THE BEACH
capri, italy
september 6, 2024
friday
6am

the first rays of the morning sun crept over the horizon, casting a soft, golden hue over the beach. i slowly stirred awake, my head heavy from the combination of the wine and the lack of sleep. as my eyes fluttered open, i was met with the sight of the early morning sea, the gentle waves lapping at the shoreline.

i groaned as i tried to sit up, my back and neck screaming in protest. the hard surface of the ground had left me stiff and aching, a testament to how terrible the idea of sleeping on the beach had been. i winced, trying to stretch the soreness out of my body.

the alcohol was mostly out of my system now, leaving only a faint headache and a very unglamorous memory of the previous night's activities. i glanced around, seeing that theo was still asleep beside me, looking far more peaceful and comfortable than i felt.

looking at him, a wave of mixed feelings washed over me. on one hand, there was a warm, pleasant feeling blooming in my chest, due to the memories of our drunken makeout session and the intimacy of the night. but on the other hand, the discomfort from the unglamorous reality of sleeping on the beach was reminding me of why it had been a terrible idea.

"whoever said that sleeping on the beach was sexy lied." i muttered to myself.

i shifted delicately, trying to find a more comfortable position. the sand was everywhere, stuck in my clothes, my hair, and my mouth. i spit out a small pebble that had found its way onto my tongue, and grimaced.

as i sat there, contemplating the discomfort of my current situation, i heard a soft grunt from beside me. i looked over, seeing that theo was stirring awake. his eyes slowly fluttered open, a look of confusion passing over his face as he took in our surroundings.

he looked over at me, his sleepy gaze meeting mine. "morning," he mumbled, his voice gravelly from sleep.

"you were right. i do regret sleeping on the beach." i admitted.

he smiled, a lazy, almost smug smile as he slowly sat up. "what can i say, i'm always right." he said, his voice still thick with drowsiness.

as he stretched his limbs, i could see the same stiffness in his movements that i was experiencing.

"yeah, yeah, rub it in that you were right and i was wrong," i muttered, trying to move around without too much pain. "i'll never doubt you again, mr. smart guy."

he chuckled, running a hand through his tousled hair. "as much as i'd love to stay and gloat, i'm kind of in urgent need of a real bed and hot shower." he said, standing up and offering me his hand.

i took his hand, wincing as i got to my feet. "yeah, me too. i think i have sand in every crevice of my body." i said, dusting off my clothes, futilely trying to get rid of the persistent sand.

he laughed, surveying my sand-covered frame. "looks like your beach night experiment wasn't as romantic as you imagined, huh?"

i gave him a playful glare, even though i knew he was right. "don't remind me," i muttered, shaking out my hair.

he chuckled again, amused by my reluctant admission. "come on, let's get back to the hotel. i think a hot shower is calling our names."

°˖✧✿✧˖°

HOTEL CAESAR AUGUSTUS
capri, italy
6:20am

as we approached the villas, the sun was fully up now, casting a bright golden glow over the surroundings. i had been quiet throughout the walk back, too tired and sore from the night's adventures to make much conversation.

"thanks for walking me back," i said softly as we reached my villa's front door.

"of course." he responded, his tone casual, but there was a warm look in his eyes. "someone has to make sure you get back safe after your reckless decisions," he teased gently.

i rolled my eyes, but couldn't stop a small smile from forming on my lips. "oh, shut up," i said, but there was no heat behind it. "i still think it was a fun idea. the aftermath was just...unexpected."

he chuckled again, clearly enjoying teasing me. "yeah, the aftermath was rather unpleasant." he agreed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "next time you want to do something 'wild and spontaneous,' just remember this night."

i huffed, folding my arms across my chest in mock annoyance. "oh, i will. but next time i'm insisting on a real bed."

he smiled, that lazy, lopsided smile that always made me feel a flutter in my chest. "i'll make sure to bring you to a bed next time, if that's what you want." he teased, his voice slightly suggestive.

i felt a heat rise in my cheeks, the memory of the previous night's make out session suddenly vivid in my mind. i quickly tried to brush off his comment, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he affected me.

