When he stepped toward her, she instinctively stepped back.
Tony frowned.
“What are you doing here?” Joy cringed.
“I’m here to see you.” He smiled again.
“But . . . how? When? How did you know I was staying here?” When Jaime’s face came to her mind, Joy rolled her eyes. “Never mind.”
Tony hugged the bouquet of flowers as if nervous. “Jaime was only trying to help.”
“Help?” Joy set down the vase of roses onto a nearby table, then headed to the elevator.
“Yes. She only wanted to help . . . me. I need to talk to you.”
Joy pushed the up button on the elevator, ignoring him.
“Please, just hear me out, Joy.” He leaned in close to her. “Tiffany left me.”
The door couldn’t open soon enough. Joy hopped in, then pushed the button to her floor, avoiding eye contact with Tony.
“I just want to talk with you, Joy. Please?”
She could hear him begging as the doors closed.
When she entered her room, Joy thought of calling Jaime but decided against it.
Good grief, Jaime. What on earth was going through your mind?
She sat on the bed and removed her shoes. What was she thinking, telling him I’m here in Venice?
She laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I’m not angry at her. I’m angry at Tony.
Staring at her white sneaker in her hand, slightly soiled from her walk in the garden with Alessandro, Joy vented air between her lips. So Tiffany left him, huh? She couldn’t roll her eyes back far enough for that news. We all saw that one coming a mile away. She sat up. Too bad Tony didn’t see it coming. With a loud groan, she massaged her neck. I need a bath.
Joy tossed the shoe across the room, then headed for the bathroom.
The hot water on her skin soothed her sore muscles and aching heart.
Tony.
Ugh. Why did he have to show up here? Why? She splashed water on her face. And why did he have to look like a movie star? Why couldn’t he be fat, old, and ugly?
But Tony was always good-looking. That’s how he got all the girls. Joy shook her head.
Why did he come? To woo me back? She closed her eyes and submerged in the water, hoping to disappear from the world for a few moments. Or maybe forever.
Thoughts of Tony filled her mind as she soaked in the soapy water. Her heartbeat and rhythmic breathing relaxed her anxious mind.
As the tension ebbed away with each beat of her heart, a sense of calm washed over her. But as she emerged from the water, the vivid images of Tony only intensified, lingering in her mind like stubborn ghosts refusing to fade away.
Ghosts of pain and heartbreak.
She wiped her eyes. Why, Lord? Why?
She slammed her hand against the tub, then grabbed a towel to wipe soap off her face.
Why him, and why now?
Joy didn’t know why it was happening, but she knew she’d better be firm in her response to him.
I don’t care how heartbroken he is. This time in Venice is about me.
For the first time in a long time, confidence greeted Joy like a long-lost friend.
She only hoped the confidence would stick around for a while.
“Would you like to dance?” Tony asked Joy at the high school dance.
It was the last dance of the 1984 school year before the Christmas break. She hadn’t even wanted to go to the dance, but her friends talked her into it.
And now the most popular boy in the senior class stood before her with hand extended and a smile that weakened her knees.
“Sure.” She took his hand and followed him to the dance floor where fellow teens swayed to a slow song by Prince or Madonna. Joy couldn’t remember.
All she remembered was that Tony Milton, the captain of the football team, asked her to dance.
