Love Me Anyway

Chapter Two

Maya

I woke up to the smell of something cooking, and the sound of music playing from downstairs.
I put on my clothes, and headed downstairs, following the smell.
I peeked around the corner and saw Carina in her pair of overalls, with an off white shirt with sunflowers on it in the style of Claud Monet.

"Good morning Carina." I said as I walked in.
"Ah, good morning bella! I made you breakfast." She handed me a plate of French toast with a huge smile on her face.
"Oh, um, thank you. I usually just make a protein shake and drink it on the go." I sat down at the table.
"Just think of it as an apology for you seeing my breasts last night."

I choked on the orange juice I was drinking when she said that.
"Bambina, are you okay?" She rubbed my back with a worried look on her face.
"Y-Yeah. Of course. I'm great." I gave her a nervous smile.
"Okay. Well, I am going to go grab a few things from my room. You eat, and then we can start our day bambina." She flashed me that smile that made me go weak in the knees, and walked out.

I quickly ate the French toast she made me, and washed the dishes.
"Carina? Are you ready?" I yelled up the stairs.
"Sì! Coming bambina!" She bounced happily down the stairs and we walked outside.

"So. Tell me about yourself Maya." She said as we started walking down the road.
"Um okay. I'm from Seattle, I'm thirty-two, I'm a fire captain for my station. That's really it." I shrugged.
"Oh come on. There has to be more. Are you not willing to spill your deepest darkest secrets to me?" Carina teased.
"Not yet," I chucked. "Your turn. Tell me about you."

"I'm thirty-three. I grew up in Catania Italy, I actually lived in Seattle too for a few years. I worked at a Grey+Sloan Memorial Hospital with my baby brother. After he..." She trailed off.
"You don't have to tell me about that part. You can skip it." I instinctively reached over and took her hand in mine.
"I'm okay. I just haven't talked about it much since he passed... but after he was murdered I left Seattle and came here. I never looked back. I couldn't go back to the place that only held sad memories." We were still walking, hand in hand.

"I understand that. Sometimes I just want to run away and never look back. Even if it's just for a little bit, to get rid of the trauma." I sighed.
"So, why did you escape to here?" Carina asked.
"I've just been dealing with so much drama, and death. I had to run. I needed to remember why I became a fire fighter." I sighed.

"You seem like you're very good at your job bambina." She stopped walking, and smiled at me.
"And you seem like you're very good at running your hotel." I gave her a smile back.

"It would be better if more people came to the island." She tugged on my hand and led me off of the path.
"What happened? From what I've read online people used to come here all the time."
"Sì. But more and more people want to go to big fancy islands. Our island is struggling. I stay up worrying about everyone here, but there's nothing I can do." Carina led me out onto the beach and down to the water.
"I'm really sorry Carina." We sat down so that the water would come up to our feet.

"Enough about my troubles. Today is about you and getting to know the island."
"So far I'm liking what I see." I smiled at her.

"Why, Maya, are you flirting with me?" Carina teased.
"Maybe. Depends on how you feel about it."
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it." She nudged me with her elbow.
"Can I take you to dinner tonight? Like, on a date?"
"Sì. I'd love to go on a date with you."

*Later that night*

"Andy do I look okay?" I asked her over our FaceTime call.
"You look great Maya. If I was a lady lover, I'd hop all over that." Andy joked.
"I'm being serious. I've changed three times already." I whined.
I was wearing a pair of my favorite jeans and a white button up shirt.
"You look great. She won't be able to keep her hands off of you."
"Great. I gotta go, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Bye!" Andy said as I hung up.

I walked out of my room, and over to Carina's room. I had walked to the store earlier and bought her some flowers. I hope it wasn't too cheesy.

I took a deep breath, and knocked on her door.

She opened the door wearing a white flowing dress that came to right above her knees.

"Wow." I whispered as I took in the sight before me.
"Wow yourself bella." She gave me a shy smile.
"Uh, these are for you." I handed her the small bouquet of flowers.

"Grazie bella. Are you ready to go?" She set the flowers in a vase and shut her door.
"Yes. Where are we going?" We walked downstairs and out of the hotel.
"The only restaurant on the island." Carina said with a small laugh.

"I wish I could've planned this date. I still don't know much about this place." I took her hand in mine as we walked.
"You'll learn. You said you're here for a few months?" She asked.
"Yep. I had a lot of time off saved up. This is my first vacation I've had in years."
"I'm glad you chose to come here." She smiled at me as we walked in the restaurant.

"Ah Carina! Have you come to work?" A waitress asked.
"No Annie, I'm here for a date. I called Antonio and he said he'd set up the back room for us." She squeezed my hand gently.
"Alright! I'll meet you two ladies back there." Annie walked off and Carina led me to the back room.

"Do you work here too?" I asked.
"Something like that." She smiled as she pulled back the curtain for me.
"Oh my God..." I gasped as we walked into the room.

Lights were hanging down from the ceiling, and candles were lined all over the room. There was soft Italian music playing and the lights were dimmed down low so that the candles and lights gave the room a certain romantic look.
"Do you like it?" She pulled out a chair for me.
"I love it. This is gorgeous Carina." I sat down and she sat across from me.

"Do you do this for all the girls?" I teased.
"You're the only one that I've been on a date with since I move to the island." She said while pouring us both a glass of wine.
"What? How? You're so beautiful." I gasped.
"Well, thank you bambina. But nobody has asked me on a date, and I haven't been interested in anyone enough to ask."

"So I'm guessing you're interested enough in me to say yes when I asked?" I sipped my wine.
"I'm very interested." Carina reached across the table and started drawing patterns on the back of my hand.
"So what do you suggest on the menu?" I flipped my hand palm up and wrapped my fingers in hers.
"Voglio davvero lasciare il ristorante e riportarti in hotel e portarti a cena." Carina muttered under her breath. (I really want to leave the restaurant and take you back to the hotel and have you for dinner.)
"What was that?" I asked.

"Oh, Antonio is making us a few dishes so we don't have worry about anything but each other."