"yeah, yeah, whatever," i said, trying to sound nonchalant. "i'll hold you to that." i paused before speaking again. "what's on your agenda for today?"

he leaned against the villa wall, shoving his hands in his pockets with a relaxed pose. "i've got the kids all weekend," he replied, a hint of lighthearted tiredness in his voice. "i have no clue what i'm gonna do with them if i'm being honest."

i chuckled softly, imagining the chaos of an entire weekend with his kids. "well, you'll have your hands full for sure," i said. "if you need any help, give me a call. i'm great with kids, i babysit for my sisters all the time..."

he raised an eyebrow, a slight grin playing on his lips. "are you offering to spend your free time helping me babysit my kids?" he teased gently.

"after a massage, my back is in literal shambles right now." i said as i touched my lower back.

he chuckled again, clearly amused by my exaggeration. "you're not doing a great job of convincing me to take you up on that offer," he commented dryly, clearly joking.

i rolled my eyes playfully. "goodbye, theo." i said as i opened my villa door.

"goodbye, kami." he replied, that lazy, lopsided smile still on his face. "make sure you rest that back of yours. wouldn't want you to be laid up on the beach again tomorrow."

i gave him a mock glare, but there was no heat behind it. "very funny, theo. i'll be sure to rest my back...by sitting in a soft, comfortable bed."

with that, i stepped into my villa and shut the door softly behind me. but as soon as i shut the door, i leaned back against it, letting out a sigh of exhaustion. the night's activities had left me feeling both satisfied and drained. i leaned my head back, closing my eyes and trying to steady my breaths.

a few seconds later, i was jarred from my rest by a soft knock on the door. the sound was unexpected, and i pushed myself away from the door, wondering who it could be.

i opened the door, and was surprised to find theo standing there, looking a bit sheepish. "hey." he said, his voice a low rumble. "could i get your number? i thought i got it before but i guess not." he said as he held out his phone.

i felt a small, pleased flutter in my chest at his request. pretending to be nonchalant, i took his phone and typed in my number.

"there." i said as i handed his phone back. "if you need my help with the kids, make sure to give me a ring."

he took the phone back, a small, crooked smile on his lips. "thanks." he said simply, but there was a meaningful look in his eyes, like he wanted to say more but was holding back.

the air between us was tense, charged with a silent understanding. i had a feeling there was more to his request than just wanting my number for the kids.

after a moment, he broke the silence, his voice slightly huskier than usual. "get some rest, kamila. you need it."

i nodded, my chest feeling tight as i noticed the way he said my full name. "yeah, i will...thanks."

he gave me one final, lingering glance, his eyes holding mine for a beat longer than necessary, before turning away and striding down the path back to his own villa.

°˖✧✿✧˖°

HOTEL CAESAR AUGUSTUS' SPA
10am

i laid head down on the massage table in between cailee and lorena's tables.

"aww so he had an entire set up at the beach for you guys?" lorena said as i filled the two in on last night's events.

i nodded, my voice a soft, sleepy mumble as the masseuse worked on my back and shoulders. "yeah, he had a projector and blankets and pillows. it was actually kind of romantic in the moment."

"oooh, that does sound cute!" cailee exclaimed, her voice slightly muffled as her masseuse worked on her head and neck. "i'd kill for a beach sleepover with a cute guy."

i chuckled at her dramatics. "well, the actual sleeping part was a bit less romantic. we woke up sore and covered in sand."

"are you guys seeing each other again today?" lorena asked.

"i don't know, he's with his kids this weekend," i replied, feeling a pang of disappointment as i said it. i had been hoping to spend more time with him.

"aww, that's cute though," cailee said. "being a dad is sexy."

i rolled my eyes at her comment. "you think everything is sexy. just yesterday you were swooning over housekeeping because he had good arms."

"what? he had great arms!" she protested, making the masseuse chuckle from behind her.

i shook my head, amused at cailee's never-ending thirst.

~~

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~~

°˖✧✿✧˖°

STREETS OF CAPRI
capri, italy
2pm

as i drove a vespa through the streets of capri with lorena holding onto me, she yelped out of nervousness as i hit a sharp turn.

