Days in Genova, Nights in Portorosso

Chapter 19

* * *

We gaze at the Italian Riviera. It is now afternoon, but it's still beautiful.

Rosa breaks the silence. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

I look up at her after spacing out on the Italian Riviera. "Oh, uh, yeah," I say, regaining consciousness.

"Are you OK?" Rosa asks.

"Just spaced out on its beauty. That's all," I reply.

"I understand," Rosa says.

She points at the water. "Somewhere down there in the deep blue sea is where I'm from," she says.

"Do you miss it down there?" I ask.

"I haven't thought much about it, to be honest," Rosa says. "I guess Portorosso really does have more to offer. You know?"

"It's really something special, isn't it?" I say, admiring the town near the Riviera.

Rosa grabs my hand. "Come on! I wanna show you something!"

"If this involves getting wet, then I don't want to get too wet," I say. "I mean, either way, I don't mind."

Rosa laughs. "We'll be getting wet alright," she says, tossing me diving gear. "You're gonna need this."

I take the diving gear and put it on over my clothes. "Where are we going exactly?" I ask.

"To meet my parents, duh!" Rosa exclaims. "Come on!"

"Shouldn't we be training?" I say. "All day all we've ever done is hang out. When are we gonna get down to business?"

Rosa laughs. "I'm a sea monster, Max. If Ieeded training for a swimming race, that would make me a roccia," she says.

I laugh. "I suppose you're right," I say.

Why am I laughing? Is Rosa really making me soft? No. I refuse to believe it. I deserve to be happy and with a girlfriend just the same as anybody else. Why is someone like me suddenly exempt from all that?

So we dive in on the count of three.

Uno

Due

Tre

I hate to admit it, but this has got to be one of the best days of my life. If not the best.