Through Her Eyes

by Ava Harrison

  “Hi, baby girl.” If I could die of mortification that would be the moment when it happened. Of course, he was there.

  “What are you doing here?” I choked through my sobs.

  “I called the house to see if you were home, and your mom said you were sitting outside. What happened?” I peeked up at him. My hair covered most of my face, but his soft fingers pushed the stray, limp strands back.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Oh, come on. You know you can tell me anything.” His hand cupped my face, and I relaxed into him.

  “He never showed,” I whispered, my eyes locked on his.

  “Who?”

  “Dave. At school he said he would come over to watch a movie. He never showed,” I stammered.

  “Shhh, Shhh. You’re okay. I’m here now. I got you.” And I knew he did. He always did. “You’re too young to date anyway. God, Ari. You’re only fourteen.”

  “I’m not a kid, okay?” I snapped at him. God, why couldn’t he see that? If only he did, I wouldn’t be here crying. He wouldn’t be comforting me about another guy. I would be his. But that wasn’t in the cards for us. I blinked my eyes a few times to stop more tears from falling.

  “I know, I know. Shit, Ari, you got to stop crying. You’re killing me, and now I’m going to have to kill him. What’s his last name?” I pulled away from him and crossed my arms at my chest.

  “You will do no such thing, Park. God, I would die of embarrassment. Please don’t do anything. I don’t want anyone at school to know.”

  “I don’t know, Ari. I kind of think I have to. One day I’ll see Owen up above, and he might not let me enter the pearly gates if I don’t kill this douche bag.” I laugh.

  “There she is. There’s my favorite girl.” He smiled broadly. “Good to have you back, baby girl. Get up. Let’s go watch this movie you were supposed to see.”

  I shake my head as I pull myself out of my memories.

  “Umm. No, too embarrassing to admit. Next.”

  “Okay, fine. First time?” He crosses one leg over the other and reclines back, waiting for my response.

  “I’m so not telling you that.” I shake my head adamantly.

  “You suck.”

  “You wish,” I joke back, but he’s no longer laughing. His pupils have dilated, and his breathing has become shallow. “Fine twenty. Another glass—” I stutter, and he lets out a soft laugh, never breaking our connection. “Your turn in the hot seat,” I lift the almost empty glass to my mouth to conceal the sheepish smile playing on my lips.

  “Ask me anything you want.” He straightens his shoulders and cracks his knuckles preparing himself. He’s such an ass.

  “Okay. First time?” I say, raising an eyebrow.

  “Sixteen.” He looks proud as I murmur ‘player’ under my breath.

  “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” He’s such a dork. “Since you won’t tell me your first time, how about your craziest sex location?” My whole face warms.

  “Cab,” I mutter under my breath.

  “No shit, Princess. I didn’t see that coming. Your turn.”

  I eye him with a calculated expression, and then ask, “Ever had a torrid love affair?”

  “A few times.”

  “Last one?” I try to keep my response composed and indifferent.

  “Last summer.” My heartbeat accelerates with his answer. Last summer?

  “Name?”

  “Maria.” Oh God, she’s Italian. She’s probably gorgeous with olive skin and green eyes and had—Why do I even care? Because I do, and that in itself is troubling and should send up red flags that I’m out of my depth.

  Hours later, and with a healthy buzz, we find ourselves in a white terra cotta building set above the rest of the city. The restaurant sits atop a bluff with a view of the blue sea breaking against the jagged rocks below. The panoramic view of the harbor is breathtaking.

  The family run establishment is well known for its delicious local recipes and welcoming environment. It has a peaceful feel and gives me a sense of tranquility when I walk in and take a seat at a table nestled in the corner overlooking the ocean. Although Chase says it typically draws in a larger crowd, it’s quiet this time of day.