"are you sure you've driven on these before?!" she asked, her hands gripped tightly around my waist.

i chuckled at her panicked voice. "relax, they've invented these things called brakes for a reason."

her voice was slightly shrill as she responded, "yeah, i'd like to use them now, please?"

cailee who was riding on her own zipped past us. "eat my dust!" she said playfully.

i let out a laugh, feeling a rush of adrenaline as i weaved through the narrow, winding streets. "hold on tight!" i warned lorena as i revved the engine and took another sharp turn.

her grip around my waist tightened even more, her fingers digging into my skin slightly. "you're insane, you know that?!" she half-yelled, her voice a mix of fear and excitement.

i just chuckled in response, enjoying the feeling of the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. "come on, live a little!"

as i drove past a small family of three. a dad and his two kids, i didn't pay them any attention until lorena spoke.

"hey! that was theo!" she said in my ear.

my heart jolted at her words. i instinctively looked back, and sure enough, there was theo, walking with two little kids who looked to be around 4 and 3 years old. they were deep in conversation, the kids animatedly telling him something while he listened intently, a small, paternal smile on his face.

my heart gave a little pang at the sight. he looked so natural, so at ease being a dad. it was cute...and a little bit alluring.

as he passed by, he glanced over, suddenly noticing me. a surprised look flashed across his face, which was quickly followed by recognition and a small smile of greeting.

we held eye contact as i drove past, the moment fleeting but charged. i felt a flutter in my chest, an inexplicable warmth at the brief exchange.

as we continued on our way, lorena's voice interrupted my thoughts. "you two sure do run into each other a lot." she said, her voice casual but knowing.

i shrugged, trying to play it cool, but i could feel her peering at me suspiciously. "it's a small island." i replied simply. "bound to run into familiar faces."

she hummed in a noise that sounded like she didn't believe me, but mercifully she dropped the subject. "sure, sure, keep telling yourself that." she said wryly.

we continued on our tour of the island, my mind a constant whirl of conflicting thoughts about theo.

~~

it was well into the late afternoon now, the sky beginning to turn a soft, orangey hue as the sun started to set. i was riding back from our vespa tour, the wind ruffling loose strands of my hair and whipping against the lenses of my sunglasses.

as we approached the hotel, i noticed theo and his kids sitting in one of the outdoor cafes that lined the square. they were sitting at a cute, small table, each with a gelato in hand.

my heart gave another little jolt at the sight, watching them for a moment from a distance.

as if sensing my gaze, he looked up, his eyes connecting with mine instantly. i held his stare, feeling a flutter in my chest as i took in the sight of him. he gave me a small, warm smile, before mouthing a word.

"come here."

my heart skipped a beat at his command. i hesitated for a moment, a twinge of nervousness coursing through me. but i found myself unable to resist, and started walking toward the cafe.

as i approached him and the kids, i took in their little faces. they were undeniably cute, with messy brown hair and huge, brown eyes.

theo smiled up at me as i reached the table. "hi." he said simply, his gaze lingering on me for a beat longer than necessary.

i bent down slightly, my eyes roaming over the two kids. "these must be kirsten and caine?" i asked, directing my question toward theo, though my eyes were still on his kids.

he nodded, a smile on his lips. "yeah, these are the little monsters. say hi, guys."

the two kids looked up at me with wide-eyed fascination, their little faces studying me intently.

kirsten was the first to speak, her small voice bright and curious. "are you a princess?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

i chuckled at her question, feeling charmed by her innocent bluntness. i shook my head, smiling down at her. "no, sweetie, i'm not a princess. sometimes i wish i was."

"why?" she asked, her little brows furrowing in confusion.

her question was so innocent, but it caught me off guard, and i wasn't sure how to answer. i looked up at theo, silently pleading for help.

he chuckled at my look, clearly enjoying the exchange between me and his kids. he leaned over to kirsten. "because princesses get to do whatever they want." he answered.

kirsten's eyes widened at his reply, her expression now filled with envy. "i wanna be a princess!"

i couldn't help but laugh at her response. "i think every little girl wants to be a princess someday." i told her, a gentle smile on my lips.

caine, who had been quietly sitting on his little kid stool, suddenly piped up. "princes are cool too." he said, his voice shy but firm.

i smiled down at him, feeling a soft spot for his quiet confidence. "that's true, princes are cool too."

the kids continued to study me, their little faces a mixture of curiosity and wonder.

