Page 27 of Capri

“You’d never survive here, Capri. This city literally never sleeps. You are a born and bred small-town girl,” Collie tells her.

So, she’s from a small town…

“I could live this life just fine.” Capri turns her nose up at her sister and settles beside me as we walk toward the miniature market straight ahead.

“You from a small town?” I ask her, contemplating whether I should reach for her hand or not.

“Are we doing that?” She stops slightly.

I search for her meaning. “Doing what?”

“The whole getting to know each other thing. Think that’s smart of us to do?”

I didn’t even think of that. Asking her about herself felt like the natural thing to do in a conversation. Something I would ask any other woman I was interested in whowasn’tleaving in a week.

“Right. Probably not the best idea.” Even though it was my idea, it sucks. I know she’s guarding her heart.

“To answer your question, I am from a small town. I won’t tell you where, though,” she says, laughing to herself.

I nod, and it feels forced. I want to know where she lives and hate that I can’t.

“Oh, right there!” Collie calls out, pointing to the small tiki shack up ahead. “Piña Coladas!”

Squealing resounds beside me. “Hell yes.Andyou get to drink it from an actual pineapple.” Capri swoons, running toward the shack barefoot.

We order our drinks, and Collie follows Romeo and Luca to a park amphitheater where a local band is playing. I take advantage of my alone time with Capri and lead her to a wooden picnic table near the shore.

“Thanks for this,” Capri says, holding up her drink.

I nod. “Of course.”

We sit at the top of the table, taking in the view of the Grottos and watching paddle boats on the horizon.

“Oh my goodness, look! That looks so fun,” she says.

Watching Capri get excited over even the small things is oddly sweet to witness. I can tell she’s used to a simple life. Something I’ve unfortunately never experienced. My whole childhood was spent traveling.

“I’ve never done it.” It’s an admission I never realized sounded so sad until I said it out loud. I’ve lived in Capri for years and have never been on a paddle boat tour—only swum in the Grottos.

“What!” Capri shrieks. “How can you live in Capri and never do the most touristy thing here?”

Good question.Because I’m alone.

A fact that, up until recently, never bothered me.

Now it’s as if I crave the simple life. A life filled with meaning and not just things.

People. Connection.

I shrug and chuckle at the passion behind her question. “I guess I never really thought about it. I work a lot.”

“Well, surely you take days off, right?”

Hardly ever.“Not really. I mean, I will if I have an appointment or something, but that’s rare.” She sends me a look of sympathy. “I know it’s pathetic,” I say honestly.

“Not pathetic. Relatable.”

I look into Capri’s crystal blue eyes and see so much heart inside her. An unreached depth of understanding. I hardly know her, but she’s one of those women you can tell has the intention to live a full fucking life.

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