  Suddenly from out of nowhere, the waiter theatrically appears with a steaming platter of prawns sautéed with garlic, parsley, and a dash of fiery pepperoncino. We are served as our glass flutes are filled with Prosecco. As the next dish arrives, so does the entertainment. From across the room the entire staff is now walking toward us. They circle around the table. Each is holding a different instrument, and all are encouraging us to sing along. After the amount of sparkling wine I’ve consumed, I’m happy to oblige.

  I jump to my feet and onto my chair and swing my hands in the air to the Italian music serenading us. Chase walks around the table to me, places his hand under my arms, and lifts me from the seat. Our bodies sway together, our chests touching as he brings me to dance with him. Our bodies rhythmically move to the music. Our hips brush as his arms enclose me in his. I feel the warmth of his body. His fingers lift my chin, turning my face toward his.

  I lose myself in his steely eyes as he stares at me intently with desire.

  My immediate reaction is a loss of all thought and necessity. A strange feeling weaves its way through me as he continues to move closer.

  Need.

  I need his touch.

  I need his lips.

  Most importantly, I need him.

  If he doesn’t touch me, I might explode.

  Drunk off emotion and desire, I thread my hands around his neck.

  His lips hover over mine. His breath lightly brushes against my mouth. I close the distance. Pressing my lips firmly against his, I place the softest kiss.

  “What the hell was that?” He smirks.

  “You looked like you wanted a kiss,” I whisper. Now I’m unsure whether I made the right decision.

  “That wasn’t a kiss. There wasn’t even a spark.” My eyes widen at his words, then begin to mist. I’m so embarrassed. I can’t be rejected again. My heart can’t handle it. My brain begins searching for the memory buried so deep.

  A painful memory. It rushes at me. Sadness engulfs me.

  Parker. I loved him, wanted him. And he rejected me.

  I leaned forward and placed my lips gently on his. Softly coaxing his open, I feel his lips feathering across my own until he jerks away.

  “What are you doing, Ari?”

  “I just thought—”

  “I can’t, Ari. You’re Owen’s kid sister. I just can’t.”

  Slowly the fog lifts. I look up before a tear can be shed.

  “You don’t want a kiss?” I stumble over my words, trying not to break down. I can’t take another rejection. His gaze locks on me. I feel as if he’s looking into my soul.

  “No, Princess. I do want a kiss, and not just a kiss that has a spark. I want a kiss that will light the night on fire,” he says in a gravelly voice filled with desire. He leans down, placing a soft kiss on my lips. He nips on my lower lip, causing my mouth to part, then his tongue sweeps against mine. Electric currents shoot down my body, and I tremble. “How was that for a spark?” he asks. Our mouths are still touching. His breath tickles my lips.

  “It was perfect.” As the words leave my mouth he grabs me by the back of my head, presses us even closer together, and kisses me again. He kisses me with a passion I didn’t even know was possible. We move together in perfect sync as our lips touch. His fingers trail through my hair, pulling gently. Each caress of his soft lips makes me warm on the inside.

  Each touch of his lips makes me feel whole. Like the pieces of me that are broken aren’t that bad.

  This kiss terrifies me. My need for him scares the shit out of me, but as he continues his assault on me, my worries fade away.

  Because when I’m with him . . .

  I forget anyone else exists.

  I forget that the world exists.
/>   I forget that I exist.

  “You banish the darkness,” I whisper.

  He pulls back. His eyes bore into me, and I lose myself in his gaze once more.

  Thirty-six days since I spoke to Parker

  Eight days since I met Chase

  I WAKE TO A sweet aroma filling the boat. When I find Chase, his eyes sparkle when he smiles at me from across the galley. His long strides eat up the distance as he makes his way to directly in front of me, then leans down to place a soft kiss on my lips. My cheeks warm.

  “’Morning.” He kisses me again. My lips turn up against his, and my cheeks heat with what must be a crimson blush.

  “’Morning.”

  “What should we do today?” His voice sounds husky.

  “Anything,” I whisper against his mouth as I lean in and kiss him again. Now that I’ve had a taste, I hunger for him and can’t get enough.