there was a comfortable silence between the four of us, filled only by the distant sound of music and laughter from the surrounding square.

theo broke the silence, looking up at me. "sit, please." he gestured to the empty chair at the table.

i looked at cailee and lorena who were chatting near the vespa and nodded. "okay," i said as i sat down.

the second i sat down, the kids started bombarding me with questions. "do you have a pet?" kirsten asked, her eyes wide. "what's your favorite color?"

i chuckled at their barrage of questions, feeling slightly overwhelmed by their energy. "i don't have a pet." i answered. "and my favorite color is pink, what about you two?"

kirsten scrunched up her face, contemplating my question for a moment. "i like purple." she decided.

caine hummed in contemplation himself. "i like red." he said firmly.

i looked at theo and raised my eyebrows, waiting for his answer.

he shot me a lopsided smile as the kids spoke. "my favorite color used to be red, but now it's yellow."

the kids seemed slightly displeased with his answer. "yellow is boring," kirsten declared with a scrunched face.

theo let out a laugh, reaching over to ruffle her hair playfully. "well, i like boring colors."

i couldn't help but laugh at the exchange, finding it amusing how even something as simple as favorite colors could spark debate.

we continued chatting for a few more minutes, the kids asking me seemingly endless questions, ranging from my favorite food to my opinions on superheroes.

theo sat back, a small, fond smile on his lips as he watched me interact with his kids. his eyes followed every minute expression on my face, every time i laughed, every time i smiled at the two kids.

the kids finally ran out of questions to ask, and a moment of silence fell over the table. kirsten stared down at her empty gelato cup with longing. "i want more." she sulked out.

before i could respond, theo spoke up, his voice firm but playful. "you had enough, little miss. don't want you getting a tummyache."

she let out a small huff, but didn't argue further, instead turning her attention to her little brother.

caine, seemingly content with just observing, suddenly spoke up. "can we go see the fountain?"

i turned my gaze to theo, expecting an answer from him. he chuckled and nodded. "sure, let's go."

the kids let out identical cheers as they scrambled off their little chairs.

i stood up as well, watching as the kids practically buzzed with excitement. i glanced down at them, amused by their energy. it was hard to imagine that a couple of tiny humans could have so much stamina.

theo stood up next to me, his tall presence suddenly very close. "they're like little energizer bunnies," he said lowly, his voice filled with a mixture of fondness and exhaustion.

"i can tell." i said as i walked with him behind the two toddlers.

kirsten and caine were already several feet ahead of us, hurrying toward the square and the sound of running water.

we followed at a slower, more leisurely pace. theo walked beside me, his stride matching mine as we sauntered behind the kids.

subtly cailee and lorena joined me at the fountain as theo walked over to his kids, leaving me next to my friends.

"meeting the kids already?" cailee said quietly.

i sent her a quick glare as we watched the scene in front of us. theo was standing near the edge of the fountain, leaning over to point out something to his kids. they were hanging on his every word, their eyes wide and full of wonder.

"they're cute," i said, not looking at her.

cailee hummed, her eyes following theo as he picked up caine to get a better look at something in the fountain. "i'm just saying, be careful." she said softly.

"of what?" i repeated, playing oblivious.

she gave me a pointed look, her voice still low so only i could hear. "don't get too involved if you're not willing to commit."

"i'm not that heartless." i protested weakly, my eyes still on theo and the kids, who were now completely enthralled by jets of water spraying out from the middle of the fountain. i finally looked at cailee. "i never committed to those other guys because they weren't the ones for me, that's all."

"and theo is?" she questioned, her face skeptical.

i exhaled loudly, frustrated. "i don't know! okay? he's just...different, somehow."

she softened her tone slightly. "look, i just don't want you to get hurt, or worse, hurt those kids. they're clearly attached to you already."

i looked over at the kids, who were laughing and splashing water at each other. caine and kirsten were looking over at me, beckoning me to come closer.

i felt a flicker of guilt, knowing cailee was right. the kids were already fond of me, and the last thing i wanted was to give them false hopes, or worse, hurt them.

