the Devil and the Sea

20| BBQ: Riot

We leave the yard, heading towards the direction Vincent and Marina came from, yelling them not to hesitate before in case I change my mind.

"Don't you need to pack up?" Vincent asks in surprise.

"I won't be at this place for long anyway," I wave it off, remembering that I'm not in my best image, and I don't care.

"So, you are coming with us?" Marina's voice sounds somewhat surprised and even upset, and this offends me a little.

"Of course, how can I miss your fun?" I scoff at Vincent, who smirks back.

On the way, I exchange meaningless phrases with Vincent in an attempt to tease each other, and Marina acts aloof.

"Wait for me, I'll run home for a couple of minutes." Vincent asks, and when I look up, I understand: Of course, he lives in the same house as Phil.

I didn't ask Phil much about Vincent and he didn't go into details, but now I'm going to change that.

"What, you need to powder your nose since now I'm coming?" I throw in the trail, giggling.

"Of course, devil, of course." Vincent screams grinning, and hides in the house.

I smile as I look at the closed door. I love Vincent trying to flirt with me.

"Why are you so gloomy? How are you feeling?" I turn to Marina.

"Good."

That short answer means she not in a good mood. I decide not to bother her anymore about it.

Vincent quickly returns and we continue on our way.

"How long have you been dating Ricky?" he suddenly asks, shouting over the motorbike engine noise

Why does he need this information?

I look at Marina, but she pays no attention to me or Vincent, she just pedals in silence.

"I've been dating him for about a year now, maybe longer." The words fly out by themselves - reflexively.

In three months, in November, it will be a year since we began to be considered a couple, but before that we were no less close for several months. This is the moment when you thought you were flirting harmlessly, but you went too far and realized that you were already "serious".

"Wow! That's a long time." Vincent doesn't hide his surprise.

Is it bad or good?

"Yup, I'm puzzled myself. In fact, I don't know why I'm in a relationship with him anymore..." I catch Vincent's inquisitive gaze and fall silent, planting a seed that should bear delicious fruit when it sprouts.

It's true anyway, my relationship with Ricky has seen better days, and now I'm seriously considering breaking up with him, but it never came to fruition.

"I understand you." Vincent says frowning and looks down at his feet.

And I remember that he, too, is at odds with his girlfriend. I decide not to ask Vincent about it, because I don't want to seem interested once again. What do I care, right?

When we arrive at the site, it becomes clear that the "barbecue" takes place in one of the many bays North of Sitges, right under the old Garraf seaside road. I immediately feel that everyone is in a cheerful or drunken mood. Most likely, it's both.

Ricky is standing by the brazier. Someone cut a steel barrel in half, and they put charcoal in it and roast sardines and octopus. What happened to sausages on sticks?

I walk on the sand. To my right, I can see the sea under the rays of the setting sun, to my left is the Garraf mountain park. The perfect place to hang out. There are also wooden tiki torches on the beach, so this place looks really cool under the torchlights. To clarify for those too lazy to google: A tiki torch is a torch mounted on a pole, made from bamboo that grows in Hawaii. They are popular at any chic party.