Babi walked down to the water’s edge. Tiny waves fringed in silver slapped down, just short of her dark blue All Stars. She walked a little closer. A wave with a little more power than the others just caught the white rubber of her shoes. Babi darted back, escaping the salt water.
She bumped up against Step. His strong arms wrapped comfortably around her, and she settled into them. Slowly, she turned around. In that nocturnal light, a smile appeared on her face. Her blue eyes, full of love, looked up at him, amused.
He leaned down and, slowly embracing her, kissed her soft, warm lips, fresh and salty, caressed by the wind off the sea. Step ran a hand through her hair. He pulled it back, uncovering her face. Her cheek, painted with silver like a tiny mirror of that moon high above, and her profile, with the straight line of her nose and her eyes half-shut, listened to his kisses on her neck.
Now they were sprawled full length on the cold beach, arms wrapped around each other, and their hands, covered with tiny grains of sand, sought each other out. Then another kiss, and yet another, and in the meantime, a smile and a slow descent and a sweet parting, just gently brushing lips.
Babi sat up, hoisting herself on both her arms. She looked at him where he lay below her. Those eyes, calm now, were staring at her. He seemed to belong to that sand, stretched out there, his arms spread wide, master not only of the beach but of everything.
Smiling, Step pulled her closer, master of her as well, gathering her into a kiss, this one longer and more powerful. He hugged her tight, breathing in her soft scent. And she let herself go, swept away by that power and, at that moment, realized that she had never really kissed anyone before.
Now he was sitting behind her, holding her in his arms, letting her rest comfortably between his legs. And he, solid backrest, amiable armchair that he had become, broke into her thoughts every so often with a kiss on the neck. “What are you thinking about?”
Babi turned to look at him, glancing back out of the corner of her eye. “I just knew you were going to ask me that.”
She went back to resting her head against his chest. “Do you see that house down there on the rocks?”
Step looked in the direction her hand was pointing. Before losing himself in the distance, he stopped to consider that tiny forefinger, and it, too, struck him as something stupendous. He smiled. “Yes, I see it.”
“It’s my dream house! Oh, how I’d love to live in that house. Just think what a view they must have from there. A picture window looking out over the sea. A living room where you could linger in an embrace and watch the sunset.”
Step hugged her close to him. Babi remained there for a short while longer, gazing dreamily into the distance. He drew closer, resting his cheek against hers. She rubbed against him like a cat. Then, amused and playful, she tried to push him away, smiling up at the moon. She pretended she was trying to slip out of his grasp. But then she returned to him of her own volition and slipped into his kiss, repentant and lovable.
Slowly, Babi turned toward him. Step took her face in his hands, and she, pale pearl that she was, smiled, the prisoner of that human seashell.
Step watched her. “Do you want to take a swim?”
“Are you serious, as cold as it is? Plus, I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
“Oh, come on. It’s not really cold. And anyway, what does a little fish like you need a swimsuit for?”
Babi’s face twisted angrily, and she shoved him hard with both arms, doing her best to knock him back into the sand. But Step resisted. He clenched hard with his abs, strong and compact, and supported his own weight.
Defeated, Babi got up. She started brushing the sand off her. “By the way, you told Pollo all about the other evening, didn’t you?”
Step stood up and tried to put his arms around her. “What, are you kidding?”
“Then how on earth did Pallina know? She must have heard it from Pollo, so you must have told him the whole story.”
“I swear to you that I never said a word about it. Maybe I could have talked in my sleep—”
“Talked in your sleep? Give me a break! And anyway, like I told you before, I don’t believe it when you swear to something.”
“Actually, I really do talk in my sleep sometimes, as you’ll soon find out for yourself.” Step went toward the motorcycle, looking back at her with a smile in his eyes.
“Wait, I’ll soon find out for myself?” she asked. “You’re kidding, right?” Babi hurried over to him, worried now.
Step laughed. The barb he’d launched had had the desired effect. “Why, aren’t we sleeping together tonight? After all, it’s just a few hours till dawn.”
Babi looked at her watch, concerned now. “It’s two thirty. Oh heck, if my folks get there before I do, I’m done for. Hurry up, I’ve got to get home.”
“So you’re not sleeping at my place?”
“What are you, crazy? Maybe you don’t understand who you’re dealing with here! Plus, have you ever seen a little fish sleeping with someone?”
Step started the motorcycle and then kept the brake on as he revved the engine. The motorcycle, obedient between his legs, swerved around in a circle and then stopped right in front of her, ready for her slightest command.
Babi climbed on, and Step put it in first. Gently, they rode away, then faster and faster, leaving behind them a precise strip of broad tire marks. Farther on was a patch of sand churned up by innocent kisses and a tiny heart. She’d drawn it without letting him know, with the tiny forefinger that he liked so well. A treacherous and solitary wave erased the borders of that heart. But with an effort of the imagination, you could still read the S and the B.
Far away, a dog barked at the moon. Babi, leaning on Step’s shoulders, braced her feet on the pedals and stood up. And so, standing straight against the sky, she breathed deep. A Nordic wind brushed back her hair, caressing her face. Then Babi leaned forward and hugged him, kissing him.
Step felt those soft lips on his neck. A strange heat surged up inside him. He felt strangely happy. He accelerated. His wheels cut quickly through a salt wave, shattering it, wounding it fatally. Tiny silvery sprays shot off in all directions, surrounding them on all sides. The water fell far away, cutting tiny round holes into the cold sand. A vengeful wave erased that tire track while the motorcycle continued along its way, in love, vanishing into the distance of the night. There was no longer even the slightest trace of that heart carved into the sand. Still, that night would live on forever in their memories.
Chapter 17
In front of Vetrine, standing parked in the deserted lot, Babi’s Vespa was the only vehicle that remained. She got off the motorcycle, undid the front wheel lock, and started her scooter. She climbed on and rocked it down off the kickstand. Then it seemed as if she just remembered Step was there.
“Ciao.” She smiled at him tenderly.
Step moved closer. “I’ll ride with you. I’ll escort you home.”
When they reached Corso Francia, Step maneuvered his motorcycle around behind her Vespa and placed his foot on the taillight. He revved his engine and gave her a push. The Vespa sped up.
Babi turned around, stunned, and looked at him. “This is scary!”
“Just keep a firm grip on the handlebars…”