Levi left his new friend there on the bridge and found his way to a nearby tourist cart. He purchased a simple postcard with the bridge on the front and headed back to his apartment. After extensive research, Levi found Taylor’s name on Harvard’s housing roster. He scratched a few simple words onto the postcard and prayed that she would understand his message.
23. juliet and happy christmas
“I’m back!” Adrienne called out, slamming the door behind her. “Can I get some help in here?”
Taylor hopped up from her desk and met Adrienne in the common room. There were bags of groceries piled on the futon.
“What’s all this?” Taylor asked.
“This,” Adrienne said, waving her hand across the clutter, “is Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve already unloaded all the cold stuff in the fridge downstairs. Hopefully nobody eats it before tomorrow.”
Taylor started looking through the bags, amazed at all the ingredients it took to make one meal.
“I need to take this to Michelle next door,” Adrienne said, producing a box of condoms. “And collect my money because I refuse to fund someone else’s good time when I’m not getting laid.”
Taylor laughed as her friend disappeared through the door. Once Adrienne returned, Taylor helped her finish unpacking the food, taking inventory as she went.
“Wow, I may have gone overboard,” Adrienne said, looking over her stock. “When will Reese be here?”
“In the next hour or so,” Taylor replied.
“Oh! I almost forgot. The girl at the front desk gave me this. It didn’t have a room number on it, but she said it’s for you.”
Adrienne reached in her back pocket and pulled out a postcard, handing it over to Taylor. Taylor studied the photo on the front. It was an old bridge somewhere in Europe as far as she could tell. She flipped it over and didn’t recognize the handwriting, but the words made the breath leave her body.
I am fortune’s fool.
Romeo
“I’ll be right back,” Taylor said.
She stumbled to her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it. Even though she’d been furious with Levi for making decisions that affected both of them, she couldn’t deny that she still loved him. He’d seen the real Taylor, the pretty girl who said ugly things to push people away. He’d changed her and made her better.
Taylor read the words on the back of the postcard a hundred times. She memorized the way her name and address were casually written, but the five words on the opposite side were more harsh, each stroke sinking into the thickness of the paper. She ran her fingers over the words, feeling the texture. Taylor closed her eyes and tried to picture Levi’s face as he wrote them. I am fortune’s fool. Did he regret his lies and want her with him? Or was he simply letting her know that he was alive and okay?
It took her only one day to decide the answer.
Finding someone to help put her plan into action was easier than she’d thought at a school like this. Harvard was full of the brightest minds in the world, and thankfully not all of them had the morals and values of a saint. For the right amount of money, you could buy someone’s secrecy and a new identity.
Jenni was a tiny brunette that lived on the third floor of Hall F. She had the sweet face of a child and the talent of an evil genius. She used her seemingly innocent charms to acquire anything she wanted, and Taylor was eager to put that to use. It took exactly three weeks for Jenni and Taylor to finish all the preparations. Meanwhile, Taylor continued life as usual, not wanting to raise suspicion.
She sat through classes, studied for finals, met her friends for dinner, and even attended a Semester End party. It was all a ruse, though, a way to pass the time before she disappeared from their lives. Taylor checked in with Suzanne regularly and, out of everyone, it proved to be most difficult to keep the secret from her.
It was the last day of the semester. Finals were over and everyone was abandoning the dorms like they were sinking ships. While Adrienne packed her bags to head home for the holidays, Taylor packed for a completely different reason. She tucked her warmest clothes, toiletries, and two pairs of shoes into her bag. Sitting on her bed, she reached out and ran her fingers over the photo of her and her two best friends.
It was easy imagining Reese’s future. She’d be married, part of a wealthy East Coast family, by the time she graduated. She’d start her own business or run a nonprofit and be wildly successful. Adrienne would finish med school and become a successful doctor and volunteer. She’d meet her future husband out in a village somewhere, where they’d share childhood stories until he worked up the nerve to ask her out. These visions made it easier to leave them behind. Taylor would miss them so much, but she knew they’d be okay without her.
