Meet Me in Milan

by Sophie Gravia

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

The laugh-out-loud summer read you need in your life, from bestselling author Sophie Gravia.

Zara Smith is FINALLY in a healthy relationship... so why can't she stop thinking about her ex?

The shocking news of the summer is that Tom - the ex Zara always thought would never settle down - is ENGAGED to beloved actress and all-natural beauty Quinn Foxx. They're throwing a star-studded engagement party in Italy, and Zara is invited.

She isn't planning to go until she finds an old note from Tom that shows their feelings for each other were once mutual. And she needs to know - does he still feel the same way? And, just like that, Zara's on a plane to Milan to crash the most talked-about engagement of the year!

After all this time, could this be the moment Zara's been waiting for... or the biggest mistake of her life?


Readers are loving Meet Me in Milan:

'What sets Meet Me in Milan apart is Sophie's remarkable ability to blend humor and vulnerability, capturing the essence of life's intricacies [...] Sophie's clever narrative strikes a balance between hilarity and poignancy, ensuring that even the most comedic moments carry layers of emotional authenticity. The result is a story that resonates deeply, eliciting laughter, empathy, and a renewed appreciation for life's twists and turns.'

'Honestly my favourite book series, probably ever! Full of laughs, shags, dating and drama and it's amazing. Every page is captivating and I finished it in one day.'

'This is a brilliant book, full of many laughs. A real page turner!!'

'Couldn't put this book down!!'

Publisher: Orion

Print pages: 336

Sample

Twenty glorious weeks, two fantastic days, and nearly twelve perfect hours have passed since Andy and I became official, and things are, well … pretty incredible. Who’d have thought that me, Zara Smith, would bag herself one of the most handsome, funny, sexy, down-to-earth guys in the city? Our whirlwind never seems to cease – it’s an endless string of late-night sexy texts, romantic walks, weekend trips, compliments, and family dinners together. But my God, whoever said being baw deep in a relationship was easy is talking absolute shite. I had to make some severe sacrifices to get where we are today, like purchasing more razors than Sweeney Todd, changing my bedding far more regularly than I like to just in case my fake tan silhouette is being judged, and I have even had to swap my go-to discoloured-crotch cotton comfies for lacy, glittery thongs, which basically signed the fucking prescription for a guaranteed yeast infection and a bad bout of bacterial vaginosis.

But it’s not just the sacrifices, it’s also the sheer amount of time you need to invest in the fuckers. I mean, surely I’m not the only one who finds it challenging to stay on top of their own personal hygiene after factoring in everything else? There’s housework, actual work, date nights, getting ready for date nights, as well as finding time to have a social life and exercise. I am now continuously on high alert just in case my sweet boyfriend decides to pop by. Never mind dealing with the impossible task of watching my weight whilst I’m getting carted off to cinema dates, drinks and dinner in town, pancakes for breakfast or Harry Potter marathons with a Bargain Bucket and dip. It’s a downright impossible task that I think only men have figured out so far. For now, I’m pretty confident Andy will see a few extra pounds as some extra cushion for the pushin’ and not bat an eye. And as romantic and exciting as the first couple of months of a relationship are, I’m looking forward to the onesie, top knot, curry-stained Oodie and granny-pants phase to commence and for my anxiety levels to simmer down.

After years of obsessing and borderline stalking any man that so much as gestured for me to cross in front of their car on a busy road – wondering in bed at night if they were trying to flirt or just save me from being knocked down by an angry Uber driver – I finally seem to have found the one and with not a hint of a red flag in sight. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there have certainly been some things I’ve had to adapt to, like the way Andy chews his food so loudly that my fists clench and rattle with resentment. Or the way he sings, like proper tries to serenade me, all the while staring into my eyes for admiration. I pretend to smile but inside I’m desperately trying to keep down my spicy chicken wings. Oh, and there is, of course, the teeny tiny issue I have in that I’m highly allergic to his dog, Tyson.

Despite this, a few months ago, any one of these minor matters would have resulted in me running for the Campsies. Still, with a pocket laced with antihistamines and a new drug habit developing with weekly visits to the chemist because of his furry friend, I’ve learned not only to cope with his quirks but find them kind of cute.

