Lies and Weddings(31)
“You take Babyshark around the Mediterranean?” Rufus asked, a bit surprised.
“Hell no. I take the papa boat—Beluga—and we cruise around the Italian coast from Portofino to Sardinia to Capri.”
“Capri is so passé. Everyone I know is going to Greece these days,” Solène sniffed.
“Well, let everyone else go to Greece and get wasted on ouzo—I’ll take Capri any day. You’ve got the most amazing food, nature, and shopping all on one island. Where else on the planet can you at midnight be enjoying homemade gelato in a warm waffle cone while shopping for loafers at Tod’s?”
“My friend George moved to Capri with his girlfriend—he’s been trying to get me to visit,” Rufus said.
“If you have friends there, you have no excuse not to go. You’ll get invited to all the best parties at all the private villas!” Freddy said.
Solène was annoyed that Rufus did not come to her defense about Greece. She knew from all her exhaustive googling that he’d once enjoyed sailing through the Aegean with his family. British Vogue had done a feature on his trip, and Rufus had looked particularly alluring in one of the photos—bronzed and glistening with sweat as he hoisted a sail in just a pair of cream Orlebar Brown terry cloth shorts and stared broodingly into the camera. Now, what exactly was Rufus staring at so intently?
Rufus stood on the beach, assessing the biblical, churning waves in anticipation.
“This beach is incredible! Bea’s going to regret missing this,” Eden said.
“I don’t think so. She’s doing a photo shoot with Augusta for Town & Country, and you know she’s always happiest in front of the camera,” Solène remarked.
“I hear the photo shoot is on some nude beach that Ram Dass dude took them to,” Freddy added.
“Oh, Gopal Das took them to Kehena Beach?” Rufus said. “That’s another magical spot where I was thinking of taking you all, but then I thought some of you might not want to parade around in your birthday suit in front of everyone.”
“Yeah, that’d be weird. The water’s a bit too cold to be letting it all hang out, if you catch my drift,” Freddy said, winking at Rufus.
“I think being naked on a beach is the most natural thing in the world. I wish you would have taken me there,” Solène said, giving Rufus a flirty look.
“Remember how we used to go skinny-dipping in that hidden cove near Combe Martin?” Eden said to Rufus.
Freddy looked a bit shocked. “You and Eden went skinny-dipping…together?”
“Yah, with my sisters,” Rufus recalled with a laugh.
“You Brits are crazy. The last time anyone in my family saw me naked was at my bris,” Freddy quipped.
Eden gazed at the grassy dunes and tall ironwood trees behind the beach, beyond which was a wide stream that flowed into the romantic-looking valley. “I think I’m going to take a walk by that stream.”
“Great idea. Just don’t wander off the trail. There are ancient burial sites deeper in the valley that are very sacred to the locals, so it’s best to keep a respectful distance,” Rufus answered.
“Of course,” Eden said.
“You gonna surf?” Freddy asked Rufus.
“It’s double overhead today and there’s no way I’m missing it.”
“You know what? I’ll take my walk later—I haven’t watched you surf in ages!” Eden said excitedly.
“Better yet, come in with me!” Rufus prodded.
“Why not?” Eden said.
Rufus stripped off his T-shirt and tightened the drawstring of his swimming trunks while Eden took off her sweater and stepped out of her shorts, revealing a one-piece bathing suit underneath. Freddy gawked appreciatively, while Solène was stunned at the body Eden had been hiding. Who knew the girl had the boobs and butt of a goddess? Those cheap Bon Marché clothes and short haircut did her no favors, that’s for sure. But then she noticed even Rufus giving a sideways glance in Eden’s direction. Men were all the same. Just a flash of skin and they all became animals. That boy had been oblivious to her hints all morning; maybe she should strip naked and walk into the ocean. Really give him a show. No, no, she had a better idea. Noticing a gap in the boulder she was standing on, she shoved her foot into the crack, deliberately tripping herself.
“Putain de merde!” Solène groaned in agony.
Everyone turned to see Solène crumpled on the ground. Rufus and Freddy rushed to her side. “You okay?” Rufus saw the blood gushing out from the large gash in her knee.
“You’re bleeding!” Freddy gasped.
“I think I broke my foot,” Solène cried.
Eden approached Solène and crouched down beside her. “Just stay still. Don’t try to get up. Let me just take a look.”
“Why?” Solène said, slightly disoriented.
“Because she’s a doctor,” Rufus said.
“For real?” Solène stared at Eden in disbelief.
Eden took her time palpating Solène’s ankle slowly, ignoring the blood. “Does this hurt?”
“Ow! Ow! Oui! Oui!”
Rufus leaned in. “Is it broken?”
“I don’t think so, I think it’s just badly sprained. You’re probably going to need crutches for a few weeks,” Eden assessed.