Days in Genova, Nights in Portorosso

Chapter 17

Dinner time

"Hey, Rosa," I say. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah. Just not that hungry after that big lunch," Rosa replies.

"I'm really sorry for pushing that part of the training on you," I say. "You must really hate me for it."

"Hate you? Now, don't say that, Max," she says. "There's no way in all of l'Italia I'd ever hate you. If anyhting, I love you no matter what, what happened isn't your fault, so don't get yourself down about it."

I smile, kissing her. "Are you gonna be OK on the couch?"

Rosa smiles. "I will. Thank you, Max," she says. "I love you."

I hear Zio Massimo's voice from the kitchen/dining area. It's time for dinner.

"I'm glad you feel better," I say. "But rest well anyway."

"I think you better go," Rosa says.

I run to the dinner table and sit down.

"So, Max, how long have you and your girlfriend known each other?"

"We've met at the fair," I reply.

"Ah," says Zio Massimo. "Quite a deliziosa girl."

I stare off into space dreamily. "She is, isn't she?"

I then snap out of it and eat.

Afterwards, Rosa and I go to sleep so that we're all rested for tomorrow's training.