CHAPTER 20 #4
Before he can finish, someone taps on my shoulder.
It’s a petite 20-something brunette wearing a white lace dress and the brightest smile I’ve seen since Bianca this morning.
“Hi! I’m so sorry to bother you, but would you be able to take a picture of my fiancé and me?
” She gestures behind her to a bald man wearing a blue button-down shirt and a sheepish grin.
“I heard you speaking English, so I figured you could help.”
I hide a smile. “Sure. Did you just get engaged?”
Aurelio and I follow behind as she walks us over. “He popped the question a few minutes ago!” she confirms, all enthusiasm. “We’re here on vacation.”
“You’re American?” Aurelio asks them.
The woman’s fiancé grimaces. “Yeah, sorry.”
Aurelio barks a laugh, nudging me with his elbow. “My girlfriend is also American, so I can’t complain too much.”
“What are your names?” I ask, accepting the woman’s phone to take the pictures.
“Bridgette.” She points to herself. “And this is Craig.”
“Amy,” I introduce myself. “That’s Aurelio.”
“Amy...” Bridgette looks at my face with fresh eyes. “And Aurelio...” It takes a moment for it to click, but then she practically screams. “Craig!” She clutches his shoulder. “That’s Amy fucking Bowman. And her boyfriend, Aurelio.”
I grin. “I love that description.”
“We’re from California,” Bridgette explains. “We’ve loved watching you since we went to Indian Wells a few years ago. You’re amazing.” She glances at Aurelio. “Both of you.”
“Grazie,” Aurelio says generously.
“Come on,” I encourage them, even as I can’t stop smiling. “Let’s get these engagement pictures.”
Bridgette knows what she wants, passionately bossing around me, Craig, and even Aurelio at times to get the best shots.
After a shockingly long and enjoyable session, Bridgette and I look over the photos, checking the lighting and poses.
Her ring sparkles beautifully in most of the shots, even without the sun beaming down.
“Good job, Craig,” I compliment him. “The ring looks great.”
After getting Bridgette’s approval, I return her phone to her. “Thank you so much,” Craig says, slinging an arm around his fiancée. “We appreciate your time.”
“No problem.” I smile. “It was fun.”
Bridgette watches Aurelio and I shrewdly. I wonder just how plugged into the tennis world she is. Has she seen the pictures of me and Aurelio walking hand-in-hand? Has she heard what happened between me and my father? Does she know that I’m supposedly on a tennis hiatus?
Finally, she points at us teasingly. “We’ll return the favor,” she promises. “I bet you lovebirds will be next!”
I laugh, but Aurelio practically chokes, stuttering over his words.
“No, no.” He waves his hands, seeming more Italian in his panic.
“There’s no pressure—” He looks over at me, trying to be reassuring.
I’m sure he expects me to be panicking, my fear of commitment leading to sweat on my brow and hives on my chest.
Instead, I feel calm. Bridgette and I wear matching grins. “Yeah,” I confirm. “I think us next.”
This stops Aurelio point-blank. He looks at me with his mouth open as Bridgette and Craig walk away, waving cheerfully.
“Us next?” He throws his hands in the air. “Where is the Amy I know and love?”
I mock frown at him. “What? Don’t you want to marry me?”
He sputters indignantly until he realizes I’m joking. Again. “I take it back.” He crosses his arms, chin in the air. “I do not love you anymore.”
“Yes, you do,” I tease him in a sing-song voice. “You love me. You want to marry me.”
He rubs his hands together, eyeing me up and down. “That’s it. I’ve had it with you.” Before I can properly defend myself, he tackles me into the sand.
I shriek, shoving against his arms. “Aurelio! I’m tattling to Vince if I get hurt wrestling with you in the sand.”
He pushes himself up above me. “Vince will be on my side,” he says, out of breath. I try to fend off his wandering hands, but Aurelio is on the offensive. He tickles me until my ribs hurt from laughing.
“Stop it!” I’m practically wheezing. “I can’t breathe.”
Aurelio clicks his tongue. “And yet, you’re still laughing.”
I choke on another laugh. “That’s why I’m out of breath. Stop with the tickles.”
He finally stops his assault, sitting back on his knees to survey me.
I’m sure I look a state, covered in sand, red-faced, and giggling.
Whatever he sees, it causes a small smile to curve on his lips.
He tries to keep up the charade, shaking his head in disapproval.
“Marriage isn’t a joke, Amy,” he scolds.
“I wasn’t joking.” I tell him the truth. “At least, not about wanting to marry you. Someday.”
Aurelio’s eyes soften. He grabs my hand, gently squeezing. “I’d be honored.”
I shrug. “As long as you keep your ranking in the top ten, I think we can make it work—”
Aurelio lets out a sigh. “My future bride the comedian,” he grumbles.
I burst into laughter again and this time Aurelio joins me. He lies back on the sand beside me, still holding my hand.
We stay that way for hours.