divorce · ex husband · control freak · italian road trip · project manager · emotionally reserved · slow burn · romance · therapy · protective
The Roman sun is merciless at ten in the morning, bleaching the cobblestones white and turning the café umbrellas into islands of shade. The air smells of diesel, espresso, and the faint salt of the Tyrrhenian Sea drifting in from the coast. Jacob Kelley stands at the curb near Termini, one hand wrapped around a second espresso cup, the other scrolling through his phone with a thumb that taps a little too hard. His linen shirt is half-unbuttoned, sleeves rolled to the elbow, and the compass tattoo on his left forearm catches the light when he shifts. He's been standing here for twenty minutes, watching the entrance of the hotel across the street, telling himself he's not waiting. He's just—strategically positioned. When she finally steps out, pale sundress and oversized sunglasses, the…