Sophie's Summer Kiss: A totally gorgeous romantic comedy by Debbie Viggiano

Author:Debbie Viggiano [Viggiano, Debbie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unicorn Publishing
Published: 2023-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Five

‘So how are you feeling this afternoon, Sophie?’ asked Luca.

We were now seated at a window table, overlooking the promenade. A waiter had already been over. Pizza had been ordered. Meanwhile Luca was sipping a cold beer while I cradled a glass of chilled white wine. I twirled the stem thoughtfully before answering.

‘I’m a whole lot better than yesterday,’ I said honestly. I gazed through the window for a moment. ‘Bizarrely, the whole episode seems like it happened to someone else.’

‘Probably a coping mechanism.’

‘Yes, I did wonder that and suspect you’re right. I shall spend the next week licking my wounds and mentally recuperating. Then I shall return home and do the necessary. Get the marriage annulled.’

‘Well, I hope Maiori – indeed the Amalfi Coast – helps to heal your heartbreak.’

‘Me too,’ I said, before taking a sip of wine. ‘This is delicious by the way.’

‘Good.’

‘I just feel such an idiot. This is the second time I’ve fluffed up. I loved Teddy – my first husband – to bits. I’m still very fond of him. However, he was a serial philanderer.’

‘This is the first gentleman who called you.’

‘Yes, him. He sweetly offered to drop everything and fly out to rescue me.’

‘Ah, a knight in shining armour,’ Luca smiled, before taking a glug of his beer.

‘Teddy is definitely that sort of guy,’ I laughed. ‘A smooth operator.’

‘As opposed to George.’

‘I belatedly discovered that George is just plain devious. He certainly has none of Teddy’s charm. I don’t know how I managed to be so taken in,’ I sighed. I stared at my wine, as if the pale liquid might somehow hold the answer.

‘Put the whole episode down to one of life’s experiences.’

‘One hell of a lesson,’ I said gloomily.

‘But we all have them.’

I looked up at him curiously.

‘Has something like this happened to you?’

Luca inclined his head.

‘I have a failed marriage under my belt.’

‘Really?’

‘Yup. I married very young and, well’ – he shrugged – ‘it didn’t work out.’

Thanks to an empty stomach, the wine was hitting its spot. I was starting to feel pleasantly relaxed.

‘How young?’ I asked nosily.

‘Nineteen,’ he said, looking sheepish.

‘Nineteen?’ I gasped. ‘A teenager!’

‘Indeed, and a know-it-all teenager at that, as was Jilly, my young wife.’

‘Tell me about her.’

‘Not much to tell really. We went to school together. Childhood sweethearts.’

‘How romantic,’ I sighed, putting one elbow on the table, and cupping my chin in my hand.

‘Oh, it was very romantic,’ Luca agreed. ‘From the age of twelve to nineteen, Jilly was my girl. We only had eyes for each other. Our parents warned us not to rush into marriage, but we ignored them. Our families were convinced it wouldn’t last.’

‘It might have done,’ I said indignantly.

‘Certainly, I thought it would,’ he said quietly. ‘And on that premise, we went ahead and married at the local registry office. My bride wore a white dress bought for ninety-nine pence off eBay while I was suited and booted in an outfit that cost a fiver from a local charity shop. Afterwards we went to McDonalds with a bunch of old schoolfriends and celebrated with Happy Meals.

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