"Signor Artemisio! Shall it be the usual table for you?"

Burgh smiled. "Not today, Palio. I'd like a table for two in the garden, please."

Does he know everyone? I asked myself. On the way to the restaurant he had greeted everyone by name. I felt out of place; I was a new face, and I awkwardly stood by his side. I was beginning to feel a bit frightened at the city's size; I was afraid of the size of its population, thinking that if I didn't hold on to him I would end up lost. I slipped my arm around his, clinging to his side.

"Who is the bella donna, Signor?" Palio whispered to Burgh.

"This is my date for the night, Samantha Oak. She and I spent the summers together in our youth." Burgh looked down at me, smiling. "She's a very good friend."

I smiled at Palio. "It's a pleasure to meet you," I said.

He led Burgh and me up to the rooftop, where I saw beautiful flower bushes covered with white Christmas lights. Bright pink and purple flowers were blooming. There was a single table for two in the center of the little garden.

First date for sure. This is probably his way of telling me he likes me.

He pulled a chair out for me, and I sat down. He sat across from me and turned to Palio.

"Palio, il mio amico, ti preghiamo di ottenere il miglior vino per la mia data e me stesso. Questa è la sua prima note in città e voglio che sentire i benvenuti." He smiled. "Grazie, Palio, grazie. E fare in modo che ricevo l'assegno come usciamo dalla porto, perché si vuole fare in modo ho spreso poco su di lei — ma ho intienzione di spendere più di un po su di lei. La amo."

I stared at him in disbelief as Palio walked away. "You speak Italian?" I asked quietly.

He leaned forward on his elbows. "When you are good friends with an Italian man, it is assumed that you should learn the language as well." He laughed. "How have you been, Sammie?"

I looked down at the empty plate in front of me. "I've been okay. I mean, a lot has happened since I last saw you." I placed my hand on the table, closing my eyes. "I feel so different than I did back then. And my father…He worries me."

He placed his hand on mine. "Your dad's an independent man, Sammie. He's not here now; it's just you and me for the next few weeks."

I looked up at him. "Well, I've always lived with my dad. It feels so weird to be away from him."

Palio returned with a bottle of wine, and he poured some into my glass. I glanced at him, then looked at Burgh. I shook my head, smiling.

"Listen, you're an independent girl, Sammie. I know that you're aware of that. You've been so worried about your dad that you haven't had enough time to think about what you want for yourself." He started to caress my knuckles.

"That's not true!" I objected quickly.

"Oh? Then tell me, what do you want to do for a living?"

I looked back down at my lap. "I want to be a Pokémon Professor, like my dad…"

"You've spent too much time with him. I know you love him, Sammie, but you're going to regret spending so much time with him. He's a good man, but he's contagious."

I pulled my hand back, feeling the tears forming in my eyes. "You talk about him like he's some kind of disease," I retorted, hurt.

"Sammie, you want to be your dad. You have to be your own person!"

I stood abruptly, turning away. "Burgh…Stop talking about my dad that way. I love him more than anyone in the world."

"You're not sure about yourself because you've grown in your father's shadow!" He looked up at me. "You have no idea who you are."

I turned away. "I do…"

"I don't mean to hurt your feelings, Sammie—"

I ran back inside and down the stairs, unable to bear the hurtful things he was saying. The only reason why I ran and cried was because I realized he was right. I remembered the way back to his apartment, and I ran to the door as soon as I could. I couldn't open the door, but I noticed a key sticking out from under the welcome mat. I picked it up and ran inside, falling to my knees inside the bathroom.

I didn't hear him come in.

He sat in front of me, pulling my hands away from my face and holding them in his. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hide my face from his gaze. He lifted me onto his lap, leaning against the wall, and I hid my face in his scarf. His head rested on mine.

His nose nudged mine, and I looked up at him. He closed his eyes and kissed away the tears that fell down my cheeks. I grabbed the neck of his shirt and pulled it tight in my grasp. He pressed his nose against mine, and I closed my eyes again.