Worship Read online

  “Thank you.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Julia. You?”

  “Lorenzo.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “Let’s dance, yes?”

  “Sure.”

  We move to the dance floor and Lorenzo wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. I’m not sure about this, but I do my best to dance and be polite while sipping my drink. Before I know it, my straw is sucking air, and Lorenzo quickly gets me a refill. Erika’s doing shots and laughing with her new friends.

  Lorenzo grins, leaning close enough so I can hear him. “Where are you from?”

  “America. New Jersey.”

  “Ooh, university student? I like those.”

  I tilt my head. “You like those? What does that mean?”

  “University girls are fun.” He grins. “You want to have some fun?”

  I get the idea from his tone what fun means. “I am having fun. Right now. Here.”

  “Different fun. Just you and me.”

  I pat his chest, slightly moving away, but he pulls me close and goes straight for the kiss. I’m so startled it takes me a second to react, but I do, right about the time he presses his dick into my leg.

  “Ew!” I shove him away. “Stop it. I just met you.”

  “And? You don’t want to have fun?”

  “If your idea of fun is me leaving this club to go have sex with you, then no, I don’t want to have fun.”

  His eyebrow rises. “Hmm, university girls always want to have fun.”

  I roll my eyes. “I’m not a university girl. Thanks for the drinks.” I walk off and look for Erika. She’s dancing with a cute boy throwing her head back in laughter. I find a seat at the bar and sip my drink, then order another one when I’m done. It isn’t long before another guy approaches me and asks me to dance. I shrug, sliding off the seat and deciding to give it another try. We dance through a few songs and then he wanders off. I twist around when I feel hands on my waist to find Erika.

  “Are you having fun?”

  “It’s okay. You?”

  “Yeah. I was gonna go hang out some more with Rinaldo.”

  “Okay.”

  She wraps her arms around me. “He has a cute friend. His name is Luca.” She points to a guy that’s pretty decent looking. “Why don’t you come hang out too?”

  “Where?”

  “The beach and then their place.”

  “You’re gonna hook up, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am and it wouldn’t kill you to do the same. How long has been since your last boyfriend?”

  “I’m not into casual hookups. You know that. I need a connection.”

  She rolls her eyes. “How do you know there isn’t one if you don’t talk to him?”

  “Okay, you have a point, but I’m not feeling it I guess.”

  “Fine, more for me. Are you cool if I go with Rinaldo?”

  I peer over her shoulder. “Do you think it’s safe?”

  “He’s safe. I won’t be gone long.”

  “Okay. I’m just gonna head home.”

  “Cool. If I’m not back in an hour, send help.” She winks and saunters off with her man.

  Sighing, I head for the door and start my walk home. I miss being in a relationship. I miss kissing, and I definitely miss sex, but I just can’t bring myself to pick a stranger and hook up . I wish I was as carefree as Erika is sometimes.

  On my way, I pass the church where we’ll start working on Monday. I stand in front of it for a moment, studying the Renaissance era architecture. It’s so beautiful and majestic. It’s pretty small, but fitting for this town and the piazza it dominates. After a moment, I finish my walk home. Once inside, I kick off my sandals and plop on the couch. Picking up my book I left on the coffee table earlier, I flip it open and decide to read a bit. It’s just another lonely Saturday night.

  ∞∞∞

  In the morning, I shuffle out to the kitchen to make coffee and find Erika passed out asleep on the couch with her clothes from last night still on. I pull open the curtains, flooding the apartment with sunlight.

  Erika groans as she puts her arm over her eyes. “What the hell, Julia?”

  “It’s almost ten in the morning. You need to get up and get ready for tomorrow.”

  “Get ready?” She peeks at me through squinted eyes.

  “You need to do laundry still, remember? And we wanted to go to the market and get some healthy food.”

  She groans. “I feel like shit.”

  “You look like shit too. Was Rinaldo worth it?”

  She finally sits up and runs her fingers through her tangled hair. “No. It was terrible. He drank too much and couldn’t get it up. I tried everything.”

  I hold back laughter. “Sorry to hear.”

  “No, you’re not. Do you have coffee yet?”

  “I’ll start it now.” I walk into the kitchen as she follows me.

  “I don’t regret it though. Life is about experiences.”

  “So you say.”

  “Don’t you miss being with a man sometimes?”

  “Yes.”

  “When’s the last time you had sex?”

  I shrug. “I guess when I was with Ryan.”

  “That was like a year ago?”

  “Ten months.” I smile. “But who’s counting?”

  “Girl, you need to get you some dick. Some big beautiful Italian dick.”

  I laugh. “You’re crazy. You tried to get some dick last night. How’d that go?”

  “Amateur move. I should’ve known he was drinking too much.”

  I shake my head and fill two mugs with coffee before handing her one. She sips it and sighs. “So good.”

  “Take a shower and then we’ll go out.”

  She sticks her tongue out at me. “You’re so responsible.”

  “We’re adulting now, Erika. We have things to do besides boys and booze.”

  “But I like boys and booze.”

  I laugh, sipping my coffee. “Do I need to remind you we’re going to be working in a church? We need to behave.”