She placed the photo inside her bag and zipped it up before shoving it to the back of her closet and arranging boxes in front of it. She took a look around the small room and smiled at the simple and uncomplicated life she was leaving behind.
Taylor had gone back and forth a million times. She didn’t know if she was doing the smart thing, going to Levi, but it certainly felt like the right thing. Her family meant nothing to her, and she was sure they’d barely notice when she disappeared. Her friends had become more important than ever. For the first time, Taylor truly felt like she had people who cared about her. Leaving them behind was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
Many students were already gone, so Taylor and Adrienne sat on their sofa, discussing the events of their first semester at Harvard.
“American lit was, by far, the hardest class,” Adrienne complained.
“Only because you were too busy lusting after the TA to pay attention,” Taylor said, giggling.
“Yeah, I guess so. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without having sex. I’m frustrated. Simon asked about you again today,” Adrienne said, nudging her. “He mentioned that he’s not going home for the holidays either.”
Taylor rolled her eyes.
“You want me to tell him that you’re a lesbian? No, that won’t work. He’ll probably be more interested. I’ll tell him you’re dating that big beefy guy on the rugby team. The one that looks like he has more muscles than brains.”
“Don’t tell him anything,” Taylor begged. The two laughed and eventually fell silent again. “I’m going to miss you. Reese too.”
“Aww, Tay. We’ll miss you, sweetie. I’m meeting Reese at the airport in the morning. We’ll be back in a few weeks,” Adrienne said, squeezing Taylor’s hand.
Taylor laid her head on Adrienne’s shoulder and sighed. She wanted a proper good-bye, one filled with long hugs and silly tears.
“Come on,” Ade said. “You’ll have the whole place to yourself. You can walk around naked and eat all the disgusting pizza rolls you love with no judgment from me.”
“As if I care about your judgment. Pizza rolls are the most amazing junk food ever invented. Seriously, they’re even better than cheesy puffs and Twinkies.”
“Ugh, stop. You’re making me nauseated,” Adrienne said. “Well, I’m off to bed. We have an early flight.” She gave Taylor a tight hug before looking her up and down. “Are you sure you don’t want to come home? You wouldn’t have to see your parents. You could stay with one of us.”
“No. I’ll be fine by myself.”
“Okay. But try not to do any laundry until I get back,” Adrienne said, giving Taylor a motherly look.
“I promise. Hey, I only ruined one shirt last week.”
“Yeah, you’re getting better. I guess we won’t see you until next year,” Adrienne said. Taylor nodded and avoided her friend’s gaze. “Don’t throw any wild parties. Avoid dark alleys. And look both ways before crossing the street.”
Adrienne ruffled Taylor’s blond hair. Taylor gave her a guilty smile and offered a wave as Adrienne closed her door. She let herself mourn the loss of these girls. Reese and Taylor had helped each other through heartbreak, while Adrienne had always been the voice of reason. She’d take
n Taylor under her wing and taught her how to do laundry and cook healthy meals, while other girls in the dorm had introduced them to the joys of frozen junk food.
Taylor didn’t know how much that mattered now. She had no idea what kind of life, if any, awaited her in Verona. Levi could have moved on, or she could have misinterpreted his message. She’d be stuck in Italy, chasing down someone who didn’t want to be found.
She had never taken a chance on anything. Taylor had never made herself vulnerable enough to step into a situation that she didn’t have control over. So as she handed her new passport to the security guard at Newark Airport, she squared her shoulders and held her breath.
The man looked it over, matched it to her boarding pass, and handed it back without question.
“Enjoy your trip, Juliet.”
Taylor smiled and exhaled before heading to her gate. After three cups of coffee and two trips to the bathroom, it was finally time. Every step toward the plane felt heavier than the one before. Her heart pounded against her chest. Her fingers wrapped around the handle of her carry-on so tightly her knuckles turned white. This was it. There was no turning back.
Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford. Farewell, dear father.
* * *
After dropping that postcard in the mail, Levi held onto the hope that Taylor would come. He knew it was a long shot and that the odds were against him, but some tiny spark kept him returning to that bridge every day. He’d lean against the stones, always accompanied by his nameless friend clutching his cane, and wait for her to appear. And each day he was disappointed when the sun was gone and he was still alone.
Levi wasn’t sure how long he would stay in Verona, but the possibility that she would show up kept him firmly in place for now. His days were filled with explorations of the city and impromptu concerts, but he felt like he was just treading water. He visited libraries and ducked into bars, trying to find someplace that felt like home.
Italian bar life was the one thing that resembled American culture. Pretty girls were always present, in their best outfits, trying to play coy while also making sure they appeared available. He was sometimes approached by women wanting to show the American a good time. They were nice girls and often beautiful, but never who he wanted.
His nights were spent alone in his apartment, accompanied only by his trusty guitar and an expensive bottle of rum. He penned lyrics and melodies to go with them and drank until the pain in his chest was down to a dull throbbing sensation.
After a few weeks, Levi began to lose faith that Taylor would come. Maybe he’d been too brazen in assuming that she would give up her privileged life and forgive him for his sins. Maybe she’d already moved on.
Eventually, he began exploring outside the city. He took day trips to small villages, visited vineyards, and even toured Venice. No matter where he traveled, Levi was always sure to get back to Verona by sunset. Every day, his elderly friend greeted him. He didn’t offer much in the way of conversation, but Levi could tell the man was waiting for something as well.
“Why do you come here?” Levi finally asked.
“To feel closer to heaven. This was mio amore’s favorite place in Verona.”
Levi nodded, understanding that while he waited for his improbable love, this man had already lived, loved, and lost.
“E voi?”
“I sent her a message. I’m hoping she’ll come,” Levi answered.
“Ahh, your Juliet?” The man smiled and placed a gentle hand over Levi’s. “We are not so different. We both wait to be reunited.”
“What if she doesn’t come?” Levi asked, barely able to say those words out loud.
The man’s tired eyes looked out over the river. “Some shall be pardoned, and some punished.”
As much as Levi wanted to dismiss Shakespare’s words, he felt the truth in them. If Taylor never showed, she’d be pardoned from this life with him, and he’d be punished to live with regret. At the age of twenty-two, Levi had experienced love and heartbreak. It had changed him, he could see that now. For some reason, Taylor had been the one to push past his anger and resentment and find the man beneath that mess.
They weren’t a perfect match, both of them had faults. And their relationship was far from traditional, but it worked. Beneath the deception and physical connection, they’d discovered a passion that bound them together.
As usual, when the sun was gone, Levi’s friend left the bridge without a word.
* * *
Christmas Day, Levi woke to no gifts, no well-wishes, and no expectations. Augusto’s bakery was closed, so there was no breakfast either. With the large amounts of rum he’d consumed the night before, there was plenty of hurt.
He pried himself out of bed, only to use the bathroom and check on the radiator. Levi winced as the cold air hit him. He turned up the heat and crawled back into bed. When he woke again, the light was low. It seemed as if he’d been asleep for only a few minutes. With one look at the clock across the room, he was sent into a panic.
Levi flew from the bed, tripping over the sheets wrapped around his legs. He hurried through his shower, dressed quickly, and pulled on his coat and scarf before heading out. The streets were mostly quiet, with families tucked into their homes in celebration. Levi glanced at the sky as he moved toward the bridge. It was purple and amber, beautiful and completely cloudless.
When he saw his friend leaning on the bridge wall, his cane clutched in one hand, Levi breathed a sigh of relief. He made his way next to the man and leaned there.
“Si è quasi troppo tardi,” he said, his eyes meeting Levi’s briefly.
