The sight of Carmen at the beach consumed my thoughts. Despite my best efforts to focus on Zaya and our day together, my eyes kept drifting back to her. Carmen was standing with a young girl, maybe twelve years old, who seemed to be hanging on her every word.
The girl had a sweet, innocent look about her, with long, sandy blonde hair and an infectious smile. It was a stark contrast to Carmen's intense, brooding presence.
Zaya noticed my distraction and gently squeezed my hand. "Hey, Elena, did you hear me?" she asked, her voice pulling me back.
"Sorry, what?" I replied, shaking my head slightly to clear my thoughts.
"I said the beach staff are organizing a volleyball tournament," Zaya repeated. "The winners get a free massage from a specialist in a private room. Sounds fun, right?"
A tournament sounded like a perfect distraction. "Yeah, let's do it," I agreed, grateful for anything to take my mind off Carmen.
