I’ve known my best friend’s daughter since she was born. We became very close over the years as she was maturing into a young woman. But as close as we were, she had a secret that she had been keeping for many years that she never told me; that is, until now.
I’ve been best friends with Steve since we were kids, and I’ve known his wife, Sarah, since they got married almost 20 years ago. My wife, Lisa, also quickly became good friends with Steve and Sarah soon after we got married. We lived in the same neighborhood and were all very compatible; in fact, we even took regular vacations together all over the world.
After Steve and Sarah had their first child, Katie, my wife and I were basically like an aunt and uncle to her. We were there for all the neighborhood parties and special occasions as Katie grew into her teenage years. Katie was as sweet as could be, but she always looked like somewhat of a tomboy as she was growing up, with her short blonde hair and almost shapeless figure. She also didn’t really seem to like wearing “girly” clothes, which made her look even less effeminate.
For whatever reason, Katie and I seemed to have an unusually close relationship. We always teased and joked with each other and often had some personal conversations that were just between us. It was never about anything inappropriate; it was more like we were just good friends who could confide in each other, despite our age difference.
The years passed quickly and uneventfully until things changed significantly when I was offered a new position in my company. It was a great opportunity, but it required that we relocate out of state. It was a really tough decision because we had such strong roots and friendships where we were, but I just couldn’t pass it up, so Lisa and I decided to make the move.
After we got settled in our new home, I continued to stay in frequent contact with Steve, and despite the distance between us, our friendship remained close. Somewhat unexpectedly, I also stayed in touch with Katie. It wasn’t something I planned or initiated, but she was regularly sending me emails and text messages shortly after we moved, and I just naturally responded. I was actually pretty happy that she wanted to stay connected, and after a while, it just felt normal.
After a few years had passed, I was talking to Steve one day when he told me that they were planning a trip to Italy in nine months and asked if we were interested in joining them.
Later that day, I mentioned it to Lisa, and we both agreed that we wanted to go, so I told Steve to count us in. At that point, Steve asked me, “I was wondering if you guys would mind if Katie joined us? She’s got so much going on in her life now that I think this might be the last chance she’ll have to take a trip with us, and she’s always wanted to go to Italy.”
I knew Lisa would be ok with it, so I replied, “Of course not. Katie’s like family to us, and it’d be great to see her again.”
The next nine months went by surprisingly quickly, and suddenly, before we knew it, there we were in Italy.
After we arrived at the hotel and got settled in our room, we went down to the lobby to meet Steve, Sarah, and Katie. A few minutes later, as they stepped off the elevator, my eyes were immediately drawn to Katie. It had been several years since I’d seen her, and I had to do a double-take as she approached with long, wavy blond hair, wearing tight little shorts and a body-hugging low-cut top that really showed off her firm, full breasts. I had lost track of the fact that she was 19 years old now and was every bit a woman. And, wow, what a stunningly beautiful young woman she had transformed into.
Somehow, I managed to suppress my reaction as she greeted me with a big hug. After she hugged Lisa, she said with a big smile on her face, “It’s so good to see you guys. I’ve really missed you.”
As we headed towards the lounge for a drink, Katie walked in front of me, and I had to use every ounce of restraint to not lock my gaze on her perfect, firm, round ass and curvy hips. Oh my God, she was most definitely no longer the shapeless little tomboy that I used to know.
The week was going by quickly, and the trip was amazing. However, even with the beauty of Italy all around me, as hard as I tried, it was almost impossible not to sneak a peek at Katie’s beautiful body whenever I could, and more than a couple of times she caught me looking and just gave me a coy little smile in return.
When we got to the second-to-last day of the trip, the plan was to visit one of the local art museums in the afternoon. I was never a big fan of art galleries, so I declined to join the group and decided to just relax in our hotel room and do some reading. As Lisa left our room, she said they’d be back in about 4 hours, and we all planned to meet up for dinner a little later.
About 30 minutes after she left, I was immersed in my book when I was surprised by an unexpected knock on the door. I assumed it was one of the hotel staff checking on something or other, so I got up to see what they wanted. However, after I opened the door, I was caught completely off guard when I saw Katie standing there.
I’m sure I had a look of shock and surprise on my face when I said to her, “Katie?... I thought you went to the museum with everyone else.”
“No, I decided not to go,” she replied. “I’m not really very interested in art, so I didn’t feel like I was missing anything… But my dad said you weren’t going either, so I thought maybe we could just hang out together until they get back.”
