Page 27 of All at Once

I wish Luca’s answers weren’t so polished. Andlogical. It’s hard to defend myself, yet I still do. “It’s the thought that counts.”

Instead of commenting on this, he says, “I’m still wondering what made you want to travel this far for a stranger. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that.”

It’s hard not to notice how this is the second time that Luca points this out to me.

“Well he’s not acompletestranger,” I defend.

“How much time did you spend together outside of class?” he asks sarcastically. It’s obvious that he’s building up to a point. One that I sadly have no answer to.

“Exactly,” he boasts knowingly.

I hate how arrogant his response almost sounds as if I don’t already realize any of this myself. I don’t owe him an explanation as to why I wanted to come here. But that still doesn’t stop me from rationalizing my behavior.

“I believe in fate, so even though we barely know each other, there has to have been a reason why I saw him again after so many years.”

“Fate?” He scoffs. “You came here on the premises of fate? Seems logical.”

“I wasn’t finished,” I bite back and notice his posture shift immediately. “I also believe in free will. I’ve continued to wait forsomething spectacular to happen to me for so many years that never arrived. So I wasn’t going to keep waiting. I decided to put the effort in myself for once. And that’s why I’m here.” It might have not been necessary to make this sound so grand, but it’s getting pretty late, and I’m just saying everything that’s coming to my mind at this point.

“That was moving,” Luca mocks. “Good luck with all of that.”

If he’s trying to come across as a bitter skeptic, he’s doing a fantastic job at it.

Annoyed how similar his response also sounds to my parents’ dismissive comments over the years, I add, “You know you almost fooled me back there into thinking you couldactuallybe charming.”

He raises a brow at me. “So you were also watching me then.”

Instead of entertaining his comment, I say, “I don’t understand how those women looked that happy around you.”

“Because they actuallyknow me. Unlike you with Enrique,” he says with a glare, although I notice a slight trace of sadness appear in his eyes.

So Imayhave offended him.

He started it first by questioning my motives for being here. It’s bad enough that I have my own doubts. Being thousands of miles away from home, and this stranger’s remarks are feeding into the same apprehension I’ve had in changing anything about my life previously.

“I think it’s time to go,” I declare, frustrated.

He gets up before I do without looking at me. “Way ahead of you.”

_________

You could hear a pin drop in the Uber back to the resort. Enrique is passed out sandwiched between Luca and me as we both glare out our foggy windows.At least one of us had fun.

It was nice to have someone to talk to for a moment. I just wish it didn’t end like that. Now Luca and I are avoiding eye contact, verbal contact, andanythingin between.

Enrique is pretty groggy once we reach the lobby but still manages to give me a kiss on the cheek goodnight. Yet he’s too tired to notice anything unusual between Luca and me and how we’re acting as if we don’t know each other. Goodnights aren’t exchanged between us either. As we walk in opposite sides of the hallway that extend around the main pool.

On my way back to my suite, I’m reminded of the resort’s extravagance. How I was so caught up about tonight that I almost forgot how mesmerizing I find this place to be. The corridors glow from the scattered lights by the pool, while a soft yet noticeable acoustic melody fills the halls with romance. At least it sounds this way to me. This is the kind of song I’d like to be slow dancing to by the beach in the red dress I brought.

I notice a few couples swaying as a man strums his guitar in the moonlight. I want to be one of the couples.So badly. I thought I’d feel closer to getting there now that I’m here.

But it still feels out of reach.Why?

I suppose I am being a little impatient. The way Luca implied. Maybe I should cut Enrique some slack. Besides, I should be impressed at how he takes his work seriously rather than feeding off his family’s wealth. And after all, I’ve only been here a few days. All I need is a nice warm shower to reset.

My happy thoughts are abruptly paused, when I notice Luca take out his keycard in front of the door next to my suite. “There’s no way.”

He notices me. “What? There are worse things than being on the same floor. We could have been neighbors.”

---