Chapter One: The Red Light Romance It was a warm Florida night, the kind where the air smells like saltwater and possibility. Phill just arrived at Patrick Air Force Base—young, handsome, and probably thinking more about chow time than charm school. Meanwhile, my sister had just gotten a shiny red Mazda, and obviously, we had to take it for a spin. Two sisters, no destination, just vibes. As fate (and traffic) would have it, we pulled up to a red light. Two guys were in the car next to us.

A time at Cocoa Beach. Phill was surfing. The beach was packed, but all I saw was Phill on his board. I swam out, surprising him mid-surf. When our eyes met, sparks flew. We clung to his board, bodies close, heat rising with every touch. Surrounded by the crowd, it still felt like we were alone. We laughed, kissed, flirted—his hands on my waist, my lips on his neck. The sun blazed, the waves rocked us gently, and for a moment, the ocean was ours. Bold, wild, and we can leave it at that...

We’d finally take that 2nd honeymoon we’ve been dreaming about! First stop: Greece for sunset views in Santorini. We’d dance through the streets of Barcelona, eat way too much tapas, and chase magic in Italy- think gondola rides in Venice, pasta in Rome, and wine in Tuscany. We’d unplug, unwind, and remember what it feels like to just be us—not parents, not business owners—just two best friends madly in love on the adventure of a lifetime. After all these years, we deserve a little *dolce