"i'll be careful, i promise." i muttered, half to cailee and half to myself. i walked over to the kids and leaned down to them.

the kids immediately started chattering at me, showing me the different colors of water that were spraying from the jets.

theo watched from a few feet away, a small smile playing on his lips. he looked as if he was about to join us, but his phone started ringing loudly.

he took it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. there was a flicker of...something...in his eyes, but it was quickly gone, replaced by a neutral expression.

"duty calls," he said wryly as he gestured at the phone. "i have to take this."

i gave him a thumbs up and turned my attention back to his kids.

theo moved away, phone to his ear, and spoke in low tones.

the kids continued to show me all the different colors and shapes the water was making, seemingly unbothered by their dad's absence.

"can you come with us on the boat ride tomorrow?" kirsten asked me.

i was slightly taken aback by her question. "oh, well, i don't know..." i hedged. i glanced over where theo was standing, several feet away, still on the phone.

"please, please, please!" caine chimed in, his big, pleading eyes looking up at me.

i smiled. "maybe! we'll have to see what your dad says." i said to the two.

the kids immediately began jumping up and down, exclaiming their excitement. i tried to shush them so they wouldn't distract theo, but kirsten was too loud.

i watched as he turned and looked at us, a flicker of curiosity on his face, though he quickly turned back to his phone call.

as i continued talking to the kids, the conversation with cailee from earlier kept floating through my mind.

i had to be careful, i knew that. the little kids were far too sweet and pure and innocent. i didn't want to get involved if it would end in disappointment. yet at the same time, something about theo drew me in, made me want to get closer.

maybe he was different than the guys i had been with before. maybe there was hope that things would work out.

i shook my head slightly, trying to clear my thoughts. i was getting ahead of myself, making assumptions and creating scenarios in my head. i had to stay levelheaded and keep a logical stance.

the kids were still going on about the boat ride, listing off all the fun things we would do together. i smiled at their enthusiasm.

out of the corner of my eye, i saw theo putting away his phone. he looked a little displeased as he made his way back to us.

the kids had been so caught up in chatting to me, they didn't notice their dad until he was right behind them. he clapped his hands together loudly. "hey, hey, hey!" he said, making the kids jump. "what are you guys begging for now?"

both kids started talking at once, blurting out a thousand words that theo couldn't even make out.

"woah, woah, one at a time." he said, trying to make sense of the flurry of words.

kirsten sighed and spoke. "can she come with us on the boat ride tomorrow?"

i watched as the words sunk in, seeing the flicker of surprise on his face before he quickly schooled it into something neutral. before he could say anything, i spoke up, not wanting him to feel pressured.

"they're really persistent," i joked. "don't worry, you can say no."

he chuckled, his gaze switching back and forth between me and his kids. "they really are."

kirsten and caine had both donned their best puppy dog pleading faces, their eyes wide and begging.

theo glanced back at me, his lips twitching in a smile. "do you want to?"

i shrugged nonchalantly, pretending like my heart wasn't beating a little too fast. "i don't mind."

the kids let out a squeal of joy, bouncing up and down in excitement.

theo didn't say anything, just stood there, his eyes studying me. there was something in his gaze, something i couldn't quite decipher.

i looked back at him, feeling a little unsettled by the way he was looking at me. i couldn't tell if he was annoyed, happy, or just indifferent to the whole thing.

finally, he spoke. "okay, then you'll come along tomorrow."

i stood up to my regular height and spoke so only he would hear me. "if you don't want me to come, i understand. it's not everyday that you're in italy with your kids." i said with a small smile.

he shook his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. "no, no, i want you to come. the kids will drive me crazy by themselves."

"hey!" both kirsten and caine said, their little voices filled with mock indignation.

i sighed, "are you sure? you seem a bit...off." i said referring to his odd behavior.

his smile faded slightly, and he raked a hand through his hair. "yeah, sorry." he muttered. "a work thing. but it's dealt with."

i frowned. i didn't know what 'work thing' it was, but something in his voice told me it wasn't completely resolved.

but before i could ask anything, kirsten and caine started tugging on his hands, begging to go back and see the gelato stand.

he looked at me as he was being pulled away by his kids. "i'll see you tomorrow, right?" he said.

i nodded. "tomorrow." i confirmed.

he gave me one more smile before he was dragged away by his kids, turning to follow them as they excitedly talked about gelato flavors.