Her claw-like fingernail scrapes down my arm where she tries to grab my hand in hers, but I pull it away. I have no intention of letting her touch me.
I shift my body so my stomach pushes into the counter, shutting off any opportunity for any further physical contact with her.
“Hello, Vi.”
I leave it at that, not wanting to encourage her by commenting on her appearance.
I can see her expression out of my peripheral vision as I stare straight ahead. She pouts like an over-indulgent child.
“I’ve missed you so very much, mi amore. Qual’e il problema? Sono sola.”
Her voice is syrupy and thick as she drawls out the words against my ear. I know exactly what she’s said, but I pretend ignorance. She wants me to engage in conversation, telling me that she’s been lonely without me.
She must think I’m a stupid American man, because that’s the last thing that Violetta ever is. Lonely. There is no shortage of male admirers in her daily regimen. She goes through more men than she does make-up.
“Vi, I’m sure you are doing just fine. And in fact, I’m here with someone.”
I turn my head in the direction of Kady, whose head is tipped back to face the sun that cascades down in golden hues across her beautiful face. She looks completely at peace, carefree and happy.
I want to make her happy all the time.
I’m not sure where the thought comes from, but somewhere in my subconscious it must be the truth.
Violetta shifts her svelte body to confirm what I’ve said.
Tilting her head to the side, shetsksas if she’s perturbed by what she sees.
“Ha la ragazza?”
I squint in confusion, not a clue what she just asked or the English translation of it.
“You have a girlfriend now?” she repeats, this time in English.
Well, not officially, but Violetta doesn’t need to know that.
I’m not sure what Kady and I are together. It’s more than a hookup – more than what Vi and I had together. With Kady, the only thing I know for certain is that our time will be short-lived and has a set expiration date.
Nodding my head in affirmation, the corners of my mouth curve into a smile when I see Kady looking back at me, shielding her eyes from the glare. Her face is shadowed by the sun, but I can see the question etched in her brow.
Dropping my Euro’s on the bar, I grab the drinks we ordered in both hands and am about to retreat, when Violetta slings her long fingers around my bicep to hold me back.
“Such a shame. We could’ve been good together, gattino.”
I cringe when she uses the stupid nickname of pussy cat that she bestowed upon me. I hated it then and I’m disgusted by it now.
“Sorry, Vi. It was never like that for me. But good seeing you. Ciao.”
Although my back is to her, I can still hear her gasp of horror, as if I’d slapped her across the face with my snub. I smile as I set the drinks down on the small patio table in front of Kady.
I have a burning need to drive the point home even further, to make sure Vi has absolutely no misunderstanding about where I left things, so I reach behind Kady’s head, securing my hand at her nape and pull her toward me. My mouth covers hers before she can get a single word out and I kiss her soundly, without reservation or hesitation.
Although caught off guard, she does little to resist, instead her lips turn soft and pliable. Eager to let me plunder and explore all the corners of her mouth, the softness of her tongue, the glide of her teeth against my own tongue.
We pull apart and she laughs.
“Was that to prove some point to Miss Italy over there?”
Kady nods in Vi’s direction, clearly aware of the conversation that had taken place.