  “Only during working hours.” She winks. “I’ll shower and we’ll go out if you promise me one thing.”

  “What?”

  “If you get the opportunity for some beautiful Italian dick, you will at least consider taking it? I can’t be the only one of us whoring around Italy.”

  I laugh. “Okay, I’ll consider it.”

  “Fair.” She slams the rest of her coffee down even though it’s gotta be hot. “Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be ready.”

  ∞∞∞

  On Monday morning, I stand in the living room waiting for Erika, whose eyes open wide when she sees me. “You’re ready?”

  Smiling, I nod. “Turning over a new leaf. First day. I can’t be late.”

  “I’m impressed.” She grabs her sweater off the back of the chair. “Nervous?”

  “Not anymore. I’m brimming with excitement.”

  “It’s cool. I can’t wait to see the scope of the project.”

  “Yeah, so let’s go. We’ll grab some espresso on the way.”

  “Let’s go.”

  After coffee and a short walk, Erika and I enter the small church where we’ll spend the summer at least working on restoring the frescoes. An older woman wearing a nun’s habit stands near the front waving her hands gesturing at the wall ahead. A man dressed in slacks and a dress shirt stands next to her, nodding as she speaks. Other people join us and we gather quietly behind the two people. It’s so dim in here, it’s a little difficult to see, but as we get closer, sunlight streams in through the windows helping to illuminate our surroundings. The man turns in our direction, and I’m immediately struck by the familiarity of his face. Have I met him before? How could I all the way in Italy? He studies a book he holds, keeping his face slightly lowered. I can’t stop staring at him. He looks up slowly, and when his eyes meet mine my mouth falls open as does his.

&n
bsp; I grab Erika’s hand and squeeze it. “Oh my god.”

  “What?”

  “I know him.”

  Erika’s eyes shift to the front. “You know that smoking guy staring at us right now?”

  “I do. His name is Diego.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Completely. I met him when I was fifteen. I would never forget those eyes. It’s him. It has to be.”

  “Based on how he’s looking at you, I’d say you’re right and he remembers you too.”

  “This is unbelievable.”

  The woman twists around and begins addressing us in Italian, explaining how we’ll all be assigned a small section so our work can be assessed before we get in too deeply. Anyone that doesn’t meet her standards will be cut immediately. I swallow hard, half listening to her and half staring at Diego who hasn’t taken his eyes off of me yet. The woman, Sister Louisa, points and directs all of us to different areas. Erika is sent to a space toward the entrance while I’m closer to the altar. I walk to my area, still absorbing that after all these years, in this place, Diego is here. When I look back, he’s already standing behind me.

  “Hi.”

  “Diego? It’s really you?”

  He smiles. “It’s really me. I can’t believe you’re here. It’s been ten years.”

  “You remember me?”

  “Remember you?” He steps closer. “How could I forget that day under the big oak tree with the prettiest girl I’d ever seen? Still have ever seen.”

  I throw my arms around his neck. “I can’t believe it.” When I step back I grip his hands. “I’m so sorry. My dad was so strict. I never got to say goodbye or get your number or anything.”

  He shakes his head. “History. Will you have dinner with me? I’d love to catch up.”

  “Of course. I’d love to.”

  Diego smiles. “Great.”

  “I still can’t believe this. I thought I would never see you again.”

  “But here we are.” Diego looks over his shoulder. “I have to get back to work. Where are you staying?”

  “An apartment on Via Giulia. Number 23.”

  He smiles. “Fitting. I can pick you up around eight, and we can finish the walk we started ten years ago. How’s that sound?”

  “Good. Really good.”

  Diego leans in and kisses my cheek. “See you soon.”

  “Bye.” I turn back to my section, trying to focus after that interaction, but I’m in a daze.

  Erika sidles up next to me. “What happened?”

  “It’s really him. I can’t believe I’m all the way in Italy and run into the guy I met randomly ten years ago at a family reunion.”

  She crinkles her nose. “You’re related to him?”

  “No. We went for a walk, and he was my first kiss.”

  “No way. Seriously?”

  “Yeah, but my dad caught us and dragged me off. Said I could never see him or talk to him. I was so scared of my dad I didn’t even try. Besides I was just a kid.”

  “You said your dad was strict.”

  “The worst. He’s mellowed a little but not much. The only reason I’m here is because I’m old enough to make my own decisions. Otherwise, he’d keep me locked in the attic until I was forty.”

  “Is he like that with your sister?”

  “Used to be until she took off. She’s always had a much stronger backbone than me. When she turned 18, she was out of there. I was mad for a while because she left me alone with them, but then I realized I would’ve done the same thing if I could.”

  “Strict parents are tough.”

  “Yeah.” I lean against the wall. “He told me I had to forget Diego, but I never did.” I look at my friend. “I never did. I drew sketches from that day, trying to ingrain that moment in my mind. I’ve wondered a thousand times what he was doing, where he was, if he had a girlfriend. I tried to find him on social media a few years ago but came up with nothing. Today, he was standing right in front me.”

  “Amazing. I guess you two were just meant to cross paths again.”

  “I guess so.” We start to sort our supplies. “It’s been a decade, but as soon as I saw his eyes, I was transported to that moment.”