With a purely reflex response, I said, “Sure, come on in.”
In immediate hindsight, however, I realized I probably should have given it a little more thought, and suggested that maybe we go down to the lounge or somewhere else. But, at that point, it was too late to rescind my invitation.
Katie came into the room and took a seat in one of the armchairs by the window, and I sat down in the other one a few feet directly across from her.
I didn’t know whether or not I had any reason to be nervous, but that didn’t matter because I already was. I tried my best to hide it, but I knew I was probably failing miserably. I mean, here was this absolutely gorgeous 19-year-old girl sitting across from me wearing a very tight pair of hip-hugging shorts, a low-cut midriff top, and sandals. She sat there, looking innocently seductive, with her long, tanned legs crossed and her beautiful blonde hair flowing over her shoulders. She was an absolute vision.
As nervous as I was, Katie quickly put me at ease by starting the conversation by talking about how much fun she was having on the trip and how grateful she was to Lisa and me for welcoming her to join us. From there, we talked and laughed about everything we’d been doing since Lisa and I moved away, and before I knew it, it just felt like old times, and I had completely relaxed.
About 30 minutes later, Katie unexpectedly asked, “Do you think we could have some wine from the minibar?”
Since the drinking age in Italy is nineteen, Katie had already been having a glass or two of wine when we were out for dinner, so it didn’t seem like anything she hadn’t already been doing. So, I said, “Sure, why not?”
We got even more relaxed as we sipped our wine, and the conversation started turning a little more personal.
I knew Katie had a boyfriend, so I innocently asked how things were going.
She responded, “It’s going ok. He’s nice to me and everything, but sometimes he can be so selfish and immature.”
“That’s too bad,” I said. “But I know what I was like when I was that age, and I probably wasn’t a whole lot different. It’s not a good thing, but it’s just the way guys usually are when we’re younger.”
Katie said, “Yeah, I know, but I just don’t like it.”
We both sat quietly for a moment when Katie shyly asked, “Can I tell you a secret?”
I naively replied, “Well, it wouldn’t be the first one you’ve ever told me, so, sure.”
Not having given any real thought to my response, I was not at all prepared for the secret that Katie was about to share.
Katie fidgeted a little before continuing, “I know I probably shouldn’t be telling you this…, but I’ve always had a crush on you.”
I could feel my face instantly flush, and I was at an immediate loss for words, but after a moment, I cleared my throat and nervously said, “Wow…, that’s really flattering, Katie... But I think that’s just the wine talking.”
“No, I really mean it,” she replied. “You’re so nice to me, and you really understand me… And I’ve always thought you’re really handsome.”
I was starting to feel like this was quickly spinning out of control, so I tried to slow it down by saying, “Look, Katie, I love you more than anything. You’ve always felt like a daughter to me, and I think you’re just confusing those feelings for something else.”
Katie said, “No, no, no. It’s more than that. I mean…, I’ve had thoughts about us doing things for a long time, and they just won’t go away… In fact, it got even worse after you moved.”
I sat there in stunned silence. I know I should have tried to stop her right there, but I remained inexplicably mute as she continued.
“That’s one of the reasons I went on this trip,” she added, “because I thought it might be our last chance.”
Her words, “last chance,” echoed in my mind. I obviously knew what she meant, but I was hopelessly searching for any other possible meaning to try to lower the temperature between us. I can’t remember ever feeling so conflicted about something before. There were so many reasons to immediately put a stop to this. I was married. Steve was my best friend. Katie was almost like a daughter to me. I should have just nicely asked her to go back to her room, right then and there, but I didn’t.
Katie could sense my weakness and indecision as she took things a step further.
While she subtly slipped off her sandals, she softly said, “I’ve really tried to stop some of the thoughts I have, but they just keep coming back. I think if we can just have this one time together, I can stop thinking about it... I promise it will always be our secret.”
I said, “Katie, look….”
As I was about to try to convince her, as well as myself, that this was a bad idea, she started slowly taking off her top.
After she pulled it over her head and gently dropped it to the floor, she was wearing just a sexy white lace bra on top. At that point, I completely forgot what I was going to say as I was mesmerized by the beauty of her ample breasts straining against the thin fabric.
I tried again, “Katie, wait….”
She quickly interrupted me and innocently asked, “Do you want me to stop? Just tell me to stop anytime, and I promise I will.”
She already knew she had me, as I sat there completely silent. As conflicted as I was, my forbidden sexual urges were easily winning out over reason and rational thought. All the years of fantasies I had were culminating in this moment. I was simply too weak and too lustful to stop it from progressing further.
