One Step to You (The Rome Novels #1)(5)
“Are you insane?” he asked, taking the headphones off and, immediately afterward, removing the cassette from the tape deck. “That’s a tape by Anthrax. Most of the people in here would stampede out of the place, and the rest would have their hair standing on end. This stuff causes heart attacks. Here, take it,” he said, handing back the cassette. “Put it on at your house sometime, when you’re looking to cause yourself some harm.”
“You want to know the truth? I fall asleep to it.”
*
Step was wandering through the party, looking around him, distractedly listening to the stupid chatter of eighteen-year-old girls about expensive dresses they’d spotted in shop windows, scooters their parents had refused to buy for them, impossible boyfriends, definite betrayals, and frustrated aspirations.
Not far away, against a background of magnificent paintings and photographs of a healthy, wealthy society, someone was stumbling along as if wrecked. It was Bunny. Their eyes met. Bunny returned his smile and then stole an ashtray with a sudden move, just as a cigarette, with a long column of ash at the end, was coming in for a landing. The ash, which had teetered successfully in perfect vertical equilibrium, collapsed right where the ashtray had been until just a few seconds earlier. The smoker was embarrassed in front of the young woman he was talking to, and Bunny gained another piece of expensive silver. But the biggest loser was certainly the tablecloth.
Step crossed the living room. From the window at the far end, the one overlooking the terrace, came a breath of wind. The curtains were tossing lightly in the breeze, and then, as they settled back to vertical, two figures took shape beneath them. Hands could be seen trying to open the curtains. A handsome, well-groomed young man was soon successful, finding the right opening in the draperies. A few moments later, a young woman appeared at his side. They were laughing happily, amused by that minor mishap. The moonlight from behind faintly illuminated her dress, rendering it translucent for an instant.
Step stood there staring at her. The girl shook her hair, smiling at the guy. She displayed a mouthful of beautiful white teeth. Even from a distance, it was possible to sense the intensity of her light blue eyes. Step remembered her, remembered their meeting. Or perhaps, more than a meeting, their argument.
The young man and young woman near the curtains said something to each other. The girl nodded and followed the boy over to the drinks table. Suddenly, Step was thirsty too.
*
Chicco Brandelli led Babi through the guests. The palm of his hand barely brushed her back, and with every step, he savored a whiff of her light perfume. He and Babi greeted a few of their friends who’d arrived while they were on the terrace. They chatted at the table covered with drinks.
Suddenly a guy stood face-to-face with Babi. It was Step.
“Well, I can see that you listened to my advice, and you’re trying to solve your problems.” Step tilted his head in Brandelli’s direction. “I understand he’s just a first rough attempt. But he could work. For that matter, if you haven’t found anything better, he’ll have to do…”
Babi looked at him, faintly uncertain. She didn’t know who he was but she didn’t much like him. Or did she? What was familiar about this guy?
Step refreshed her memory. “I accompanied you to school one morning, not very long ago.”
“That’s impossible. My father always takes me to school.”
“You’re right. Let’s just say that I escorted you. I was holding on to your car.”
Babi realized who he was and gazed at him in shock.
“I see you’ve finally remembered.”
“Sure, you were the guy who was spouting all those dumb lines. You haven’t changed, have you?”
“Why should I? I’m perfect.” Step threw both arms wide, displaying his physique.
Babi decided, at least from that point of view, she couldn’t argue. It was all the rest that didn’t work. Starting with his clothing and ending with his behavior.
“You see, you didn’t say no.”
“Because I’m not even talking to you.”
“Babi, is this guy bothering you?” Brandelli had the ill-advised impulse to step in at this point. Step didn’t even look at him.
“No, Chicco, thanks,” Babi said.
“Well, then, if I’m not bothering you, it must mean you like me.”
“I’m completely indifferent. In fact, I’d say that you bore me and annoy me a little, to be exact.”
Chicco tried to cut off the discussion by speaking directly to Babi. “Would you care for something to drink?”
Step answered in her place. “Yes, thanks. Go ahead and pour me a Coca-Cola.”
Chicco ignored him. “Babi, do you want something to drink?”
For the first time, Step looked at him. “I said, yes, a Coke. I already told you that. Now get on it.”
Chicco stood there, looking at him, with a glass in his hand.
“Leave him be.” Babi intervened, taking the glass out of Chicco’s hand. “I’ll do it.”
Babi finished pouring and set down the bottle. “Here, and make sure not to spill any.” She threw the glassful of Coca-Cola right in Step’s face, drenching him from head to foot. “I told you to be careful.”
Chicco started laughing. Step gave him such a powerful shove that Chicco flew onto a low coffee table, knocking over everything on top of it. Then he grabbed the ends of the tablecloth and gave it a hard yank, trying to do the trick that certain prestidigitators know how to pull off, but it turned out badly. A dozen or so bottles overturned, flying onto nearby sofas and guests. A few glasses shattered. Step wiped his face dry.