Page 78 of Overtime Goal
31/
logan
Morning hazestill clung to the sea as I kicked the Vespa to life. Riley wrapped both arms around me from behind, already smelling like sunscreen and the citrus cologne he’d bought earlier in the week. We pulled onto Amalfi Drive, the main road twisting along the coast.
The view was breathtaking. Terraced lemon groves stepped up the mountains to our left, and on the right, the Mediterranean spread out far below. The air was sharp with a mix of salt, lemon blossoms, and engine exhaust.
Riles leaned into me when we rounded a curve, yelling, “Fuck yes!” We both laughed like maniacs over the Vespa’s growl.
It was midmorning when we reached Ravello and parked under a vine-draped pergola. Piazza Duomo was quiet, anchored by the pale stone cathedral at one end. Café tables and canvas umbrellas were scattered throughout the square. Ade and I picked up bowls of granita from a stand, lemon for me and almond for him, and claimed a tiny table overlooking the gardens.
“This is delicious,” he said, wearing a big grin.
“Mine too. Really hits the spot.”
“Here.” He held out a spoonful of his. “Try it.”
I hummed with pleasure as I swallowed. Without thinking, I leaned over and gave him a playful kiss, then marveled at my luck while I stared into his brilliant green eyes. My insides buzzed as I gave him a bite of my granita. After years of trying to hide my feelings, being able to love him openly was incredible.
“The lemon’s fantastic.” He smacked his lips. “I love the tang.”
I bounced my eyebrows. “I’ll show you tang as soon as we get home.”
“Holding you to that,” he said. “Or maybe we’ll find a hidden spot along the road.”
We joked around while we ate our granitas, then sat quietly, enjoying the peace.
After a while, he said, “This is perfect.”
“Sure is,” I said. “I wish we could stay like this forever.”
“I’m game if you are. Do they have hockey here?”
We lingered a few more minutes, but the heat finally drove us into the cathedral. Inside, the air was cool and still. A docent took our contribution and told us the building dated back to 1068. Whitewashed walls rose into arches, emphasizing the paintings and statues scattered throughout.
Riles leaned in. “A thousand years old. Think they used elephants and giraffes to build it?”
I gave him a look, and he twisted his lips into a “gotcha” grin. He looked around, clearly impressed by the space. When his eyes stopped on the pulpit, he let out a low gasp. It was marble, perched high on twisting columns. They were supported by lions so lifelike they seemed ready to leap.
“Okay, that’s badass,” he whispered. “Lions holding up the preacher’s stand. No wonder people showed up.”
I shook my head, but his smile put a beautiful ache in my chest. Leave it to Riley to turn a centuries-old pulpitinto something playful without sounding disrespectful. He sure made me see it differently.
After our informal tour, we went back to the Vespa and headed west until we saw a beautiful spot under the cliffs. I found a turn-off and parked, and we took off our shoes and started walking down the beach.
“Is this where you show me that tang you talked about?” he asked.
I glanced around. “There’s no one else here, but if we tried that, it would be our luck for the police to come along.”
“You’re probably right. We don’t need that kind of publicity along with news of me going gay.”
He took my hand, and we laughed as we walked on. Soon, we came to a cove that wouldn’t be visible from the road.
“If we can’t have sex,” he said, “let’s at least go skinny dipping.”
I put a hand on my chest and acted shocked. “In broad daylight?”
He waved me off. “It’s Europe. People aren’t as uptight as most Americans, so get naked. God knows you have nothing to be ashamed of.”