“I know,” Levi answered. “I slept in today.”
“Buon Natale.”
“Buon Natale,” Levi repeated. “Happy Christmas.”
The two men stood in silence, as always. When there was only the slightest tinge of pink left in the sky, the man turned to Levi and smiled.
“Addio, amico.”
Levi watched him wobble away and wondered why he’d actually said good-bye today. Maybe he had no plans of coming back, or maybe he’d grown tired of waiting. Maybe the man had lost hope. Maybe Levi had too.
“What if I told you I took that whole ‘deny thy father and refuse thy name’ thing seriously?”
Levi spun to find Taylor standing a few feet from him, backlit by the pink sky. Her cheeks were red from the cold, her hair a mess. She was bundled tightly in her coat, waiting for his reaction. He stepped toward her, his hand reaching out to make sure she wasn’t a hallucination. His fingers ran over the wool of her coat before fisting the material and pulling her into his arms.
24. suspects and declarations
Levi crushed Taylor in his embrace. She inhaled deeply and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her fingers clawed into his coat, hating the material between them. Levi rocked them back and forth a few times before loosening his grip and tilting his face down to hers. It wasn’t the fevered, frantic kiss that she’d imagined a hundred times before. It was soft and slow, a perfect kiss. Their cold lips warmed immediately, their tongues so eager to consume. They kissed until they were too warm in their coats, dizzy and breathless.
He grabbed Taylor’s bag and slung it over his shoulder.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, kissing her again.
Taylor smiled at him, unable to find the words to express herself. Levi took her hand and led her from the bridge. They walked for a while, passing closed storefronts and navigating narrow streets. Taylor wanted to take in the sights of the city since her journey had been so rushed to get here, but her eyes never left Levi. Every few minutes, he would stop and turn to kiss her again—sometimes just a peck on the lips, and other times he’d press her against the nearest building until she felt completely overwhelmed. Being back in his presence, she felt claimed and wholly his.
Levi led them up a flight up stairs next to a bakery and unlocked the door. He dropped her bag inside the space and pulled her in. It was
a small, simple place with decor that Taylor assumed was left by the last tenants. She spotted his guitar in the corner and smiled, remembering how much she loved to hear him play.
Levi stepped into her line of sight and kissed her again, this time pouring all of his passion and need into it. Taylor worked the buttons of her own coat and slid it from her shoulders before doing the same to Levi’s. They were lips and hands and moaning desire as they clawed at each other so desperately.
He led them to the bedroom, where he slowly, reverently peeled Taylor’s clothes from her body. His eyes found hers and they gazed at each other with renewed adoration. Taylor’s hands gripped the edge of his shirt and she pulled it over his head. Then they were just familiar inked skin and electricity.
Taylor slid her hands into his overgrown hair and urged him down to her. They tumbled onto the bed and she gasped at the sheer pleasure of the heat and weight of his body holding her down. His lips pressed to her skin as he worshipped every part of her anatomy.
When they finally came together, their breaths were stolen by ecstasy. It was heaven and bliss and home. Levi’s body trembled against hers, and she wanted to tell him she felt it too. Instead, Taylor placed light kisses over his face as he moved against her, above her, inside her.
“I thought I’d lost you,” Levi whispered against her lips. “I was so stupid.”
“I’m here,” Taylor said. “I’m here.”
Levi lowered his forehead to her shoulder. He rested on his elbows and slid his forearms beneath her back. Everything that needed to be said, every bit of pain that lived in their hearts, was burned away by the love that ignited between them.
“Please stay, Taylor,” he pleaded.
Taylor wrapped her hands around his shoulders and dug in. Her nails scratched over his skin as she fought to pull him impossibly closer. She chanted his name, realizing that she’d missed the sound of it. The swirl and heat of her release tickled her fingers and toes before plummeting to her center and throwing her off the edge. Levi stilled, his own climax ripping through his body.
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