Part 15

He jumped into my hug and I heard one of the bodyguard's chuckle. I hugged him back and we stepped closer to the Trevi Fountain, an iconic masterpiece of Baroque art. We were captivated by its grandeur and the mythological scene it depicts, where Neptune triumphantly rides his chariot through a sea of cascading water.

"It's so beautiful. Thank you, Perth. I've wished to see it ever since I was a little kid and my mom told me about it," he said quietly.

We stood next to each other. I moved my arm so I could hug his shoulders. I kissed his forehead and Santa calmly purred, like a cat.

I put my hand in my jeans pocket and pulled out three euro coins.

"Why do you need three coins?" Santa asked curiously.

"Because legend has it, if you throw in three coins, the fountain promises marriage," I whispered seductively.

His cheeks turned red, but he looked so happy. He grabbed my hand that was holding the three coins, and we threw them together into the Trevi Fountain, in the center of Rome, the Eternal City, the City of Love.

"What does that mean, Perth?" he asked carefully and looked deep into my eyes.

"That means I'm going to marry you one day, Tata." I answered and kissed him on the lips without caring that we were in public. The kiss sealed my promise.