My best friend Ashley has thoroughly kissed and made up with her lovely boyfriend, Dave. Since reuniting, she moved back into their flat, and they seem happier than ever. She’s still my right-hand woman at the clinic and marketing the life out of my brand. As a result, Individualise is booming. I have a waiting list of clients, and my concept of individualising aesthetics has taken off all over the city. I’ve been teaching the basics to other clinics and have even taken on two new practitioners from Botox Boxx, Lisa and Olivia. The girls bring a young, hip, trendy vibe to the clinic, specialising in piercings, microblading and laser hair removal. My ex, Tom, is still working hard here too. He’s embracing his new teaching role with the new starts, and, as always, the clients treasure his charming, handsome self. He seems genuinely happy for Andy and me, checking in and engaging in some form of bromance with him since Raj left, and to be honest our friendship is great. We have a great laugh together and I treasure our platonic set-up, no more analysing his smirks and flirty behaviour, just friendly patter and lots of work talk. Tom and Raj are getting on better than ever, although I can tell they are both missing one another as Raj continues to live it up in Dubai. Huge things are happening with pop-up aesthetic shops over there. His face is becoming very recognisable in aesthetics and other cosmetic surgeries, which is his speciality. I find us talking more now than we did when he was at home – he’s constantly checking that I’ve paid the clinic bills and the staff wages and completed the mound of admin work I now have to oversee. Deep down, I think he misses the banter and bustle of the clinic, but the Middle Eastern lifestyle has ultimately won him and his family over.

All in all, my life seems to be finally following the stereotypical course of action. Knowing I have the job, the friends and now a handsome, trustworthy man by my side, I don’t know what more I could possibly ask for. Just finding that one man to have in my corner, someone supportive to chat to, who wants to be with me is a welcome relief. I don’t have that dreaded anxiety whenever Andy’s phone pings that he might be messaging someone else or crazily wondering if he’d rather be with strangers walking past us in the street. He is the confidence boost I needed. Even if his fucking dog is killing me slowly and the medication is causing me to sleep ninety per cent of the day away when I’m with him, I am simply head over heels, and every single thing in my life is going exactly to plan.

Ping.

I glanced down at the new Apple Watch I’d purchased on a whim to get healthy.

Reminder: Lunch with Jason at 1 p.m.

Shit, I almost forgot about that today. I hadn’t seen my friend Jason for months, although I tried to keep in regular contact with him since qualifying as a nurse. Jason was my final mentor, and if it weren’t for his persistent pushing and wake-up calls, I probably would’ve still been in a dark dungeon weeping over Tom. He’d recently crept into my DMs demanding a lunch date, and of course I jumped at the chance to catch up.

I walked out of the treatment room to the shop floor and immediately spotted the new starts looking flustered as they caught my eye. They seemed to still be working me out and could be a little uneasy at times, curious about how rigid I was as a boss.

‘Hey, you two OK?’ I asked, grinning at the pair.

Lisa bobbed shyly. She was the tallest of the two girls, twenty-five and our official laser hair removal specialist. Since moving to us, she was slowly coming out of her shell, and I could tell her work ethic was strong. She has a two-year-old son called James and is entirely focused on building up her clientele and growing her branding for his sake, which I completely admire.

‘We’re fine, just finding the best lighting for some Insta stories,’ Olivia gushed back cheerily. Olivia was only nineteen but the sweetest little powerhouse. She has bright red hair, and I don’t think I’d seen her repeat a hairstyle yet; from space buns to plaits to curls, she’d done it all. Olivia specialises in microblading and piercings, bringing a whole new range of quirky clients through the door. Her needlework is precise, and she is entirely fearless. Her presence on social media is vast, with thousands of TikTok followers watching her piercing videos every day.

‘Try the corner at the front door. The lighting’s great there,’ I replied.

‘Thanks, Zara,’ Lisa said, smiling as Olivia bounced over to the corner.

I walked over to the desk and joined Ashley, who was engrossed in the booking system.

‘I forgot I have lunch today with Jason. Will you make sure I’m free between one and two?’ I asked, admiring her latest set of black-and-white dog-tooth acrylics as they hit the keyboard.

‘Good job I didn’t forget, isn’t it?’ She snickered and we giggled. ‘I linked everyone’s phone calendars and things to the booking system, so I literally know where you all are at all times.’