I watched helplessly as she stood up from the chair and unbuttoned her shorts. She slowly pulled the zipper down and wiggled her hips to slide them down to the floor. Her skimpy white lace panties left little to the imagination, with the thong back discreetly nestled between her firm, round ass cheeks.
I made another futile effort to regain control as I said, “Katie…, I really think…”
Before I could finish saying another word, she quietly whispered, “Shhhhhh… It’s Ok... Just let it happen.”
She then raised her hand and combed her fingers over the top of her head through her long, silky blonde hair as she took a few steps forward and stood right in front of me. I was paralyzed by indecision. I knew what I should do, but that didn’t stand a chance against what I wanted to do.
Katie was in complete control as she reached out her hand to take mine. I stood up from the chair and swallowed hard. My heart was racing as we embraced and started passionately kissing. My hands were soon wandering uncontrollably all over her silky-smooth skin as I squeezed her tight little ass-cheeks with both hands.
Katie reached for the bottom of my shirt and pulled it over my head. I didn’t put up any resistance as she undid the button on my pants and pulled down the zipper. She went down on her knees as she pulled off my pants, and now I was standing there in just my boxers with her face inches away from my fully erect cock.
There was no longer any point in trying to convince her that I didn’t want to do this. After all, a hard cock never lies.
She paused for a moment as she looked longingly at the outline of my cock that was yearning to be freed from its confinement. My cock twitched involuntarily as she lightly traced her finger over my boxers, up and down my shaft.
Katie looked up at me with her beautiful blue eyes and said one more time in a sultry voice, “Remember, Justin, just tell me anytime if you want me to stop.”
Stop. It’s a simple four-letter, one-syllable word, and yet Katie knew full well I was incapable of speaking it. My mouth opened for a second in one last vain attempt to do the right thing, but nothing came out.
I was completely transfixed as I silently watched Katie reach behind her back to unhook her bra and slowly lower it from her shoulders. My God, I had never seen more perfect breasts, and I wanted so desperately to feel their firm softness in my hands.
She looked up at me with that coy little smile as she reached for the waistband of my boxers. She slowly pulled them down as she stretched them over my rigid cock.
Once they were on the floor, she just stared in front of her as she said in a soft voice, “Wow, Justin. It’s just as nice as I always thought it would be.”
As lost in the moment as I was, there were still thoughts in the back of my mind saying, “Stop this. Stop this now. It’s still not too late.”
However, those thoughts were quickly erased when Katie reached her hand up and started slowly stroking my cock. Her soft, warm hand felt like a velvet glove as it moved rhythmically up and down my shaft.
My dreams and fantasies were all coming true as she gently pulled my cock downwards and into her eager mouth.
In the midst of this ecstasy, I had a brief flash of panic as I realized I had never locked the door. The question quickly crossed my mind, “Oh my god, what if Lisa walks in right now?” I had lost track of time, so it didn’t seem like an impossibility, but, at the same time, the riskiness of being caught in this inexplicable situation only added to the excitement. But Logic didn’t matter anymore. All rational thought was gone with the sight of Katie lovingly sucking on my cock, and her breasts gently swaying in rhythm with her movements.
As my excitement was growing, I didn’t want our time together to end too quickly, so I quietly said to Katie in an unsteady, lustful voice, “That feels soooo good, Katie, but I want to do something for you, now. Let’s go over to the bed.”
She smiled as my cock slipped from her soft lips, and I helped her up from the floor and over to the bed. I told her to lie down, and then I got on the bed next to her. She slightly raised her hips as I slowly pulled off her panties to reveal her beautiful, bare pussy. Katie gently bit her lower lip as she looked into my eyes with trust and lustful desire.
I leaned over, and we started kissing as my hand slid up her side and was filled with the soft firmness of her magnificent breasts. I moved downwards and teased her erect nipples with my tongue as Katie started to moan softly in pleasure.
When I looked back up at her as I moved further down the bed, she smiled back at me as she spread her legs to invite me in.
I could feel my heart beating faster, and I couldn’t wait to taste her glistening, wet pussy. She slightly shuddered and abruptly inhaled in ecstasy when my tongue first touched her. Her pleasure continued to grow as I slowly worked my tongue up and down her pussy and lightly sucked on her swollen clit.
As much as I wanted to make her climax right there, Katie had other ideas.
