Memories of a Life That Never Happened

Chapter 34 - Hooked

"What about your mom?" Theo dipped a finger in the sand and started drawing an abstract pattern. "Does she work at the restaurant too?" 

He raised his eyes enough to see the swell of her breasts beneath the wet, translucent cloth. Mica was soaked, baby hairs sticking to her temples, her eye makeup a bit smudged. Her dress clung to her body and Theo would have to be blind not to peek at it. Nevertheless, he tried to cloak his admiration.  

"She's been in poor health for a while, so no. She doesn't work anymore." Mica wringed her hair to dry it. "I work there in the morning, though. Mostly weekdays, sometimes weekends too."  

Mica wondered if Theo had a job. She doubted it, unless being a socialite was some kind of a job. 

"Really?" The surprise in his voice confirmed Mica was right. "And where's this restaurant? I'll come visit."  

She offered a half-hearted smile and sighed. 

"What? Wouldn't you like me to come see you?"  

"It's not that. I mean..." 

While Mica searched for words, Theo's heart tightened into a pinprick, aching inside his chest.  

"After tonight, I'm guessing you have better food at home than we do on the menu." 

"Well," Theo rested his cheek on his knees, glanced at her. "I can't confirm or deny that until I've had a taste of what you serve. Can I?"  

She laughed; he stared.  

Mica was hands down the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen. Even compared to Lilian, who was undeniably beautiful. Theo's ex-girlfriend might be heartless but she was also impeccable, elegant and composed.  

In front of him, however, stood something much more powerful. Lilian was bred into what she was. Mica was a force of nature: spontaneous and raw. A true beauty, Theo decided, which made her even more fascinating.  

"Why are you here, Theo?" 

He plucked a broken shell from the sand, threw it into the sea. "Because every year my dad throws a party here."  

"No." She touched his arm, made him look at her. "I mean here. With me."  

"I couldn't stand another minute at that place." Theo skimmed a finger over her hand. Her skin was warm and smooth. "I was about to leave when I saw you running out. You know the rest."  

True, Mica sensed he was ready to leave when he decided to join her. However, she could not help feeling there was more to it than simple boredom.  

"But why? That party was amazing! Every year you get the chance to be surprised, to be surrounded by all those important people... why would you throw that away?" 

"You just said it yourself. Every year, it is a different surprise, same party. Familiar faces sucking up to my dad. To me, because I'm his son. There's never real family time. My dad's too busy flirting with every good-looking woman he lays eyes on. My mom's too busy pretending she does not see it. And my brother... well, you saw for yourself how he behaves."  

For a moment, Mica considered quietly what Theo had said. "When you put it like that," she finally said. "You all seemed so-happy tonight."  

Theo scoffed. "That's the exhausting part. Playing the happy family role." Theo dug out another shell, made it jump in his palm, studying it. "That everything's wonderful," he added in barely a whisper.  

Mica stole the cowrie and replaced it with her hand. Raising his eyes to her, Theo caressed her knuckles with his thumb. One simple gesture, so much joy.  

"Can I ask you something? What were you doing here last morning?" 

With her free hand, Mica picked at the rim of her wet dress. 

"I like to watch the boats." 

"The boats?" Theo cocked his head. 

She nodded. "Fishermen on their hookers. My dad was one of them. When he left, I used to come here, watch his friends go off to the sea." Mica paused for a moment and stared into the water, as if she could see the boats right then. "I wondered what was out there, what hooked him away from us. What was more interesting than his family?" 

Mica drew in a deep breath. "When I was about ten, I told my mom I wanted to be a fisherwoman. She asked me why and I said I wanted to sail away. I said I didn't understand why anyone would choose to stay here, given the choice."  

"What did she say?" 

"Nothing. It broke her heart. I never meant to, of course, but I didn't know better. I remember her hand clapping her mouth and her eyes filling with tears. I'll never forget it, nor ever forgive myself."  

In silence, Theo swung an arm around Mica and scooted closer to her. 

There was no sound other than that of birds chirping, waves splashing into the sand and ebbing away. It surprised Theo how comfortable he felt. 

Mica was amazed too. She never thought making conversation with someone so different from her would be this easy. She had never shared these feelings with anyone. Not even Abel. Mica let her head rest on his shoulder.  

Time whiled away as Theo and Mica quietly enjoyed each other's company, each replaying parts of the night in their heads. Both smiled at the unexpected way that night had turned out.  

Even though she wanted to, Mica knew they could not stay there forever. Besides, she was worried with the family she had left at home. 

"I think we should get back," she said. 

Theo turned his head to her, smelled the sea in her hair and mustered all his self-control to refrain from kissing her.  

"Already?" he asked casually as she prepared to raise. 

Glad that he felt the same, she giggled. "Your parents must be worried." 

Theo pushed himself up. "That's true." He held out a hand and helped her stand. "Abel too," he said, smiling inwardly as he thought that his rival would not like one bit when he learned that Mica had spent the night with him. 

"Don't mind Abel. If I know him at all, he'll be on the dance floor, shouting at whoever's performing." Mica pulled out her skirt so it would detach from her body. 

"By now, it's probably over," Theo said after checking his wristwatch. "But there should be a DJ playing." 

"Well, if you bump into him, tell Abel I went home." 

"You're not coming back with me?" he asked, struggling not to sound too desperate. This could not be it. There had to be more. He needed more.  

"I'd better go home." A quick smile passed her lips. "Check on my mom and Escobar. Do you know your way back?"  

"Sure." Theo shoved his hands on his pockets and wiggled his toes in the sand. "I'll just stick to the same path."  

"Right." Mica leaned forward and brushed a kiss on his cheek. "See you around, Theo." 

"Wait!" He held her arm. "You didn't tell me the name of that restaurant."  

She grinned. "La Bodeguita. It's by the beach. Red brick house, large windows. Can't miss it." 

"Okay." he smiled back at her.  

Theo lingered on the sand, watched her walk away long enough to catch her glancing over her shoulder. Then, he headed to the woods and back to the party. He felt great. So much so that it did not even cross his mind that his parents might freak out when he arrived sopping wet. It did not matter. Nothing they said could ruin this night of perfect happiness. 

Mica was also feeling much better. She had even forgotten all about the terrible words professed by the mother-of-saint. Memories of her time with Theo occupied her thoughts and soothed her heart. It was only when she reached her house that Mica was shaken from her reverie. There, leaning against the door, waiting for her in the dark, was the white cotton bag she had left behind.