“Broken and angry isn’t for everyone,” she said, pulling her shirt over her head. Alessa tried to focus on the girl’s face, fiercely aware that hers was going pink. “If you aren’t willing to wait for him to sort his shit out,”—her belt hit the sand—“there are easier relationships out there for a sweet, innocent thing like you.”
Alessa scrunched her nose. “It’s not innocence so much as lack of opportunity.”
Kamaria shimmied out of her pants. “Well, if grumpy boy doesn’t work out—”
“Hey,” Dante hollered. “Are you two coming in?”
Alessa lifted her chin. “A Finestra doesn’t get to run around half-naked.”
“Suit yourself.” He pulled his shirt over his head, muscles rippling across his back as he bent to remove his shoes.
Alessa snapped her mouth shut when she realized it was hanging open.
Kamaria exhaled loudly. “Did it just get hotter out here?”
“I can’t tell.” Alessa dropped her head to her knees. “I hit my melting point a while ago.”
“I bet you did.” The bronze curve of Kamaria’s hips swayed with every step as she strutted toward the waves, calling over her shoulder, “We might not be alive in a month, so whatever you want, get it now.”
Alone on the sand, sweat dripping down her spine, Alessa watched the others frolic.
Saida gathered her skirts to her knees, only to get stuck in the crossfire of a furious splash fight between Kamaria and Kaleb.
As Saida chased them through the shallows, Alessa peeled off her leggings. She’d had most of her skirts altered to cross higher in the front, because she looked frumpy wearing tights while everyone else had bare legs. Without them, her dress was borderline scandalous. Or it would be in the city. Here, with Kamaria leaping from rocks in her undergarments and Nina frolicking in a shift, Alessa felt like the prudiest of prudes.
It was already the hottest, most awkward day of her life, so with a shrug, Alessa unfastened her skirt and used it as a package for her leggings, blouse, and gloves. In only a silk slip, she stood to bask in the sunlight, skin tingling with the promise of a future sunburn, hot sand shifting beneath the tender soles of her feet.
Like all Saverian children, Alessa had spent much of her childhood bare-bottomed on the shore with salt-stiffened hair and sand in every crevice. She’d never been on this particular beach, but it felt like coming home.
Dante quickly looked away and dove under when she turned in his direction, pulling himself through the water toward an enormous boulder sticking out in the center of the cove.
Gathering her courage, Alessa paddled out to Dante and pulled herself onto the rock. “How long are we giving each other the silent treatment?”
He kept his gaze on the horizon. “I think I can keep it up for two more days.”
“I’m sure you can.” She hugged her knees to her chest. “I can tell you’re upset.”
“Yeah. I am.”
Right. Excellent. Glad she’d brought it up, then. “Well, I’m sorry. I’m sure it was disappointing to wake up and find me, when you were probably hoping for the girl with the magic hands.”
“What?” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I never said I was disappointed. You thought I was thinking of someone else?”
Wait. “You were dreaming about me?” He didn’t deny it. “And you were enjoying that dream?” Her mind flashed back to the feel of his body pressed against hers.
His cheekbones darkened. “Think the evidence was pretty clear.”
“Then why did you flip out when I told you I wanted you?”
“Because you don’t. You’re desperate, and I’m your only option. That’s what you said, remember?”
“Dante, that was a joke.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s not true. Pretty soon you’ll be the most beloved person in Saverio, and I’ll be back on the docks with the rest of the trash. I know stale bread’s better than nothing when you’re starving, but you’ll be much happier if you hold out for a real meal.”
“You are not stale bread,” she said. “And I can make my own decisions.”
“Yeah, well, you hired me to look out for you until you get a Fonte. I’m not going to let you do something you’ll regret.”
“You patronizing son of a … Get up,” she said through gritted teeth.
Dante stood and crossed his arms, staring down his nose at her.