“All right,” I turned to look at him dead in the eye, trying not to show any weakness, “what is it about me that you like?”
“Your smile.” He beamed like a child, but there was something else there I just couldn’t pinpoint. It was in his expression. “I like that you’re nice, but I do think you need to loosen up a little.” I swatted at his hand when it went for my shoulder strap. “And I think you’d be a good secret keeper.” That caught my attention. “Your turn. What do you like about me?”
Oh, boy…
“I think you’re nice, but you could work on your manners.”
“Meaning?” He studied my face as I leaned forward and snagged his phone.
“This is always in your face.”
“I have a lot of people who need me.” He slurred the last word. “I have many hats to wear, and some have to be worn at night.” He grunted the last bit.
I tucked that away.
“Okay, but what’s going on in here?” I stood and held up his phone. He stood too, nearly falling into to me. “Is it really as important as spending time with someone you claim to care about?”
He leaned back and had to grab the chair for balance. He was completely out of it. “My life is like a game.” He started to stumble over his words as he followed me over to the bar. He leaned to one side and grabbed some chips from a bowl and shoved some in his mouth as he spoke. “Like one of those teeter totters that children play on, each side has something I want. I’m just trying to figure out what side is better.”
“I’ve been there.”
“Not like this, Ace.” He laughed but started to choke on the chips and held the bar top as though to stop the spins. I worried he would pass out on me.
“You want to talk about it?” I tried to act sincere. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He smirked and shook his head then took his phone from me. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”
“I’m not following. What are you sorry for?”
Anna came back then, in only a towel, announcing she wanted to go for a swim. He looked up from his phone and started to cheer.
“Yes,” Mariano tossed his phone on the bar, “let’s skinny dip!”
“Give me a sec.” I rolled my eyes and pretended to make myself another drink. “Ice?”
“Freezer.” He waved toward the kitchen as he followed Anna to the pool. Mariano didn’t even remove his shirt, he just fell into the water, with a naked Anna right behind him. Quickly, I scooped up his phone before it turned off and headed into the kitchen. With the fridge door as a barrier, I used my phone and started to record what I was looking at. Many contacts were made up of numbers or one letter. It was pretty cryptic, but I was hoping Elio could make sense of it all. After a minute, I decided to go into his pictures and scrolled through.
“Need any help?” Mariano was suddenly behind me, and I froze. “Getting undressed?” He sounded like he was a sleezy teenager.
“No.” I turned his phone over and quickly slid it under a bag of cherries while using my other hand to hide my own.
“Have you seen my phone?” He patted down his wet pockets then eyed me as he took a step toward me. I pulled the last weapon I had on me, thanks to Niccola and his little tip. Removing the packaging, I popped the round little red lollipop in my mouth and sucked on it loudly.
“No, I haven’t.”
He came closer, and water dripped off his hair and sent goosebumps down my arms. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” It took everything in me not to step away.
“Can I trust you?” His expression changed, and I was unsure of what he was about to say or do.
“I don’t see why not.” He pushed my hair back over my shoulder, and the other pushed the fridge door shut. I sucked louder, and for a moment my mind went to Elio leaning back in the hotel chair in New York.
“What would it take for you to open up to me? Just to give me a chance?”
Here wasmychance.
“I’m not sure.” I pretended to think, slurping around the little white stick. “Maybe you could try to do the same with me. Sometimes sharing something personal can break down barriers.” He leaned closer, and I held my breath, not wanting to ruin the moment, his gaze dropped to the lollipop, and I saw his disgust and annoyance by the way his lip curled and his brow wrinkled.