  “Anything? Is that so?” A huge grin spreads across his face.

  “Oh, shut it.” Giggles begin to escape but are quickly cut off by him descending yet again. His mouth moves leisurely, savoring every delicious taste. He catches my bottom lip in his and sucks before pulling away and leaving me breathless. A whimper escapes my mouth as he pulls his body from mine and reaches for a coffee cup.

  “Here, sit. I was just making you breakfast.”

  “I could get used to this.”

  “Good, that was the plan.”

  “What are you making? What was the wonderful smell that woke me up?”

  “French toast. It smells ridiculous, right?”

  “I’m so confused. You went from not cooking to making French toast?”

  “It might smell good, but it could suck for all you know.”

  “Like anything you do could suck?” He raises his eyebrows. “Knock it off, Chase,” I laugh at him before he can even speak.

  “It will be ready in about five minutes, so I guess only time will tell.”

  “How did you even learn to make French toast?”

  “Google.”

  “There’s Internet on this boat?”

  “You’ve been on this boat for days. How did you not know that?”

  “I, um. I haven’t checked.”

  “Wow, I can’t believe that. I do so much of my business on Instagram, I couldn’t imagine not checking.”

  “You’d be surprised how easy it is when you have no one waiting to hear from you.” Silence descends upon us like the mist on a hazy day.

  It stretches between sips of coffee, until it’s almost deafening.

  “What about your parents?”

  I reach across the table and pour myself another cup. “When will breakfast be ready?”

  “Why do you do that?” He asks, as I add sugar to my cup.

  “Do what?”

  “Change the topic when I mention your family?”

  “Because they aren’t good people.”

  “They can’t be too awful if they created you.”

  “They’re assholes. She’s an alcoholic, and he’s an enabler. He’s a handsome man who doesn’t give two shits about anyone but himself and his precious empire, and she’s a beautiful woman who used to be a model, but now is a shell. Years of drinking have robbed her of her beauty, but if you ask her, I robbed her.”

  “Do you think she will ever get better?”

  “Yeah, she will get better. Every month when she goes to her spa, she gets better. But then she comes back and bam, she hits the bottle again. In truth, she will be a drunk until she dies.”

  “And your dad?”

  “He’s almost worse than her. She drinks and lashes out, but he just forgets I’m there.”

  “How do you cope with that?”

  Tears.

  Lots and lots of tears

  Parker.

  “It’s all your fault. You should be dead. You’re not Owen. Owen was everything and you? You’re nothing,” she shrieked.

  Tears streamed down my face as her drunken breath slapped at my cheeks. I didn’t know what to say to make her understand. To make her forgive me, so I just cried out, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “You’re sorry? You’re sorry? It’s too late for sorry. He was my baby. And now he’s nothing, and I’m left with you. She stormed out of the room, and I picked up the house phone.

  “Can I come over?”

  “You don’t ever need to ask.” Sobs wracked my body

  “Are you okay, Ari?”

  “No, but I will be once I come over.” Once I run from this hell.

  “My friend, he helped me.” Feeling the familiar tightening of my chest when I think of Parker, I steadied my breath and took a sip of my coffee. “How about some grub?”

  I change the topic, and this time he lets me.

  A few minutes later, I lower my cup to the table and peer over at Chase. He’s lost in his own thoughts. The timer on the oven comes to life, awakening us from the fog. Chase hops up, slides the kitchen gloves on his hands, and removes the tray.

  “Grab us two plates?” he asks, motioning over to the cabinets.

  “Isn’t Luciano going to join us?”

  “He’s already off the boat running errands.” He places the tray down and turns back toward me.

  “For a boat so small, I’ve yet to see him more than five minutes. What’s up with that?”

  “I might have asked him to give us some space.” I feel like my eyes pop out of my head with what he just said.

  “Why would you do that, Chase? Oh my God. He must think I’m the biggest bitch.”

  “No, trust me, he doesn’t. You were just so nervous about being on the boat with two men, I thought this would be easier.”

