Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

RYLEE

K aren pulled to a stop in the airport drop-off line. I quickly hopped out of the car and went to the trunk to grab my bag. Karen stood smiling at me. "I can't believe you're really going," she said.

"Honestly, me either." I laughed.

"I'm going to miss you but I hope you have so much fun," she said. "You got the international thing so you can call me, right?"

"I did." I nodded. "More expenses. I'm going to be eating scraps. Am I crazy? Should I be doing this? I feel like I should postpone until I have more money."

"And that might not ever happen," she said. "Just go. Have a good time, but I pray you will come back. I can't imagine how tempting it will be to stay there. But we'll miss you."

"Unless I meet Prince Charming himself and he sweeps me off my feet, I'll be back." I laughed. "And trust me, I'm not looking for any man. I'm going on my own to just be me."

She nodded and gave me another quick hug. "Have fun. And for the love of all that is holy, be safe! Don't get into cars with strangers or drink anything that hasn't been in your sight all night. Don't?—"

"I know, I know," I said. "I'll be safe."

I walked into the airport feeling more exhausted than excited. The airport was busy as hell. I lugged my suitcase through check-in with United Airlines. I could feel a headache coming on. Between all the drama with Simon and trying to work a few extra hours to replace the money I spent on the Uber home, I was stressed.

It was finally my turn. I dragged my suitcase up to the counter and waited for the employee to acknowledge me. She seemed to be having an equally bad day, judging by the pinched expression.

"Passport and booking information," the employee said flatly, barely looking at me.

I handed over my passport and printed confirmation. She typed away on her computer, her fingers tapping aggressively on the keys. I could feel the tension radiating off her.

"Bag," she snapped.

I lifted my bag and put it on the scale. I waited, watching her.

"You're over the weight limit for your luggage," she said without looking up. "You'll need to either pay the fee or move some items to your carry-on."

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. "How much is the fee?"

"One hundred dollars."

"Of course it is," I muttered, opening my suitcase to start shifting items. I could feel her eyes boring into me, impatient and annoyed. I was humiliated. I could feel the anger and frustration from the people in line behind me.

After a few minutes of frantic repacking, I finally managed to get my luggage within the weight limit. She printed my boarding pass and handed it to me without a word. I took it with a forced smile and headed toward security, hoping my day would improve.

No such luck. At security, I was randomly selected for a more thorough check. Great. Just my luck.

"Ma'am, step over here, please," a TSA agent instructed. I complied, watching as another agent dumped out the contents of my purse and carry-on. I stood there, arms raised in the full-body scanner, feeling exposed and irritated.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I was cleared. I quickly gathered my belongings, shoving them haphazardly back into my bags. I made my way to the terminal, hoping for a moment of peace before my flight. I was so glad I insisted on coming extra early. I knew there was a good chance there would be hiccups and the very last thing I wanted to do was miss my flight. I couldn't afford to buy another ticket. As I strolled through the airport with people rushing about, kids expressing their frustration in very loud ways and hectic parents trying to calm them down, I stayed focused on finding my terminal.

I found an empty seat and settled down, letting out a deep breath. I made it. Well, I made it this far. I should have felt relief but not yet. I didn't want to feel anything until my feet landed in Rome. There was a small part of me that was excited. That was what pissed me off. I should feel really excited. I should be bouncing in my seat, anxious to get my ass on that plane and over the Atlantic Ocean.

But instead, I felt the pall of what had happened with Simon. He had texted me several times, but thankfully he had not shown up at the bar. I would have absolutely had him tossed out on his ass. I was done with him. I was not going to be anybody's booty call.

I still felt so foolish for thinking a man like him would ever look at me and think I was someone he would want to settle down with. Not that I was looking for a ring or even anything serious, but I didn't want to feel like I was his piece of ass on speed dial.

I pushed the thoughts aside and pulled out my book to escape into a different world. There was still some tension in me. I needed to relax. I was officially on vacation and it was time to embrace that fact. I needed to bring my blood pressure down just a bit. Just as I was getting comfortable, someone plopped down in the chair right next to me. In a terminal with about a hundred empty seats, this person chose the one right beside me. Perfect.

"Hey, what are you reading?" the stranger asked, leaning over to look at my book.

I sighed internally. "It's a mystery novel," I replied curtly, hoping they'd take the hint.

