FERRY-LOVE-BOAT

Chapter 15

Carina's POV:

The girls - Vic and Andy - filled me with questions about Italy - most of them related to Italian men and their main characteristics - and it was good to talk about my country, it gave me a good kind of longing. Maya remained quiet, just smiling at her friends' comments or my answers.

-Let's dance. - Andy pointed to the dance floor.

I loved dancing, so I was the first one to get up and join Andy.

Some people were already gathered there, couples were dancing to the Latin music that filled the space, and friends were taking turns being the center of attention in the center of improvised circles.

-Are you not coming? - I asked, turning to Maya.

-I'm going to finish my drink first. - She said and pointed with her chin to her glass, it was almost finished, but I didn't insist.

Vic asked Andy to teach her dance moves, and I tried to let myself go with the rhythm that surrounded me and moved my hips to the beat of the song.

-You're a Latin prodigy, Carina. - Andy joked, dancing in front of me.

-And I'm a disaster. - Vic complained.

-You're not, come on, dance with us. - I said and pulled the black woman by her hand.

We placed one of our hands on opposite sides of Vic's hips and began to lead her moves in coordination with ours. Soon the three of us were dancing in perfect rhythm.

-Okay, I think I'm feeling a little gay after dancing with you two. - The girl said as the song ended and I let out a chuckle along with Andy.

-Let's revisit that thought after a few more shots. - Andy joked and Vic laughed.

-In your dreams, Herrera. - Vic said.

-You brought it up, not me! - Andy defended himself. - And you're lucky you made that kind of comment around us and far away from Maya.

-Why's that? - I asked back.

-Maya has the dirtiest mouth I have ever known, and her repertoire of answers with sexual-connotation is quite extensive. She's the only person who can make us uncomfortable and tingling with her sharp responses and provocative looks, and even though we know it's in jest.... Well... We're human beings. - Andy explained and I let out a giggle because I definitely desired to get to know this side of Maya.

-She makes me feel things. - Vic spoke quite reflexively, looking at a fixed point, but letting herself be carried away by some memory. - Tingling things. In places that a straight person shouldn't feel.

I laughed louder at the younger girl's answer, she soon came back to reality and the three of us started laughing.

-What's so funny? - Maya came up behind me.

-Nothing! - Andy and Vic turned to continue dancing together, now the music was a little louder and livelier, and they were jumping around, but I was content to make rhythmic steps from one side to the other, just like Maya.

-What were they talking about? - Maya asked, her words barely hearable. I creased my forehead and she seemed to realize that the music was making it difficult for me to understand, so she leaned toward me and pressed her lips against my ear. - Were they talking about me?

Her breath was warm, and her voice was a little huskier. Instinctively, because of the closeness, I reached out and placed my hand on her waist - my fingers closing around the soft flesh there - and I heard a low sigh in response.

-Apparently there is a side of you I don't really know. - I spoke, keeping her close and also speaking close to her ear. - But I want to get to know it, for sure.

-What side? - She asked back.

-A side of sharp answers and provocative looks, according to Andy. Filled with answers with sexual connotations. - I answered and let out a chuckle. – I'm honestly curious to know if you are a match for me.

-Oh. - She said softly, and I squeezed her waist a little tighter. as a way to stop my hand from traveling to the base of her back and pulling her even closer. - Let's see if you are a match for me.

-Let the games begin. - I joked.

-Good luck. - She spoke back, her hot breath against my ear and the way her words came teasingly out of her mouth already told me that I was getting into trouble.

The best kind of trouble.

-Buona fortuna. - I spoke back in Italian and stepped back.

Maya was smiling sideways at me, and I rolled my eyes at her. I was determined to use all my wiles to make her uncomfortable - in the best of ways - and end this game as the winner. But the truth was that neither of us would truly win in this game of teasing.  Maya was too competitive to give in, I was too Italian to control myself, we'd both go over the top and I knew it, but it wasn't enough to make me want to stop - on the contrary, it was what encouraged me to stay on top of my game.

When I turned towards the girls, they were whispering something and looking at the both of us - surely, they had noticed our proximity a few moments ago - but when Maya turned in their direction, they both turned around quickly and tried uselessly to disguise their indiscretion.

-Come dance with me. - I held out my hand to the blonde.

Let the games begin, indeed.