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Caroline met me outside the French restaurant. She looked beautiful, with long honey-blond hair and a blinding smile. Nat had already spoken highly about her, and at least her looks didn’t disappoint.
“Hey, I’m G. You must be Caroline,” I said politely and leaned in to give her a small hug.
She smelled nice.
“God, you’re tall,” she said with a nervous laugh and leaned her head back to meet my eyes. I’m really not freakishly tall, only six foot two, but Caroline was petite.
“Do you want to eat now or take a walk on the beach first?” I asked her
Two minutes later we were walking along Alki Beach and talking about Nat, who was the only friend we had in common.
“Did he tell you I’m moving in three weeks?” I asked her.
“Yeah, he did. That’s why I agreed to meet you.”
“Right, he told me you weren’t into anything serious.”
“No, I’m not.”
“He didn’t tell me why, though.”
Caroline shrugged. “I had a very controlling boyfriend for seven years and missed out on a lot. Now I just want to spread my wings and not be tied down by anyone.”
“That makes sense,” I said.
“Oh, look.” Caroline pointed ahead to a small marketplace with pavilions and some musicians singing and dancing. “Let’s check it out,” she said eagerly and lit up with a childish delight that I liked. “I love places like this…. look, we can have our future read.” She grabbed my elbow, nudging me along to a small pavilion.
I recognized Violet instantly and I could tell that the minute she looked up and saw me, she knew who I was too. Her eyes slid to Caroline and back to me.
“Would you like a couples reading?” she asked.
I shook my head and felt annoyed. “No thanks.”
“Can you do a reading just for me?” Caroline asked excitedly.
“Of course.”
I kept a bit of distance thinking that Caroline might want answers to some private questions, so while Violet took the gullible girl’s money, I walked around the marketplace and waited for her.
It wasn’t a big place but the group of people gathered in front of a pavilion was the reason I didn’t see Cia at first. She was sitting on a chair, drawing a portrait of a boy around seven, and her eyes kept going between him and the paper in front of her. I couldn’t see the portrait, but I could see her.
How could I have thought she wasn’t the most beautiful woman I had ever been with? She looked stunning with her long golden hair tucked behind her ears and very discreet make-up. Her clothes were feminine and simple – a black summer dress with spaghetti straps, that revealed her summer tan.
I stood hypnotized for minutes, just taking in the beauty of Cia, wondering why I hadn’t seen this all along. I had considered her pretty, but never the most beautiful of my girlfriends. Something had changed and I couldn’t tell if it was my eyesight or her looks, I just knew that she was exquisite and that my whole body was buzzing with excitement.
After another ten minutes of drawing, she was done and handed the portrait to the parents. I was quick to step closer, wanting to be first in line to have my portrait made and get her to talk to me.
Cia took the money and thanked the father of the boy before she turned. The shock on her face when she saw me made me hold my breath.
“Hey,” I said and waited for her to speak.
She took a step back.
“Can I have my portrait painted?” I asked.
She looked around at the people in the crowd that seem to be scattering now that she wasn’t drawing.
“I’m sorry, but I’m on a break now,” she said and turned her back to me.