"Cool. Are you on my flight to Rome?"

"It's your flight? Are you the pilot? Own the plane?"

He chuckled. "Have you been to Rome before?"

"No," I answered, not trying to hide my irritation.

"Where are you from?"

"Dallas."

"What do you do for work?"

I snapped my book shut and turned to the overly curious stranger, giving him my best crazy eyes. "I'm a taxidermist with an affinity for feet," I said, my voice deadpan. "Could you take off your shoes, please? I love when people take their shoes off on airplanes. I'll take some pictures and I bet you five dollars I can perfectly replicate them. I'll add your feet to my collection."

The stranger's eyes widened in horror. I could see him trying to figure out if I was joking or if I was serious. He quickly got up and moved to a different seat as far from me as possible. I sighed with relief, finally getting some peace.

"Proper fucking etiquette," I muttered and opened my book again. This time, I managed to read a few pages without interruption. The seats in the terminal started to fill up as it got closer to boarding time. I tried to stay focused on my book, closing myself off into my own little world.

When it was time to board, we all got into line. I saw the guy from earlier eyeing me. I bet he was praying pretty hard he wasn't seated beside me. If he was, I had no doubt he would pay someone a lot of money to switch seats. I found my seat, got comfortable, and took a deep breath. I was ready to put this stressful day behind me and start my adventure.

Fortunately, the guy was seated several rows behind me. I had a window seat with a young woman and her friend seated next to me. It was clear they didn't speak much English, which meant I was going to have a nice, quiet flight. I pulled out my phone and was about to put it on airplane mode when it pinged with a new message. I glanced at the screen and saw Simon's name.

"Good luck on your trip, Rylee. I'm really sorry for how things ended. I hope you have an amazing time in Rome. If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. I owe you one, and it's the least I can do."

I rolled my eyes and put my phone on airplane mode, shoving it into my bag. A text message apology? Really? He couldn't even call? I put my headphones in, hoping to drown out any thoughts of Simon. I was surprised he remembered I was leaving today. He was so caught up in his world, I figured he wouldn't have actually been paying attention to anything I said. After all, I was nothing more than a little something to take the edge off. I was the woman he could send a car for and I would hop in without question.

Stupid.

As the plane took off, I stared out the window, watching the ground shrink below us. This was my time. I had been dreaming about this trip for years. I wasn't going to let Simon or anyone else ruin it. My friends were all taking great strides toward their futures. Now it was my turn to be a little selfish and have some fun.

The flight was long, but I used the time to think about my plans in Rome. I had a list of places I wanted to see, foods I wanted to try, and experiences I wanted to have. This was my adventure, and I was determined to make the most of it. I didn't have plans. I just wanted to see as much as I could. Yes, I wanted to see some of the touristy stuff, but I was also hoping to hook up with some locals that would show me the lesser known treasures of the city. I wanted to see Rome from the perspective of those who lived there, felt its pulse every day.

I dozed in and out of sleep during the flight, dreaming of cobblestone streets, yummy gelato, Roman ruins, and Renaissance art. I didn't want to waste any time sleeping when I got there. I woke up when I heard the announcement from the pilot.

We descended slowly and I watched Italy come into view. I could feel a sense of freedom washing over me. This was it. Now, I was here!

As we landed, my heart pounded with anticipation. I disembarked the plane, collected my luggage, and stepped out into the Italian sun. It was warm and inviting, much like I envisioned Italians to be.

The taxi ride to my hotel was a whirlwind of colors and sounds as we zoomed through the bustling streets of Rome. The scent of fresh baked bread and strong espresso drifted through the air, mingling with the faint hint of smoggy city air. My eyes were wide as I took in all the sights, already picturing where I would go first. I found myself instantly drawn to the narrow cobblestone streets that wound through the heart of Rome. I couldn't wait to explore every nook and cranny.

Upon my arrival to the hostel, a quaint little place tucked away on a side street, I was greeted by a friendly man with a warm smile who checked me in.

" Buongiorno, signora ," he greeted in a cheerful voice as he handed me the key. "My name is Carlo. If you require anything during your stay, do not hesitate to seek me out."

I thanked him and headed up to my room on the third floor. Despite its size, my room was clean and cozy, with a small window overlooking a bustling piazza. Once settled, I slipped on some comfortable shoes and set out to explore.