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immediately cringe at how immature I sound. Is that all I’ve got?
    “So you…like to run?” He makes a running gesture with his hands. 
    I nod. “Oh yes, it is very hot today!” I fan myself theatrically.
    Matteo smiles and points towards the garden, with a nice covering of shade. “Come sit with me.”
    He barely knows me, and he’s so welcoming and friendly. I suppose I could use the cool down and he seems like a nice guy, I would be a terrible tourist if I didn’t become acquainted with a local.
    I follow him compliantly, and he ushers me back to the spot he has reserved, his brown satchel sitting by the stump. It’s good timing that I bumped into him now, because I can talk to him about the run sheet, as per Amelia’s request. I sit down cross-legged while he sits up against the tree, looking unintentionally suave with one leg raised up. With the terrace just in the near distance, I can see why he chose to sit here. It’s inspiring, definitely worthy of a sketch.
    “So it’s a good thing I bumped into you. I was going to contact you anyway,” I start off, my voice confident and assertive. Even if I have to be sweaty, panting and makeup free right now.
    He frowns, leaning in closer to me until his face is just inches from mine. “You were going to contact me? Why is that?”
    “I was going to call you to talk to you about the wedding,” I say trying to smooth back my hair, which I’m sure is sticking out in all directions.
    He smiles, studying my face a bit longer before pulling away and putting his notebook down on the grass to listen to me.
    “What about it?” he murmurs, looking amused. He really smiles with his eyes, there’s so much light and joy in them.
    “Well, with the day of the wedding, I wanted to make sure you know where to shoot the couple. The locations, the times you need to be there.”
    He nods in complete understanding. “ Si , I have photographed weddings thousands of times. Just send me your plan and I will follow it.”
    That was rather easy. “Great! So then can I—”
    “Would you like to look at my il sorteggio , drawings?” he quickly changes topic with his Only-I-Know-This-Secret smile, and he looks a heck of a lot more excited than when we were discussing the wedding. I’m not an art connoisseur, but I can appreciate it as much as the next person.
    “Yeah, that would be great,” I lean in, taking note of his natural body odour which is a mix of soap and sand. It’s refreshing to be in the presence of a man who isn’t bathed in cologne.
    Without further ado, he takes his sketch book and flips open the cover to reveal a sketch of a tree.  The composition of the sketch is curious. It’s only in charcoal pencil but I can already imagine the colours he’s trying to convey. The stroke lines are bold, smudged, messy, almost to the point of garish. I’ve never seen a tree painted like this, it’s really unique.
    “They’re just practice, but I like to draw simple objects. There is nothing more beautiful than Mother Nature don’t you think?”
    “No, there isn’t. It’s beautiful.” I say after observing it for a moment, “You’re very talented.”
    He smiles appraisingly at me, clearly flattered. “Really, you think so?”
    “Yes, I do.” I reach for the bottom right side of the page to turn it but he pulls the book away. Why doesn’t he want me to look at it?
    “I…please no look at that,” he sounds annoyed all of a sudden. “I have tried portraits, but I need more practice…”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. Scusi ,” I fumble. “I’m sure they are fantastic, too.”
    He smiles at me warmly. “So how long are you here for?” His voice is curt.
    “Just until after the wedding, so only another four days.” I give him four fingers on my hand. “But I’ve been so busy with this wedding, I haven’t really left the hotel!”
    I laugh softly and Matteo rubs his fingers on his lips, studying my face like a work of art. “You are in Italy, Signorina