Just as I thought she was about to cum, between heavy breaths, she pleaded, “I need to feel your cock inside me. I want you to fuck me from behind.”
I would have done anything she asked at that moment. And even though Katie obviously didn’t know it, that was my favorite position, so I was more than happy to do exactly what she wanted.
She got on her hands and knees and looked so sexy and vulnerable as I moved in behind her. The sight of her perfect ass was truly something to behold. I waited for a moment and then started teasing her by slowly brushing the head of my cock up and down her gleaming, wet pussy and over her clit while she moaned in delight. She started pushing her hips back towards me, pleading for my cock, as I very slowly inserted it into her. I wanted her to feel every inch of my shaft penetrate her.
At that point, it didn’t even matter if Lisa or anyone else walked in the room. There was no way I could stop where Katie and I were both headed.
The sensation of Katie’s tight, wet pussy gripping my cock was unbelievable. I would have loved to fuck her like this for hours, but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to last much longer.
I could feel that Katie was getting close, too, so I slid my hand around her hip and rubbed her clit as I continued thrusting my cock in and out of her. She let out an immediate gasp of pleasure as her hips urgently pushed back against my thrusts.
I could feel her pussy tighten and her body start to tremble as she cried out in the ecstasy of an overwhelming orgasm, “Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God, Justin. Fuck me harder. Oh yes, that’s it… Ohhhhhhhh.”
Her physical and verbal excitement quickly brought me to climax in a blinding surge of electricity, as every muscle in my body tightened and my cock pulsed wave after wave of cum into her beautiful, young pussy.
A few moments later, as I reluctantly withdrew my cock, I rolled onto my back and tried to catch my breath. Katie nestled herself over my arm and against my side. I wrapped my arm around her as she rested her soft, naked body against me.
Katie said to me in a quiet, peaceful whisper, “Oh my God, Justin. That was soooo amazing. I’m so glad you didn’t stop me.”
She smiled back at me with a cute little giggle as I jokingly replied, “I think you know I never stood a chance.”
We were both completely content and could have lain like that for hours. However, as pleasurable as it was, I reminded myself that Lisa could be returning at literally any moment.
I said to Katie with some urgency, “You have no idea how much I don’t want this to end, but Lisa and your parents are probably on their way back by now.”
Katie fully understood the situation, and we shared a long, passionate kiss before she got out of bed. I took one last look at her gorgeous body as I watched her get dressed. I didn’t know if this would be the last time I ever saw her naked, so I wanted to savor every second. She knew I was watching her, and she looked back at me with a cute little smile. I just slightly shook my head from side to side and said, “Wow. You are soooo beautiful.”
I got dressed, and we shared one last embrace and kiss before she left the room. She turned back to look at me just as I was closing the door and gave me a big smile. After she was gone, I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, trying to process everything that had just happened. As forbidden and risky as it was, it all seemed worth it. But I still had to trust that Katie could keep our secret, just as she promised.
Not more than 10 minutes later, the door opened, and Lisa walked in. Wow, that was a little too close for comfort. I asked her, matter-of-factly, “So, how was the museum?”
She responded, “It was OK, but I think you probably made the better choice by skipping it.”
I didn’t immediately respond, but in my head, I was thinking, “Oh my God, you have no idea.”
Lisa said, “We’re going to meet those guys at the restaurant across the street in an hour, so I’m going to get freshened up.”
I replied, “Sounds great. I’ll go after you.”
When the time came to leave for dinner, I could only imagine how awkward I would feel and how uncomfortable it would be knowing what Katie and I had just done. It's one thing to cheat on your wife, and it's another thing to fuck your best friend's daughter, but, somehow, I managed to do both at the same time. I also wondered if Katie might be having regrets and how she might act if she were. With all these thoughts swimming through my mind, how was I possibly going to be able to play it cool, as if everything was just normal?”
Lisa and I arrived at the table first, and when the others arrived, Katie sat down directly across from me, seemingly intentionally. It would have been a lot less uncomfortable if I didn’t have to face her, but there was no avoiding it now.
Katie immediately looked at me and gave me a little smile and a wink that no one else saw. I was happily surprised and very relieved when she and I were somehow able to just act as if nothing had ever happened. That also really helped me relax with everyone else, and it quickly became an enjoyable night just like any other.
As we left the restaurant, Katie brushed her hand across my lower back when no one was looking, turned to me, and said in a very sultry voice, “Goodnight, Justin… Sweet dreams.”
Wow, that moment was so sexually charged that it literally made my cock stir. I gave her a knowing smile in return and simply said, “Thanks... You, too, Katie.”
