Trip of a Lifetime

Olivia Romano
Age: 21
Olivia's POV

The shrill blare of my alarm shattered the quiet at 4 a.m., dragging me from a restless half-sleep. Groaning, I slapped at the clock, my arm heavy from the exhaustion clinging to me like a second skin. Dark circles framed my eyes, souvenirs from a night spent juggling business negotiations, last-minute interviews, and the chaos of packing.

Multitasking was my thing—at least, that's what I told myself as I shoved my laptop into my carry-on. I hadn't done anything remotely relaxing in months. Hell, even Netflix felt like a distant memory. But work didn't wait, and neither did my flight.

I threw on a pair of white track pants, a spaghetti-strap crop top, and my gray coat, tugging it snug against the Melbourne chill. My trusty Converse hit the hardwood floor with muted thuds, my Chanel bag bouncing against my hip as I rushed out the door.

The taxi driver was already waiting, his expression hovering somewhere between impatience and resignation. I threw my luggage into the trunk and slid into the back seat, my mind running through a mental checklist I'd probably forget halfway to the airport.

Two hours later

The airport was alive with the kind of chaotic energy that made you feel simultaneously awake and overwhelmed. I barely made it to gate 14C before boarding began, but there was one thing I couldn't skip. Coffee.

I clutched the iced drink like it was the holy grail, taking a long sip as I settled into the business class lounge. Sleep-deprived Olivia wasn't a pleasant Olivia, and caffeine was my only saving grace.

As I sat there, staring out the window at planes crawling across the tarmac, my thoughts drifted to the reason for this trip. Italy.

It wasn't just about family, though reconnecting with them was long overdue. It was about finding... something. Myself, maybe? Or at least the parts of me I'd left behind when I walked away from the country that had both cradled and crushed me.

My parents had met and fallen in love there, my mother always saying it was destiny. "Italy is a place where hearts find their homes," she would tell me in her lilting accent, her eyes far away with memory.

My heart, though? It had found and lost its home in Italy. Once. And I wasn't eager to let it happen again.

"Gate 14C, business class, now boarding," came the crisp voice of the attendant.

I stood, shaking off the nostalgia as I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed to the line. A few moments later, ticket scanned and bag in hand, I made my way toward the plane.

And then I heard it.

"Olivia?"

No. No, no, no.

That voice.

It was rich, smooth, and unmistakable. Against my better judgment, I glanced over my shoulder.

Shit.

There he was. The guy. That guy. From that night.

"Hey, Garry," I said, my voice awkward and tight as I plastered on the fakest smile in my arsenal. For one horrifying second, I wasn't even sure I'd remembered his name right.

But his grin told me I had. Of course, he looked completely at ease, as if running into a one-night stand at an airport was no big deal. As if he wasn't standing there next to a woman holding a baby.

Oh, God.

I froze, my fight-or-flight instincts battling it out until "flight" won by a landslide. Without another word, I pivoted and practically power-walked to my seat.

Settling in, I exhaled a shaky breath, determined to shove the awkwardness as far from my mind as possible. Exhaustion hit me like a freight train the second I buckled my seatbelt.

This was going to be a long flight, but for now? Sleep was my only escape.

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The first Chapter is done!!!! Sorry it's a bit short, I just want to start the story mostly in Italy. How do you like it so far? Also, I don't condone any mean commentary so please don't do that. Positive vibes only :)

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