  “No ulterior motives?” My eyes squint at him as he leans forward. Our lips touch again. The touch of his mouth brings on a smile.

  “Believe it or not, no. No ulterior motives in this case.” I pull back and stare deeply into his eyes. I believe him. I just don’t know what that means for us.

  “How do you see this playing out?”

  “Like all good stories do. The climax has to come to the forefront.”

  “I like who I am when I’m around you, Chase.”

  “I like who you are all the time.” Warmth flushes across my face.

  Enamored.

  Happy.

  Before Chase, my walls were built high. No one but Parker had ever broken through. Not so much anymore. Can Chase Porter see the cracks he’s causing?

  That he has rocked me to my core?

  “Good?” he asks as I take a bite of my French toast.

  “Absolutely, positively, delicious!”

  “Only the best for you, Princess.” He winks.

  After I’m done eating, I step away from the table and place my dishes in the sink.

  “What time are we heading out?” I ask over my shoulder.

  “We should probably leave for Capri after lunch. That way we can see some sights and have dinner there.”

  “Sounds great. I just want to head into town today and mail a postcard.”

  “Do you want me to come with?” He steps up behind me, placing his plate in the sink. I can feel his warmth emanate off his body.

  “You can come, but if you’re busy, I’m fine going alone.”

  “I would love to come.” Relief rushes over me, and I grin.

  “Great. I’ll just freshen up.”

  “I’ll be up on deck. Find me when you’re ready to go.”

  I walk to my cabin and sift through my bag for my lip-gloss. My fingers come across my phone.

  I promised I would check in with Sophie. Now is as good a time as ever.

  After powering up the phone, I wait for it to find a signal. As soon as it connects, it instantly starts beeping, and I groan. Text after text comes in.

  Sophie: Did you make it?

  Dad: Is there a reason you are not in your office?

  Sophie: Please respond

  I look at the time stamp and it was from my first d
ay. I could only imagine how many more texts there were from her

  Mom: You are a disappointment

  One a.m. New York time. Obviously, she was drunk. I couldn’t deal with my mom, but the right thing to do was let my dad know I wasn’t coming in before I continue to read any more texts.

  Me: Dad, I need some time to decide if working for you is the right fit for me. I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment to you and Mom, but I need to do what’s best for me.

  Parker would be proud, and that makes me smile.

  Sophie: Okay, I’m freaking out.

  Sophie: I called the hotel you mentioned in Tuscany, so I know you checked in. No thanks to you.

  Sophie: Okay, seriously! It’s been days. You promised.

  Oh, shit. I really need to let her know I’m okay. I quickly type out a message and hit send.

  Me: Hi Soph, I’m fine. I’m so sorry for making you worry. It’s actually been quite an adventure. I know you don’t agree, but this was the right decision. Love you, will check back soon.

  I switch my phone back off and pull out the postcard I wrote earlier this morning.

  Hey Park,

  It’s hard to admit this to you, but we have always been honest with each other, even when it hurt. I met someone. Yeah, I know you know this and I know you know we are traveling together, but I think this could be more. I wish you were here to talk things out with me the way you always do. I guess I will just have to trust that over the years some of your genius has rubbed off on me.

  Love and miss you,

  Ari

  I hold my breath. Excitement courses through me as I take in my surroundings. The Blue Grotto. The infamous cave looms in front of me.

  “What are we doing here?” I say in awe as Chase’s arms wrap around me from behind.

  “Want to take a dip?” His mouth tickles the back of my neck. I feel the warmth from his lips as he speaks.

  “What?” I say, perplexed. He couldn’t possibly have said what I think he did.

  “Take a dip. Go for a swim. Get in the water.”

  “I know what you mean. Stop fooling around. We aren’t going in, obviously. Is it even allowed? Plus, I’m not wearing a bathing suit.” I thank my lucky stars that I can clearly see the sign banning entry on top of the cliff.