The day felt heavy, even though the sun was bright and the air warm. The ocean breeze carried a bittersweet chill as I stood on the shoreline, watching the waves crash against the sand. The scent of saltwater mingled with something unnameable—an ache I couldn’t quite place.
Goodbyes were never easy.
“Are you going to stand there all day?” Alessio’s voice broke through my thoughts, his tone carrying that familiar mix of sarcasm and warmth.
I turned to face him, shielding my eyes from the sun. He looked effortlessly composed in his linen shirt and dark trousers, the wind ruffling his hair. Behind him, Dante and Nicolo were helping load the last of the luggage onto the private plane waiting on the nearby airstrip.
“I’m just...soaking it in,” I said, gesturing to the view.
“Don’t get too
