Page 26 of Every Step She Takes
“On my dad’s side.” I take a sip of my beer. “My mom is British and Spanish, but she’s lived in New York since I was six. I lived with her until I went to boarding school in Scotland, and now I live in Seattle.”
Or Ididlive in Seattle. Now I don’t really live anywhere.
Vera studies me with a crinkled brow. “You lookreallyfamiliar,” she says slowly.
“I lived in Madrid for a few years when I attended an American university there. Maybe we crossed paths then,” I quickly explain, and I hope it will be enough to stop her from considering it further.
The server returns to the table with our main dishes and deposits a plate of buttered clams in front of me. I haven’t missed much about this country, but it does have some of the best damn seafood in the world, and I tuck in without another word of introduction.
“I have something to confess!” Tiny Shorts shouts from where he’s doing Tree pose. “I also did not know this tour was for the lesbians. I thought it was for all the gays.”
“And who are you?” Ro asks in their intimidating monotone.
“Oh. Yes,” he says in a thick Italian accent. “Ciao! I am Stefano Demurtas. My pronouns are he/him. I am from a town called Alghero on the beautiful island of Sardinia, but I now live in Napoli. I am international triathlete and do Ironmans all over the world, but last December in Taupo, I got injured. I had knee surgery and now cannot do anything strenuous for six months. So, I am here!”
Ari raises an eyebrow. “Walking two hundred miles…?”
“Yes!” Stefano lunges forward on one leg, an act that is made obscene by his very tight bike shorts. “I do not like to be still. I like always to be moving.”
“We can see that.”
“Stefano…” Inez drags his name out hesitantly. “And you are…?”
“An Aries,” he answers with another lunge.
“Um, great, but I meant…” Inez comfortably shifts in her chair and defaults to professionalism. “Beatrix Tours has a firm policy about not requiring travelers to disclose their gender or sexuality, and I strive to create an inclusive environment, but… I assumed you… are you not a trans man?”
“Ah, no. I am cis gay man.”
“Oh.” Inez’s permanent smile falters. “Well, this has never happened before…”
“But per favore! Please!” Stefano begs with his hands in Prayer pose beneath his chin. “Do not kick me off the tour! I want to do Camino with all you beautiful people.”
“It’s not against our policy, exactly, but the website very clearly states that Beatrix caters to lesbians and LGBTQ+ women…”
Stefano waves his hand. “I did not read website.”
“Clearly.” Ari snorts into her wine.
Inez attempts a more diplomatic response. “Perhaps you’d be happier doing the Camino on your own…?”
“Alone is no good,” Stefano wails. “I do not like alone or still. I do not like silence.”
This sounds like something I would say, and I’m slightly concerned that the person I relate to most at this table is the one who added protein powder to his wine, but I’m even more concerned about Inez. She’s never been one for confrontation, and if everyone protests having a cis man on the tour…
“Gender is a construct,” I blurt, drawing the attention back to me again. “If Stefano wants to hang out with a bunch of cool sapphics, I say let him!”
He blows me a series of grateful kisses.
“I agree,” Vera adds with a shrug. “Everyone should feel welcome.”
Ari adds, “Yeah, if it’s not against the policy, who cares?”
Stefano responds with more dramatic air-kisses. “Bella! Veronica and Arielle! Grazie!” He doesn’t know their names, but he falls to his knees and professes his undying love for them anyway. “You are most beautiful flowers, le mie bellissime amiche.”
“Don’t push it, buddy,” Ari snaps at him. Stefano rises and pantomimes zipping his mouth closed.
Inez nervously fiddles with her yellow chakra beads, and I lean around the back of Ari’s chair. “It’s your company,” I tell her. “You get to decide what to do here, and you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone.”
