Chapter 154

"I'm going to miss you," Pearl said, giving Fi a big hug. "You saved me this week. You gave me courage. Thank you. I love you."

"I love you, too. Let me know where you end up and I will come and see you. You can come and stay with me in LA after I'm done filming the show. My character dies in the last episode so I won't have to work with that pussy boy after this," She said.

"I just may take you up on that." Pearl was truly thankful to have found a friend like Fi. She and Erik walked her to her car and she hugged her again. "Thank you, Erik. For being the bad ass she needed." Fi said to Erik.

"It was my pleasure to break that wanker's face,"

Erik said. Fi smiled and hugged him "See you soon you beautiful bitches!"

Fi yelled as she waved and drove off.

"Did she just call me a bitch?" Erik asked. Pearl laughed, "It's a term of endearment."

"One I will never, ever use on you," He said, kissing her head.

"We have the house completely to ourselves now. Whatever shall we do?" Erik asked.

"I have an idea," Pearl said. "It involved snacks and old movies and you out of your trousers." She said, winking.

"I like the trousers part," He said, growling and ticking her, following her inside.

They spent the next two days relaxing in the hot tub, eating amazing food cooked by her chef, watching tv and drinking mimosas, naked on the patio. It was the best time of her life and she never wanted it to end.

"Good morning, nightingale." Erik said, pulling her to him and snuggling his face in her hair. It was their last day and night together. It was Wednesday morning and he was leaving the following afternoon and her flight left early Friday morning. She had to be back in New York Sunday to film the spot on the tonight show Monday morning.

"Good morning, handsome prince." She said.

"You're sexy when you're patronizing." He said. "It's the last day of our little holiday. I have a surprise for you." Erik said. "What's that?" She asked.

The doorbell rang. "One of them is here."

He said. He jumped out of bed and opened the door, wrapped in a blanket. Pearl peeked from behind him and saw two Vespa scooters outside. Pearl smiled. "Really?" She asked.

"Yes, darling. We are going to Vespa around today and I am taking you wine tasting and to see every single castle in Tuscany." She gave him a big hug. She was so excited about their adventure.

"I'll get dressed right now." She said.

"Not yet." Erik smiled and chased her into the bedroom.

They rode around throughout the city. He looked adorable in his little helmet, which she made sure to tell him, to which he responded by swatting her bottom and biting her neck, leaving a giant hickey. She felt like a teenager again. He brought his camera along and took several pictures while they were out. Of her, of the landscape, the sky.

After drinking enough wine to barely be able to drive the Vespa anymore, she jumped on the back of Erik's and Charles took hers back to the house.

"Wow, Erik. This is incredible." Pearl said, walking along the wall of the Castello di Brolio.

Erik watched her in the setting sunlight, taking her photograph. Her hair, thick and wild, dark with bronze and gold lights and shades throughout. Scented with flowers and magic. It smelled like a summer day, a winter's eve. Jasmine. Heaven. He feared that when she brushed it again, she won't remember to be careful. She'll forget that it is there that he dwells, tangled in the curls, clinging and burying himself. Where his soul is wound, and his heart calls home.

She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

And she was turning him into a bloody poet for fuck's sake. He laughed to himself.

"What's so funny?" She asked, putting her arms around him.

"I'm happy. Here. With you. This moment." He said, blushing a little.

"I'm happy, too." She said. "You don't even know how much of a hero you are. You picked up the pieces of myself I dragged here to Italy and hugged me so tight, you put them back together again. I am forever in your debt." She said, kissing him. He smiled and looked down.

"You gave me hope a year ago. It's the least I could do." He said. They sat on the stone wall with her head on his shoulder and watched the sunset.