I didn’t sleep well that night. I couldn’t shut off my brain, trying to deal with the mixed emotions about the exhilaration of what had happened that conflicted with the awareness that I never should have let things get that far. But what was done was done.
When we woke up to our last full day in Italy, we had a busy itinerary planned to take in the rest of the sites. Lisa and I met the others in the lobby to head off on our adventure. Katie was wearing a stylish little Italian sundress that she had bought earlier in the trip that perfectly accentuated her body. She looked so cute and innocent that I felt a few pangs of guilt, and it made what we did yesterday feel even more inappropriate.
My conflicted emotions aside, as we moved from place to place, Katie kept finding ways to be near me and touch me with her hands or body, without drawing attention. Needless to say, this was very distracting, but I was loving every minute of her flirtation, and she knew it. Just like that, all the thoughts I had had earlier about anything being inappropriate were completely forgotten.
Before we knew it, the day came to an end, and we returned to our hotel rooms to freshen up before dinner.
It was a beautiful, warm evening, so after dinner, we all discussed taking one more walk to the nearby Square to capture every last bit of Italy that we could. Lisa said she wanted to go but was just too exhausted from the day and was going to head back to the room instead.
So, the rest of us headed off, and after walking for about 30 minutes, Steve said, “I think Sarah and I are ready to call it a night, but you two go ahead without us if you want to.”
Katie turned and asked me, “Can we keep going just a little longer? It’s such a beautiful night.”
I might have answered differently if Steve and Sarah weren’t there, but I said, “Sure. I could use some more walking after that big dinner.”
With that, Steve and Sarah turned back to the hotel, and Katie and I continued our walk in the opposite direction.
Katie and I strolled for a bit before stopping to admire a beautiful fountain that seemed to capture the essence of Italy. It was a little before 10:00 pm when we got there, so it was just about time to start heading back to the hotel.
After a moment, Katie said, “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about yesterday. Thank you again. It was so special.”
I replied, “Neither have I. It really was amazing, but I should have been stronger. I kind of feel like I let you and everyone else down.”
“No, no, no,” Katie objected. “I was the one who started it, so it’s all my fault. But I don’t regret it at all, and I don’t want you to regret it either… And I promise I’ll keep it a secret.”
“I’ll never regret it,” I said, “but I still shouldn’t have done it.”
Katie turned to face me and took my hands in hers as she said, “I understand. I really do. But you can’t be so hard on yourself.”
After a moment of silence, we naturally fell into an embrace and just stood there like that for a couple of minutes, holding on tightly to each other.
It seemed inevitable that we both began feeling the same undeniable sense of desire as we looked at each other and started kissing. Even in the openness of the Square, we were soon in our own little world as we lustfully groped each other's bodies. Katie moved her hand from our embrace down below my waist to rub the growing erection in my pants. I was completely lost in sexual passion as I fondled her breasts and then reached my hand around her back and under her dress.
My hand slid up the back of her thigh, eagerly working my way towards her tight little ass, when I was shockingly surprised and excited to discover she wasn’t wearing panties.
The moment I touched her bare ass, she interrupted our kiss, looked at me, and said between rushed breaths, “I was really hoping we would get another chance to be together. It felt so naughty not wearing panties all day, but I wanted to be ready for you.”
That brief interruption was a bit of a reality check for me. Not more than five minutes ago, I had just said how weak I was and how disappointed I was in myself, and now I was right back in the same situation. Helpless, hopeless, and once again losing control over my inappropriate lustful desires.
I was about to speak when Katie stopped me and whispered, “Shhhhh…, I know what you’re thinking, and it’s ok. This might be the last chance we ever have, so let’s not waste it.”
After another moment of indecision, I surrendered myself to my natural, primal urges. Maybe I was weak, and maybe it was wrong, but we both wanted it so much that we just couldn’t fight it.
I quickly looked in all directions, and, to my surprise, I didn’t see anyone else around. Katie knew exactly what I was thinking as I looked back at her. We began passionately kissing again as she feverishly worked to undo my pants and push them down to free my throbbing cock. Her warm hands gently massaged my cock as I continued squeezing her lovely bare ass cheeks.
I moved my hand between her thighs to find her warm, wet pussy aching for my touch. I swirled my finger around her clit and then slowly inserted my finger inside her. She moaned with desire as her excitement grew.
I took another quick look around, and there was still no one in sight. The thrill of strangers possibly watching us, though, only added to our passion.