‘Ash, that’s probably illegal.’

‘No, it definitely is.’ She shrugged. ‘For instance …’ She popped her finger in the air and began pressing keys again before smirking. ‘Today, Tom is receiving a parcel from Amazon consisting of some classic moccasin slippers. I’ve always seen him as a slider kind of guy.’

I chuckled, shaking my head. ‘Well, he does do long shifts,’ I said. My voice squeaked as I found myself defending him.

Ashley’s face screwed up for a brief second before her thoughts jumped ship again. ‘Please, can I come to lunch with you, Zara? I hate when you have other friends and I need to eat alone!’ She lowered her head and pouted. ‘Pleeeeease!’

‘Eh, no way. That’s awkward. I only see Jason once in a blue moon. Plus, I need you to stay here; the girls have quite a busy afternoon of clients.’

Ashley stomped her black stiletto on the tiled floor, then sassily flicked her hair back as another train of thought came over her. ‘Is Andy coming in for product day tomorrow?’

I nodded, still breaking into a proud smirk whenever my boyfriend’s name was mentioned.

‘Like, why don’t you just discuss it at home? It frees up an entire morning or afternoon of clients for everyone else.’

I shrugged. ‘It’s a team meeting, though. I want all of you to be involved. Plus, I thought you loved product day?’

Ashley’s head swayed. ‘I do; it’s a complete skive. I was thinking for the financial aspect, though. You could mix business with …’ Her voice deepened into some form of a Russian accent as she turned sharply to my face. ‘Pleasure, you know!’

I laughed loudly, pushing her face away from mine as she invaded my personal space.

‘Stop being so creepy, man! I’m not mixing anything, it’s all’ – I tried my hardest to imitate the vaguely European voice – ‘pleasure, pleasure, pleasure with him!’

Ashley giggled back. ‘And I suppose if the meeting got cancelled, drinks afterwards would be too and that’s my favourite part of the ritual.’

Our after-meeting work drinks had started recently as a celebration of exceptional sales figures one month, and had quickly become a regular occasion on the calendar.

‘Right, I’m going to head, shouldn’t be too long,’ I called out, waving to the girls still selfie-ing from the corner of the room.

Outside, George Square was fresh and lovely. I took a deep breath and began the short stroll towards La Vita Spuntini. It was the middle of July. Although the weather was cloudy, it was a mild day in Glasgow, just another Monday afternoon, and most of the people who laced the streets were businesslike until I hit the bustle of shoppers on Buchanan Street.

I was looking forward to meeting up with Jason. I hadn’t managed to pick up any shifts in the hospital for almost a year, so I was eager to hear all about the latest dramas in the ward I’d trained in. He always had a great story to tell, and I missed his uplifting energy.

As I turned the corner, I saw Jason waving at me with an enormous grin on his face.

‘Hi! ’ he screeched from a distance, and I hurried my walk a little, feeling slightly out of breath from the five-minute stroll. ‘Aww, you are a full wee businesswoman! Look at you!’ He held my shoulders, darting his gaze at my black jeans and blazer combo. ‘I’ve been so excited to see you, Zara!’ he added as we walked into the restaurant.

‘Me too! How are you? What’s been happening?’

He was glowing and his infectious welcome made my heart burst as I realised how much I’d missed him. He was wearing skinny grey jeans and a black leather aviator jacket, although it must have only been for fashion purposes as it was pretty clammy in Glasgow.

‘I’m good. Proper fucked from three twelve-hour shifts, but hey! You probably can’t recall what that feels like, though, Miss Zara,’ he said jokingly, rolling his dark eyes at me.

I smiled as a tall Italian-looking waiter approached us. ‘Table for Smith, please.’

‘Follow me, please.’

He led us to a cosy seat in the corner and Jason and I sat down.

‘And just so you know, I am still very familiar with twelve-hour days,’ I said. ‘My friend Ashley books the life out of me at times. She gets ragin’ if I need a bathroom break!’

Jason giggled, grabbing his menu. ‘So, how is the business going then? Do you love it?’ I watched his bright eyes skim down the menu.

‘Yes, absolutely. It’s growing well. We’ve got a couple of new treatments. A new piercer too, actually, so if you want anything pierced, however discreet it may be, it’s on the house!’ I winked.

