I walk to Sebastian’s study and knock on the door. When there’s no answer, I try the handle, but it’s locked.
“Sebastian?”
Nothing.
Footsteps behind me startle me.
I know it’s not Sebastian. I can tell when he enters a room.
I turn, and even though I know who it’ll be, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end when I find Gregory approaching from outside. I wonder where he was. He’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt but is barefoot and his hair is ruffled.
“He’s gone,” he says, heading to the stairs, barely looking at me.
“Gone?”
He nods. Climbs two of the steps.
“Where?”
He turns to me. “He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? He didn’t say anything to me.”
Gregory shrugs a shoulder. “Maybe he didn’t want to bust into the romantic mood of your evening.”
I feel myself blush. Did he hear us? See us? He’s watched before.
One corner of his mouth curves upward and he gives a short exhale as if to say it’s so easy to fuck with me.
“I’ve got some work to do today so you’re on your own,” he says, before heading up the stairs and disappearing into, I guess, his room.
I glance once more at the closed study door and go upstairs to my own room, sit on the edge of the bed.
“I’ve got some work to do today so you’re on your own.”
What did he think? I’d want to hang out with him?
It takes me just a few minutes to change into a bikini, the most modest one I can find out of the dozen Sebastian ordered for me. I grab a towel and head back down.
I’ll swim a few laps, clear my head. I haven’t exercised since I got here and it’ll be good for me.
Before heading outside, I grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator in the kitchen. I set my towel on one of the lounge chairs and twist my hair into a bun, securing it tightly so it doesn’t get in my way. Then I dive in.
That first moment when I fully submerge is always my favorite, when my head goes under and the water is cool and refreshing and the only sound I hear is that gurgling of water.
I take long strides, staying beneath the surface as long as possible, reaching the other side before I come up for air and dive back in.
This, to me, is my escape. It was the same at home, going into town to the rec center with its pool, indoors in winter and to the lake in the summer months. I wonder if I can swim in the sea here.
After too many laps to count, I break the surface, out of breath, and grab hold of the wall at the deep end. I lean my chin on my forearms and look out at the sea.
I know not to swim in the canals of Venice proper, but I must be able to swim out here. We’re far enough away.
I lift myself out of the pool, water gliding off me as I swing one leg out, then the other. I stand and I turn to find my towel and freeze.
Gregory is straddling the chair next to the one where my things are, elbows on his thighs, fingers intertwined, chin resting there.
He’s watching me. His hair’s wet and he’s changed his clothes, so I assume he’s had a shower.
“You’re a strong swimmer.”
I have to walk by him to pick up my towel and I do, quickly, but he grabs the towel and pulls it back before I reach it.
“Can I have my towel, please?”
He lets his gaze openly run over me and I look down too. The suit is a pretty shade of deep coral and even though it’s the most modest one, it’s still like wearing my underwear in front of him.
He holds out the towel.
I take it, let it fall open and wrap it around me.
“Why are you here? I thought you had work to do.”
He leans back, looks up at me.
“I like watching you.”
I don’t expect that, and I turn to go because I don’t know what to do or say. But he grabs my wrist.
“Sit.”
“No.”
He tugs. “Sit with me.”
“Let me go,” I say, looking down to where he’s got hold of me.
“I don’t bite, Helena.”
I meet his eyes. Dark, not as dark as Sebastian’s though. His have specks of turquoise in them.
“Just for a minute,” he says.
He must feel my resolve slip away.
I sit on the edge of the chair beside his and hug my towel close. I look stiffly ahead.
He relaxes back, puts his hands behind his head and even with my back to him, I can feel him watching me.
“I was there when he found you, you know.”
I glance back at him. “I know.”
“You were pretty out of it.”
“I saw you there.” I remember that clearly. I don’t know why. “Where was it?” I ask, realizing I don’t know. I never asked.