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I fall into a restless sleep with my hand holding my phone, waiting for even a single message from that asshole; anything would be better than the radio silence between us. But, throughout the entire night, the silence endures. I spend my first night on the beautiful island of Capri miserable and lonely, just feet away from my heart's greatest desire, but feeling somehow miles apart.
32
Capri, July 3, 2022
Dan
We takebreakfast at the same dining table as last night, and when I arrive at the terrace it’s just Lili, Robin, and Elise present. There’s no formal time for this meal, and I can only assume the soon-to-be newlyweds are having a late lie-in and taking their time. Which I’m happy about because it means I can see how annoyed Elise is without interruption.
Normally, I wouldn’t try to upset her, but after she gave me the cold shoulder once we had our night together, I was determined to stick with my previous plan of icing her out the entire trip to Capri. It’s been damned hard, especially seeing her prance about in a bikini that barely covers her, but on a whim I had invited Tiffany and Mia into the villa, and they had ended up being my secret weapon. Especially Mia, who took a quick liking to me.
I had no intentions of doing anything other than just flirting with Mia, but she had been all too willing to play the part of a smitten new flame, and I had loved watching Elise get angrierand angrier as the day went on. Except for when she got her nose bloodied, of course, but she hadn’t been seriously hurt so there was no reason for me to break character and let her know that I really am still into her.
Now she glares at me as I approach the table in nothing but my black swimming trunks, sitting across from her and pouring myself a cup of the provided coffee with a smile.
Breakfast is being served family style so everyone can come and go as they please, but Elise seems to only be having coffee, pale brown with extra cream and no doubt sweetened excessively. When she raises her face to me, there are subtle dark circles under her beautiful eyes. Either she’s bruised more than I expected from the volleyball hit, or her sleep had been restless. I’m betting on the latter.
“Rough night?” I venture.
“Shut up.”
“Well, I for one, had a great sleep. Those beds are so comfortable, don’t you agree? The mattresses are so soft.”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now,” she grumbles. I see Lili look at Robin, and then back at Elise and me, her brow furrowed, but she doesn’t say anything.
“But I so want to talk to you,” I remark, eyes drifting to where her beige silk robe gapes open, but she jerks the garment shut before I can look my fill. “You’re being awfully grouchy, El.”
“I wonder why?” she hisses, standing so quickly that her coffee cup rattles on the table. “Did Mia enjoy your nice soft mattress last night, too? I bet she did.”
“Frankly, it’s none of your business, but if you really want to know—”
She turns in a huff, still holding her robe closed as she stomps back to her room. I watch her go, appreciating the length of her long, bare, tan legs. Elise is clearly pissed, but oddly enough, I’m happy about it, because she’s displaying an emotionI’ve seen in many women who have been involved with me over the years: jealousy.
Elise is jealous of Mia. After how aloof she had behaved after we had sex, I can barely believe it.
The other two at the table are clearly uncomfortable, but I’m suddenly feeling a lot better about the day to come. Elise is so fun to tease that it’s almost too easy to push her to the edge of blowing up, but since we’re all set to go on a sailing tour of the islands and its many rock formations, I won’t pick on her too much. I was rather harsh on her yesterday, and I have to admit that it has been hard not to treat her like I normally would. Before we were lovers, we were friends, albeit contentious ones.
I guess it’s time to make nice with Elise. I just have to be careful not to cross the line into flirtation territory and tip off her brother, or we’re all going to have a terrible time.
The original plan had been to take a smaller, quicker boat around Capri so we could all be close together and experience the sights together, but after everything going on between Elise and me, I decided to call and change our tour to a bigger sailing yacht so there would be enough room for me to get her alone. Not for anything nefarious… at least not yet. I just want to talk.
Being four hours long, the tour will take us around the Faraglioni––up close and personal––and is complete with refreshments. The captain of the boat has years of experience, so it should be a relaxing day for us all out on the water. It’s a stunning day, and as we all make our way to the private cars that will take us to Marina Grande, the anticipation in the air is palpable.
Andries and Roxanne are both relaxed and loose-limbed, no doubt having made good use of their suite's jacuzzi. They had slept in so late that the housekeeper had to rouse them, lest they'd miss the time of the tour. Roxie, who is usually clothed in darker reds, forest greens, and black, looks like she belongs right at Andries’s side today in her nautical getup. She and Lili are dressed alike, in white and blue striped shorts and white button-downs tied above their belly buttons. Andries, as always, looks like the perfect heir to the Van den Bosch empire in his perfectly tailored vacation wear, but his sister is a different story.
Elise arrives at the boat last, a beach bag on her shoulder. She’s irresistible in a sunset orange floral romper that has the shortest shorts I’ve ever seen on her, and a sweetheart neckline that I can almost see down when she leans over to deposit her things on the floor of the yacht. It would take the smallest effort to strip her bare. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything else with her around, looking like heaven on Earth?
She has her long hair loosely braided in two braids, her skin shimmering in the sun with whatever tanning oil she’s applied. As she passes me, not even sparing me a glance, I can smell her flowery perfume and a tropical note from whatever she’s wearing to protect herself from the sun. It makes my mouth water.
Oh, I’m really in deep with this girl. Damn.
All these surface level games we’re playing are all well and good, but there is something deeper going on here that is going to be even more problematic than the physical stuff. Andries might try to fight me over sleeping with Elise, but I have to think he’d forgive me for breaking my promise to him all those years ago when Elise was still a teenager. But if I break her heart? He’ll either try to kill me, shut me out, never speak to me again or all of the above. I’m so torn. I care about them both, in vastly different ways.
Elise goes to sit on the back side of the yacht while Andries and I go talk to the captain. We aren’t going to the Blue Grotto today; I want that to be an entire day all on its own, but we couldn’t have asked for a better day to tour the exterior of Capri. With the sails extended, the boat pivots out toward open water, and we’re off.
“We should rent a smaller sailing boat to take out on our own,” Andries suggests. “I’ve done it a time or two.”
“Yeah, a time or two…” I laugh. “Nothing more fun on a pre-wedding trip than to have the groom drown or be lost at sea. How about we skip that idea for now?”