Jason’s jaw dropped. ‘Aw naw, no way! I couldn’t. Do guys seriously come in to get their boabies pierced?’

I had forgotten how loud Jason’s voice was as he held his chest in disgust. I ushered him to shhh, but I couldn’t stop belly laughing at his reaction.

‘She can do them, but she’s not done any at Individualise yet. Maybe you should be her model for the Gram?’ I laughed as he gaped in horror.

‘Oh my God, I thought that was an eighties thing too.’

The waiter approached the table hesitantly, not knowing if Jason was ready to discuss the menu.

‘Can I have a Diet Coke and the penne amatriciana?’ I asked, returning my menu.

‘Ehh … Awk, I’ll have the same. Sorry, she’s got me all flustered.’ Jason laughed dramatically as the waiter walked back to the bar.

‘So, how’s the love life?’ I asked Jason, and his face screwed up a little.

‘Hmm … I’m getting some, put it that way. Met up with a porter from work the other night on Grindr, had no idea he worked in the hospital and now I see him every day. Mortifying!’ We both giggled. ‘But how is yours, more to the point? I seen the sexy photo on your Instagram the other day – that just-woke-up pose. Meaning “we just had sex”!’

I blushed slightly, recalling the exact photo Jason was talking about and feeling slightly proud as that was the exact angle I hoped would come across and of course we absolutely had just had sex. ‘It’s good. I have like a proper boyfriend, finally!’ I felt a small surge of happiness in my stomach thinking about Andy.

‘Yes, finally!’ he repeated. ‘Nah, I’m so happy for you, babe, you deserve it! Especially with the whole Dr Adams carry on.’ He pursed his lips and made a small tutting sound.

I nodded my head, agreeing with Jason. I still felt embarrassed about some of the antics I got into when I was mad for Tom. The image of my very public humiliation running from Tom’s flat dressed in a fuckin’ pick ‘n’ mix played across my mind. I shuddered at the thought.

‘You know he’s never been the same since it all. Dr Adams, I mean.’

The waiter approached the table with our drinks. I popped out a paper straw and immediately began sucking down my Diet Coke as I stared at Jason for more information.

‘What do you mean?’

Jason let out a sigh. ‘Well, you know how he was. Always very flirtatious, like every second word was an innuendo. He’s just so blah now. Like, hmm …’ He paused, considering his words. ‘He’s so serious now or something. Boring bastard almost.’

‘Really?’ I was puzzled. I could feel my face tightening up. Were we discussing the same guy? I hadn’t seen any change in Tom recently. He was always bubbly and full of his charming masculine energy at Individualise. ‘He’s totally fine in the clinic with all of us. But he’s going for his consultancy this year in the hospital. Maybe he’s trying to stay more professional?’

‘Wait, he still works at the clinic? What the hell!’ Jason let out a choking sound, as if his drink had gone down the wrong way. When he recovered, he screeched with laughter.

‘It sounds weird, but it’s fine, it’s …’ I thought about the dynamics of the clinic and broke into a smile. ‘It’s good, actually. We’re all just like best buddies.’

‘Aye, fuck buddies more like!’ Jason winked. ‘No, no, I’m joking. Wow, Zara. It’s cool of you and nice how you’ve moved on, and karma has well and truly made him still single!’

My heart felt a bit achy for Tom. I wanted him to be happy. The thought of him not being his fun, charismatic self in the wards since the humiliating drama of me versus Harriette made me wonder what was going through his head and how it all affected him.

‘Well, anyway, tell me about work. I want to hear it all!’ I clasped my hands excitedly, keen to take the spotlight off myself.

‘It’s been wild. Like, on Monday we had this patient admitted overnight, presented with abdo pain. She was scanned – a bowel blockage.’ Jason shrugged, unimpressed, as he encountered this scenario frequently. ‘The surgeons said it was small and would resolve on its own, so no surgical intervention needed.’

At that moment the waiter returned with our food. ‘Your lunch,’ he said, setting our plates down on the table. ‘Can I get you anything else?’

I shook my head quickly at him with a rushed smile, eager for the rest of Jason’s story.

‘So, they held off overnight,’ he continued once the waiter had gone. ‘The usual situation, slowly deteriorating the following day. Then that afternoon became septic, then of course peri-arrest most of the fuckin’ day until – boom. Full-blown cardiac arrest, and we’re rushing her into Theatre.’

