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Park Güell looks like something out of a fairy tale. It has big stone structures with bright white curved roofs and intricate mosaics on every surface, sparkling in the afternoon sun. We’re standing in front of a grand white staircase, framed by a checkerboard pattern of rainbow tiles on either side, lush greenery sprouting up all over. And it all leads up to a building with tall white columns, looming at the top like a castle. In any other circumstance, I would be pulling out my camera, excited to document each unique detail.

But.

“I’m not trying to kill your dreams or whatever,” Wally continues. “But... it’s crowded.”

Like, really, really crowded. Like, we can barely move crowded. There are tons of tour groups moving in mass around the grounds, families tugging along bored kids with headphones, girls in dresses posing for the gram, lots of people cheesing for selfie sticks.

“I’m not saying he won’t be here,” Wally says, squeezing my arm. “This just might be more difficult than we initially expected.”

“I know,” I sigh. I close my eyes.

I knew it was a long shot that he’d even be here. They could still be at their hotel, checking in. They could have changed their plans altogether and gone somewhere else in Barcelona. There was no guarantee.

But this felt right. Maybe I’m totally losing my mind, crazy from cabin fever after being stuck in a windowless room for twoweeks, like that gray-haired woman thought. But I was so sure I would come here and find him. That I could pick him out of a crowd, just like I did that first day at the Trevi Fountain.

Because it was meant to be. Because I deserve a ridiculous, romantic, completely far-fetched love story like this.

I turn around in a circle, eyes bouncing everywhere. I examine every face, searching for the one I need to see.

“We can always go to the hotel and regroup,” Wally says. “Maybe we can try to find him on social and message him that way? And I know it’s not as exciting, but, like, he does live really close at home. Also... I kind of have to make a phone call.”

I spin to look at him. “A phone call?”

He bites his lip. “Yeah, a phone call. To Kieran. I—I finally emailed him back last night. Things aren’t better yet, but he wants to talk.” He shrugs and smiles nervously. “It’s late there, but I wanted to see if I could catch him before he went to bed—”

“Wally!” I cut him off. “Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have asked you to do this if I knew that. Oh my god! Okay, you are telling me everything later. Let’s go!” I grab his hand, pulling him toward the curb where the taxis are lined up.

I spot his hair first. Tousled black curls falling into his face. Then I recognize those arms that wrapped around my waist and made me feel so safe and treasured. His smooth brown skin that’s gotten darker, golden, as we’ve spent our days in the sun.

He’s talking to his mom, and she must have said somethingfunny because his head falls back in laughter, one single “Ha!”

It’s him. I know it’s him. I’ve never felt more sure.

“Alex!” I call, and Wally jumps next to me.

“Lenore, are you—”

“Alex!” I yell louder, waving my arms. “Alex! Over here!”

He stops talking and twists his neck around, searching for whoever is calling his name. I start to run to him.

“Alex!”

Our eyes lock, and for a moment I’m terrified that he’s going to roll his eyes or laugh because I took this too far, because I’m being weird and couldn’t let it go like a reasonable person. But his lips stretch into a smile that takes over his whole face, his brown eyes dance with excitement, and before I know it, he’s running to me, too.

We meet in the middle, attracting stares from all the tourists nearby. Out of the corner of my eye, I see phones rise, cameras cover faces, but I don’t even care. He is all I see, all I want.

He opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I was scared you were going to change your mind. Scared that I’m too much and also not enough at the same time. I was scared you were going to break my heart.”

He closes the space between us, tenderly cupping my face in his hands. “Lenore, I’m never going to break your heart.”

I smile, leaning into his touch. “You can’t promise that. We don’t know. There’s no way for us to know for sure. But I guess what I’m trying to say is, I want to risk it with you. Even if I’m not perfect at it, I want to be in love with you.”

His eyes crinkle as he smiles at me. My whole body warms up, and those goddamn butterflies are having a party.

“Well, that’s good.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, because I’m already madly in love with you.”

He pulls me into a kiss as cheers erupt around us. And I have no idea what the future will bring. I don’t know what my life is going to look like in five years, let alone next month. But I do know that in this moment I’m happy—authentically, blissfully happy—and that’s all I need right now.