I pulled my hands out from under Katie’s dress and told her to turn around and face the fountain.
She looked at me with a big smile and hungry, passionate eyes as she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Once her back was turned, I pulled her tightly against me and kissed her neck while she could feel my hard cock pressing against her backside. I reached up to fondle her breasts as she willingly submitted to my desires.
The soft fabric of her dress became an unnecessary obstacle between my hands and her bare skin, so I subtly slipped the thin spaghetti straps off her shoulders. She made a sudden gasp as I pulled the top of her dress down to her waist to reveal her naked beauty to anyone who might be watching us. My eager hands moved to her bare breasts, and I lingered on her erect nipples as the cool mist from the fountain lightly sprayed her.
I whispered to Katie to bend forward as she rested her hands on a small ledge on the edge of the fountain in front of her. I lifted her dress above her waist to expose her bare ass and moved closer behind her so she could feel my hard cock against her, aching to find the slippery warmth of her pussy.
She took my cock in her hand and started rubbing her pussy with it. Her excitement was growing rapidly as she slowly slid her pussy back and forth over my shaft.
In the midst of our passion, I briefly looked up and thought I saw two silhouettes watching us in the shadows a short distance away, which gave me a sudden thrill.
Katie’s moaning was barely audible over the rush of the fountain water, and she was clearly enjoying the excitement and danger of the public display we were putting on.
As she guided my cock into her pussy, she knew that the loud crashing of the fountain water would drown out her cries of ecstasy, so she didn’t even try to restrain herself.
I put my hands on Katie’s hips and pulled her tightly against me with each thrust to thoroughly stimulate her. I wanted to fuck her like it was the last time I ever would, because it probably was. The sight of her half-naked body and breasts gently swaying back and forth under the dim fountain lights was more beautiful than any of the treasures I had seen all week. I could barely hear her increasing moans of pleasure over the din of the fountain, but I knew she was getting close to climaxing. The light fountain mist in the air cooled our bodies as we fucked out in the wide open for anyone to see.
After a few more moments, I could feel Katie peaking. Her hips pushed back against mine as her cries of passion briefly rose above the endless flow of water. I followed right behind her as my own orgasm crashed over me in a blinding wave of pleasure. The rushing sound of the fountain all around us was a perfect metaphor for our shared climax.
We paused for a few seconds to catch our breath, but being out in public, we both realized we couldn’t just stand there half-naked, so we both quickly pulled our clothes back on and turned to embrace in a tight, prolonged hug. I quickly glanced around and didn’t see the two silhouettes I thought I had seen before, so maybe they had left, or maybe they were never there. Either way, it didn’t really matter.
Before we left the fountain, we had a long, sensuous kiss. We both knew this was something we’d never forget, and that this would always be “our” fountain.
We slowly walked back to the hotel, hand in hand, not wanting to get back too quickly. We knew that once we got back, the trip was over, and this was probably the last time we would ever be together in this special way.
On the way, Katie said to me, “I’ve always fantasized about having sex in public, but I never thought it would ever happen. I’m really happy it happened here with you. It was so exciting and perfect.”
Once we were back at the hotel, we simply said goodnight as if nothing was different between us. Of course, we knew otherwise, but that was our secret to keep.
The next morning, when it was time to say our goodbyes, Katie and I were alone for a couple of minutes in the airport terminal. She gave me a big hug and then stood on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear, “I’m so glad we got to spend some time together. I’ll never forget it.”
She gave me a soft kiss on the cheek and then let go of our hug. She lingered just a moment longer as she bit her lower lip while looking deeply into my eyes. I was just about to say something when she turned away and headed towards her gate. I’m not actually sure what words would have come out of my mouth at that moment, but none really needed to. A few steps after she walked away, she looked back over her shoulder and gave me one last big smile.
When we got back home, things quickly returned to normal. Katie and I stayed in touch, but neither of us ever mentioned what happened in Italy. Nothing more really needed to be said.
Given Katie’s age and growing independence, it seemed unlikely that she would ever be taking another trip with her parents and us, and it was probably for the best if she didn’t. I obviously couldn’t trust myself when I was alone with her, and the memories we made were already enough to last a lifetime. Besides that, I knew our relationship would always be different from here on out; not better or worse, just different.
When people ask me how my trip to Italy was, I respond, “It was incredibly beautiful, and exciting, and I did things that I never thought I would.”
To them, they assume I’m referring to the country. For me, it has a totally different meaning.