I was on the edge of my seat, ploughing through my pasta.

‘They got her back, mind you, but it was ooh …’ he added, munching away, shaking his head.

‘Fucking hell. That’s bad. The poor woman.’ I sat back on my seat and paused for a moment. ‘But I’m weirdly jealous! Honestly, I miss that so much, Jason. All of that.’ I thought back to my days on the ward and that adrenaline rush you experienced when a patient got so sick and you snapped into action, doing absolutely anything you could to keep them alive. To leave the hospital so physically exhausted but unbelievably fulfilled that your decisions that day had participated in saving someone’s life is a buzz I don’t think many people can encounter unless you work in that field.

He laughed. ‘I mean I had fuckin’ skiddies that shift but, still, that feeling when you see them get better, it’s what it’s all about. You need to come back, do a couple of extra shifts a week, even. We are always short-staffed; you know what it’s like.’

I sighed, feeling that my days in the wards were a lifetime ago. ‘I don’t know if I’d have the time, honestly. Plus, would I even remember what to do in that situation?’

‘Eh … aye! Because you were my fucking student and I taught you exactly what to do.’ His eyes gave me a warning scowl across the table. ‘It doesn’t leave you, Zara. A couple of shifts, and it’ll be like you never left!’

I smiled back at my friend. I’d always loved my training days at the hospital and if it weren’t for my friendships with Ashley and Raj, I would probably still be there now. That relationship and wanting to help people was exactly why I’d wanted to go into nursing in the first place.

‘Anyway, aside from that drama, I’ve been studying for an interview.’ Jason blushed, suddenly becoming unusually vulnerable. ‘I don’t like telling anyone, because the chances are I won’t get it. But there are ten positions so I hope to fucking God I have a shot at one!’

‘Oh, amazing, good for you! What’s the job?’ I asked.

He was full of excitement again as he began to explain. ‘Basically, they’re building a team of acute surgical Advanced Nurse Practitioners. They’ll be helping scrub in Theatre, perform minor ops, help out with the trauma at the front door of the hospital, and there’s even chat about helping out at big incidents. Like major road traffics, stabbings and stuff, we are in the toon after all! So aye, mainly stabbings!’

I gasped. ‘Honestly, wow. You would be amazing at that! It sounds like the dream job. Like Holby City shit.’ I laughed.

‘Holby? Hun, this is Grey’s shit. Just find me McDreamy! But, you know, I’m pitching it for you too. Think about it. If you are still into the acute side of nursing and not just a big hot-shot aesthetics nurse. There are ten jobs, Zara, not one. Of course, there’s a hell of a lot of interest but … the dream team could be back together.’

‘It sounds unreal, but I’ve been out too long now.’ I shrugged, feeling disappointed.

Jason shook his head. ‘My arse! They train you up! And I’m sure Anne would give you a glowing reference.’

I could feel my palms get sweaty at the thought. It was the type of job that I’d once dreamed of – that adrenaline rush, the patients, the making a difference.

‘Do a couple of shifts, see if you still miss us,’ Jason said. ‘The closing date isn’t for another few weeks, so you’ve got time to study and apply. That’s if you really want it, and personally I think you’d shine.’

Despite the conflict and doubt I was feeling, I beamed at him. ‘I have a lot of catching up to do before I could even set foot in the wards again!’ I laughed.

It felt great to talk to someone about real nursing again. I hadn’t realised how much I missed that side of my life until now.

Soon, we finished up and split the bill. After lunch, I headed back to the clinic and completed my afternoon of aesthetic procedures, the conversation and possibilities I’d discussed with Jason rolling over and over in my head.

Later that night, I headed round to Andy’s. It was my new favourite place to go after work, especially late at night. He usually finished a few hours earlier than me, and tonight he’d promised me dinner upon arrival. After locking up the clinic, I caught a taxi and made the short trip to Clyde Street. Andy rented one of the trendy new blocks of flats overlooking the river. I pressed the button for the lift, my legs unable to contemplate the three flights of stairs it would take me to walk up.

As the lift doors opened, I noticed Andy’s front door was wedged open slightly.

‘Hey!’ I called out as I walked in, closing it behind. . .