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“Wow, look at that!” he says, bringing his hand to his forehead, a visor against the blazing sun, so he can get a better look at the other yacht, even more luxurious than the one we’re on.
I look back at it too, but the staring stranger has already gone. Despite the warmth, I shiver.
“You okay?” asks Raphael, touching my shoulder, always sensitive to my needs.
I nod, trying to move the memory of the man to the back of my mind.
“Did you get lost snooping?” He flashes me a grin.
He knows me so well. “I did!” I laugh. “But look what I found… a hot tub.”
His green eyes light up. “Perfect. You know how much I love seeing you in a bikini.”
I give him a playful shove. “Enough of that! Come on, Connie will be wondering where we are.”
By nine o’clock, after disembarking the yacht and getting changed into our finery at the hotel, we arrive at Tesoro restaurant and are shown to our table on their outside terrace overlooking the bay. Lanterns hung from the elegant pergola surrounding us illuminate the space so prettily, and the thick vines winding up the stone columns and overhanging the seating area create a cozy, intimate feeling despite the vastness of the dark open water below. I have never felt happier than I do at this very moment.
“What are you smiling about, little sister?” asks Connie, squeezing my hand.
I look at her and then at Raphael. “I just want to say thank you, both of you, for making this such a special day. It’s been the best!”
“It’s not over yet,” says Raphael.
“I know, but nothing else that happens today could possibly ruin it.”
Raphael’s expression turns solemn. “Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, Cece…”
“What?!” I ask, suddenly alarmed.
He looks around at the other diners, as though checking that nobody is listening, before stage-whispering, “This is one of the few restaurants in Naples that doesn’t serve your favorite Tiramisu.” He brings his hands to his face in mock shock, eyes bulging above his fingers.
Connie laughs loudly as I initially scowl at Raphael’s silliness, but after a moment my sister’s laughter becomes contagious and I dissolve into giggles too, clutching my sides in merriment.
The bemused waiter appears with the drinks we ordered, and I sit up and compose myself as Connie and Raphael start browsing their menus. I take a deep, calming breath and as I look up, I catch the eye of another diner sitting a few tables away. It’s the man from the yacht earlier today and he’s staring at me again. I instantly look away, hoping I’m mistaken, but I can feel his eyes on me from across the restaurant and the same seed of dread sprouts in my stomach. I steal another glance and see that he’s at a table with several other men, all dressed formally in expensive-looking suits; their expressions very serious, bordering on menacing. I want to look away, to tune into Connie and Raphael’s easy conversation about food choices, but I feel strangely hypnotized. The staring man says something and gestures in my direction, and two of the men on his table turn to look at me too. They both smirk and one nods appreciatively. I can feel my heart quickening, my temperature rising, and a strong desire to remove myself from their line of sight immediately. I sense danger.
I stand up too quickly and my chair falls back onto the stone floor.
“Cece?”
I hear my sister’s voice, but I don’t answer her. Instead, I weave quickly through the terrace tables, rush back inside through the dining room, through the bar and the covered side entrance, and out onto the street, not thinking about anything except the visceral need to get away from those Machiavellian-looking men.
“Cecelia?”
A moment later, Connie is beside me, her face a picture of concern.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
All of a sudden, I feel foolish and dramatic. How can I explain it—a strange man stared at me twice today and I got scared? Get a grip, Cecelia, you’re eighteen now, not eight!
I shake my head as though to reset myself. “I’m fine. Nothing happened. I was just being silly. Give me a minute and I’ll come back to the table.”
“Are you sure?” She strokes my hair away from my face.
I nod. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause a scene. I don’t know what came over me. Please, order some food for me, I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay. Love you, little sister.”
“Love you too.”