  “Maybe you guys will fall in love or something amazing like that.”

  I laugh softly. “Maybe. Right now I just need to talk to him.”

  “This is so exciting. We’ve been in Italy for a week and you’ve already got a date.”

  “Yeah. It’s cool.”

  “So cool.” She hands me a chisel. “So I traded spots with your neighbor. Sister Louisa said it was fine. We’ll work next to each other.”

  “Perfect.”

  We kneel down and get to work. We’ve got to impress Sister Louisa if we want to stay, and I definitely want to stay. I peek over my shoulder at Diego speaking with a group of people. He must be the head of this restoration or something. So odd we’re in the same line of work even.

  After carefully brushing my square of the wall, I study what remains of the fresco. This section is supposed to be a grassy field, and I can just make out some yellow wildflowers. The entire scene is of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus on her lap in a field of flowers. It’s over five hundred years old. Amazing. I feel a presence behind me and look up to see Sister Louisa standing over me. I hop up to my feet.

  Her critical eyes study my spot. “Work. Let me see you.”

  “Si, signora.” I go back to work as if she’s not there, hoping I’m doing things the way she likes.

  “What will you do when you get past the dust?” Her voice is heavily accented and deep, almost like a man. She must be seventy at least.

  “I will study the photo and begin to carefully strip the older layers back.”

  “Using?”

  “Water and sealant.”

  She crosses her arms, peering over the top of her narrow black framed glasses. “Okay.” She nods. “Keep working.”

  She moves over to Erika, and I try to listen while focusing on my work. After a moment, she nods and commands Erika to keep working. I exhale once she moves on, happy we both made the cut. At least for now.

  After six hours of solid work with only a brief lunch break, Sister Louisa releases us for the day. We all made it except for two. My eyes search the small church hoping to see Diego, but he’s not around. At least I know I’ll see him tonight. Erika and I slip outside and walk down the cobbled path back to our apartment. This morning I was in awe of the historic surroundings, but now I’m in awe that Diego is back in my life.

  “Whatcha thinking?”

  I glance up at Erika. “About Diego.”

  “Yeah, small world. You never saw him again after the kiss?”

  “Never. It was so weird because leading up to that day for weeks I was having this recurring dream where this guy was running through the dark, chasing something or someone. I could never see his face.”

  “Was it a nightmare? Like he was chasing you?”

  “No.” I shake my head. “It was more like I was watching him, but I felt like I needed to help. Anyway, after that day under the tree, I never had the dream again.”

  “Never?”

  “Never. I used to journal about it, but it just stopped.”

  Erika watches me as we walk. “How could you dream about Diego before you met him?”

  “Exactly, but in some way it felt connected.”

  “Maybe it was the kiss. The guy in the dream was chasing you for a kiss, and you got one so he went away.”

  I laugh softly. “Yeah, maybe that was it.”

  “But you’re excited about tonight, right?”

  “Oh god yes. I just want to know everything about him. What he’s been doing, how he ended up in this field. All of it.”

  “I get that. He’s certainly hot.”

  “Yeah. I can’t wait to tell Katie I saw him. She felt so bad because she couldn’t keep my parents from finding us.”

  “Aw, that sucks.” She nudges my arm. �
��Think you’ll get on that tonight?”

  I just laugh. “I have no idea. I would think we might just talk and get to know each other a bit.”

  “Yeah, but he kissed you five minutes after meeting you. He’s got that smolder in his eyes. I bet if he kisses you again, you’ll get on that.”

  I shake my head, even though I’m laughing. “Probably.”

  “You deserve it, girl. He’s good looking. Clearly has an interesting job. Lives in freaking Italy. What’s not to like? Maybe he has a friend for me.”

  “I’ll get all the details.”

  “I’d expect nothing less.”

  Back in our apartment, I dig in my keepsake box for the journal I’ve kept since I met Diego the first time. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I flip the pages reading the words from my fifteen year old self. I can’t believe Diego is in my life again.

  “Whatcha looking at?”

  I look up at Erika standing in my doorway. “My sketches of Diego.”

  “Ooh, can I see?”

  “Of course.”

  She plops on the bed beside, peering over my shoulder. “Those are nice. They look just like him.”

  “Thanks.” I drag my finger over one. “The details are so clear. I never had a boy react to me the way he did.”

  “What did you like about him, besides his obvious face?”

  “He seemed sensitive.” I think back for a moment. “Serious, like one of those deep thinkers. He was sad about his own family, and in that moment, I just wanted to be the one that made him feel better. He was too beautiful to be sad.”

  Erika smiles. “Aww, puppy love. It’s so cute.”

  “Yeah. It lasted, I don’t know, maybe forty minutes, but the memory of it never left me.”

  “And now you get to make new memories with him.”

  I close the book. “On that note, I should take a shower and start getting ready.”

  “I’m so excited.” She jumps up and bounces on her toes. “Beautiful Italian dick on its way.”

  All I can do is laugh.

  ∞∞∞

  “Do I look alright?” I run my hands down the front of the cream summer dress I picked out. I feel like it’s sexy without being too much.