Lila is my real last first. The last first girl I ran game on. The last first girl I asked out on a date. The last first girl I ever shared a kiss with. The last first time I willingly entrusted pieces of my heart and parts of my soul into the safekeeping of another person.
And now, I just want her to be my always.
The Senior Semester Series continues
with Mia’s story in Rome, Italy …
Mia
Forty-five minutes later, Lexi and I are seated outside a small restaurant. It’s located off one of the tiny streets leading to the bustling Campo de’Fiori, and I’m enjoying the momentary solitude from the busyness of the city. Rome is overwhelming. It’s everything at once, and I wish I could absorb each detail simultaneously, but I think it would be sensory overload.
“Una bottiglia di vino rosso, per favore.” Lexi smiles at the hostess.
She nods. “Your waiter will be with you in one moment.”
“So …” Lexi leans forward, her blond hair swinging with the movement. “How was your flight?”
I shudder for a moment, remembering my dream/nightmare. “It was good, thanks. It went by much faster than I thought since I slept for so much of it.”
She laughs. “That’s good. Let me know when you start feeling tired. Jet lag’s a bitch.”
I nod in agreement.
“Una bottiglia di vino rosso,” our waiter announces, placing a bottle of the house wine and two small glasses down on our table. He smiles at me and I feel my insides warm and melt. “Cosa vorremo ordinare?”
My breath is lodged in my throat as I stare at him. He meets every criteria for one of Lila’s tall, dark, and handsomes. He’s tall, easily six feet, with dark hair that curls slightly behind his ears and over the collar of his shirt, and incredibly handsome. In fact, he’s downright hot. A chiseled jawline, a slight shadow dusting his cheeks and chin—the beginning of a beard he didn’t shave this morning—and a tiny dimple winking from his left cheek. His skin is tanned, the olive sun-kissed tone of a Mediterranean dweller. And he has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.
“What would you like to order?” He switches to English.
Ah, yes, I was supposed to respond to that question. Immediately, I feel my face grow red like a tomato. Shoot me now. Stop ogling the hot waiter!
Lexi laughs good-naturedly. “I would like the bruschetta pomodoro and penne arrabiata please.”
He nods. “And for you?” He turns his eyes on me again, and I pinch my leg under the table to center myself.
“Insalata caprese per favore.”
“Perfetto. So one bruschetta to start, followed by penne arrabiata and insalata caprese?”
“Si.”
“Okay, grazie.” He smiles at me one more time, his eyes latching onto mine. He winks once before turning back into the restaurant. Oh good, so he knows he makes me nervous, flustered, blushing like a teenager.
Lexi hunches forward on the table, her elbows pulling herself in closer. “Relax, girl, he’s only the first Italian we’ve met.”
“Oh my God.”
Lexi laughs.
“Could I be any more awkward?”
“Don’t sweat it. I’m sure he’s used to girls reacting like that. And he clearly likes the attention. That wink wasn’t even remotely subtle.” She laughs again, a clear ring that vibrates throughout the quiet patio and has nearby patrons turning their heads in our direction. “We’re going to have some serious fun here.”
I smile at her warmly, relieved to have already made a friend in my roommate. I think so too.
Acknowledgments
A big thank you to all of my family and friends who have continued to support and guide me on my writing journey! Your encouragement, advice, and feedback have been invaluable and very much appreciated.
A special thanks –
To my husband, Tony – for weaving my aspirations into your own and always being my Home Team. Thanks for acting as a perpetual sounding board, correcting the sports bits, and caring about Lila and Cade as much as I do.
To our little – for all of the motivational kicks while I’m writing. Daddy and I can’t wait to meet you!
To my Mom, Dad, and Mike – for your unconditional love and constant support. Thank you for believing in my dreams.
To Christy and Kristal – thank you tons for reading (and rereading) The Last First Game. Your advice and feedback truly strengthened the story and helped me improve as a writer. Thank you for all of your honesty.
To my editor Maxann Dobson at The Polished Pen – thank you for all of your time, advice, and insight. Your wisdom and experience has been a true asset to the development of this story.
To Deborah Bradseth at Tugboat Design - for creating an incredible cover! Thank you for all of your efforts to design the cover I had imagined! Also, thank you for formatting this book.
To all of the wonderful friends, classmates, professors, and strangers I met through my own college journey – thank you for contributing to my adventure!
To you, the reader, thank you for taking the time to read The Last First Game. I hope you reminisced about your own college experiences, friendships, and loves – and enjoyed reliving that part of your life along with Lila and Cade.
About the Author
Gina Azzi loved every moment of college—especially her study abroad experiences, internships, and travel adventures! She drew on her college experiences to create the storylines for The Senior Semester Series.
Gina is a passionate reader, frequent globetrotter, and coffee enthusiast. She currently resides in Dubai with her husband, Tony.
Gina loves meeting new people and would love to hear from you! Get in touch with her at:
Email: ginaazziauthor@gmail.com
Twitter: @gina_azzi
Facebook: /ginaazziauthor
Website: www.ginaazzi.com
For more books by Gina Azzi:
Corner of Ocean and Bay (Available Now)
The Senior Semester Series
The Last First Game - Lila’s Story (Fall 2015)
Mia’s Story (Spring 2016)
Maura’s Story (Summer 2016)
Emma’s Story (Fall 2016)
Table of Contents
August Prologue
September Chapter One
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
October Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
November Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
December Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
For more books by Gina Azzi:
Gina Azzi, The Last First Game