amgoing to finish my degree at the American University of Rome this fall, and then I will spend an eighteen weekterm full time at the culinary institute. I could hardlybelieve my mother agreed to it, but it is an incredibleopportunity.

I can’t wait for the first Raines book. I have all myfriends pre-ordering copies. You’ll be releasing inEurope before you know it!

-l-

That’s great Lib. I am happy for you.

-t-

Dear Libby,

We are getting married! I hope I looked surprisedwhen John asked, but to be honest I found the ringweeks ago. We are planning for June—you’ll be homeby then right? We have to have time for your maid-of-honor dress fittings.

Love, the future Mrs. Jonathan Evans

Dear Mel,

Congrats! Of course I’ll be home. I should be backby the end of April which leaves me plenty of time toplan a bachelorette party. I am so happy for you. Johntoo.

Love, Libby

Can you believe it about Mel? I guess John hasgrown on me by now. But she seems too young to getmarried. Wow.

I left the Examiner. I am renting an office inLindstown with an apartment above it. I have decidedto start my own paper. What do you think?

-t-

That’s awesome Tony! I want you to send me everyissue!

-l-

Libby decided not to mention that Mel was an adult. It was probably time to let that old argument die.

I can hardly believe I am finished. The last fewmonths were killer, but totally worth it. Why didn’t youtell me that graduating college was such an affirmingexperience?

It was sad not to have Mel and John here. But, mymom and Stuart are staying in Rome for a secondhoneymoon and it has been good to see them. I knowyou’re busy, but I wish you could have been here.

-l-

Chapter Thirteen Affirming? Tony didn’t remember his graduation feeling quite so profound. But he supposed it might be a girl thing. He probably could have gone, but he didn’t think he could face Libby’s Italian boyfriend. Anyway she would be home in a few months. Mel seemed sure that Libby was serious about this guy. But Libby was stil planning on coming home, so that was as good as a green light for Tony. He knew he had handled her news badly before she left, but now he had had time to think about it and Libby had been right. She needed to go to Italy, and after al this time waiting at extra 20 months didn’t seem like such a hardship. Moving on hadn’t worked. Libby was burned so clearly into his brain that eventualy Tony had given up taking other girls out.

Mel had been very clear in her verbal abuse of him when Libby had left for Italy. Apparently Libby deserved better than a few emails and phone cals. Apparently he had deprived Libby of ‘flowers, and nights out, and al the things real couples did.’ She was right, Libby did deserve those things. So when she came home Tony would be ready. He had a new business, and he was house hunting now that the paper was supporting itself. He was a multi-published author. Which wasn’t a lawyer or an Italian chef but it certainly seemed to impress Libby. He would take her on real dates, and bring her flowers, and make her fal in love with him. This was clearly Tony’s only option, since he was more certain now than ever that Libby was the only one for him.

Gio and Libby were sharing a late dinner at his bistro on Libby’s last free day before her program at the culinary institute started. They had spent most of their free time together over the last few months. At first Gio had impressed Libby by not pressing her physicaly—sharing a few passionate kisses here and there but nothing more.

Now she was getting impatient.

“Thank you for celebrating so much with me this week.” Libby moved closer to him in the booth they shared.

“Prego, Mia Betta” Gio kissed her. There wasn’t the al consuming heat she had felt in Tony’s arms. But there was warmth, a slow comfortable burn.

“Maybe we could keep celebrating?” Libby winced at her own words – they were so corny!

“Aahh, Betta. I think that would be inadvisable.” Gio tucked her under his arm.

“Am I a bad kisser?” Libby was shocked into asking a question that had been plaguing her for years. And she was, for once, relieved when Gio burst into laughter.

“Oh Mia Risata!” Gio covered her mouth with a slow deliberate kiss. “You are quite skiled, I think.”

“Then I must smel bad?” Libby covered her embarrassment with a joke.

“I am afraid there is someone else in your heart, no?”

“No.” Libby wanted to be with Gio, she was sure of it.

“You wil be leaving in four months. I do not wish to make love to you knowing you are leaving.”

“Oh.” He had a point. She was leaving. And as much as she loved Rome she knew she didn’t want to live here permanently. She missed her friends and her family desperately.

“I have never been to America. Perhaps when you