Free Her Roman Holiday by Jamie Anderson

other couple.  
    Antonia was clearly the worse for drink, maintaining an unsteady balance as she shouted at her husband.   Nor did Calia need an advanced grasp of Italian to guess that the other woman’s words were less than flattering.   Paolo’s attempts to quell the outburst were none too successful.
    Then, Antonia spotted Gio and her manner changed, becoming overtly flirtatious as she tottered over to him and draped herself on his arm.   Calia might have been amused at the obvious distaste in Gio’s expression, had she not glanced at Paolo in that moment.   He was watching Antonia with such an expression of longing that she felt another stab of sympathy for the man.
    As Gio murmured something to Antonia and began leading her out of the reception, Paolo offered Calia his arm with a strained smile.   “Gio has a way with her.   I do not know how he does it, but he manages to calm her when no-one else can.”
    Calia slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.   They followed Gio and Antonia, as he guided her through the crowd and to the sidewalk outside.   There, Gio paused, glancing at Paolo, who led them to where he had parked the car.
    Once the surprisingly docile Antonia had been settled into the passenger seat, Paolo shook Gio’s hand.   “Thank you, my friend.”   His apologetic gaze included Calia as he continued, “She has her moods, you understand.   I am sorry that she disrupted your evening.”
    Gio’s expression was anything but forgiving.   “She has responsibility for her own actions, Paolo.   You have nothing to apologise for.”   He glanced at the passenger seat.   “She seems to have fallen asleep.   Good.   Get yourselves home safely, and I will see you tomorrow.”
    Gio had already turned away, when Paolo’s voice stopped him.
    “Gio.   I know you do not think much of Antonia.   Right now, I would even agree with you.”   Paolo gave a tired shrug.   “But I love her.”
    Calia noted the tightening of Gio’s jaw as he drew in a slow breath, then turned and rested his hand on Paolo’s shoulder.   “I know you do, amico mio .   I know.”   But his expression had softened as he took in the vulnerability in his friend’s expression.   “Be safe and rest well tonight.   I need you to be at your sharpest for the meeting tomorrow.”
    Paolo nodded.   “I will see you then.”   He glanced at Calia.   “It was a pleasure meeting you, Calia.   I am sorry about…” He nodded towards the passenger seat.
    Calia shook her head with a smile.   “It’s all right, Paolo.   Gio’s right.   You have nothing to apologise for.”
    “You are too kind.   I hope we will meet again,” he added, with a significant glance at Gio, before heading over to the driver’s seat of the car.
    They stood back and watched as his Ferrari disappeared amid the bustle of the Roman traffic.  
    Gio shook his head as he turned away, his expression bitter and tight.   “And you wonder why I do not like women.”
    Though she was tempted to protest, Calia made herself let it go.   It was patently obvious that he was suffering for his friend, and she couldn’t help but respect that, no matter how misguided his hostility might be.
    He glanced at her, one eyebrow raised and his mouth sneering.   “What?   No heated protests from the bra burner?”
    She watched him solemnly.   “I really think you should tell him the rest, about Antonia’s behaviour.   I suspect he’s guessed most of it already — he just doesn’t want to believe it.   But when it finally sinks in, he won’t thank you for holding out on him all this time.”
    He ran a hand through is hair, his expression suddenly weary.   “If he does not want to believe it, then he will not want to believe what I tell him, either.   It is only if I manage to produce evidence that he might be able to accept the truth.   I will not risk my friendship with him until I have something more compelling to show him — something