With an honestly self-deprecating snort he replied, "You'll give me an ego one of these days, won't you?"
Just then their pizzas were brought out and Adrian was grateful - with their food, he felt less vulnerable than he had even a moment ago. He knew that being close with Alicia was something new for him, but sometimes he still wondered if it was a good idea to have someone so woven into his life - he wasn't the most social or trusting being, and sometimes their friendship threw that into sharp contrast for him.
"Um, anyway, northern Italy - I bet the kids would love the skiing there, and in Trieste there's Duino Castle, one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you go, let me know, I'll have to pop over and give you a tour of the grounds, it's all 14th Century, very northern Renaissance." Adrian's mother had made him learn a lot about Italian history while they lived there, kept his nose in books all the time, and she loved wandering the Castle grounds whenever she could. He wouldn't be surprised if he still knew the area by heart.