Chapter 10
NOAH
As I wandered down the cute cobbled streets of Fira, the capital of Santorini, I tried to steer my thoughts away from my earlier conversation with Ali.
As stupid as it sounded, when she sat next to me, I wasn’t prepared. Her sweet vanilla scent hit me immediately and I was instantly transported back to those nights when we’d hang out together, especially that summer before we started uni.
Up until that point, we’d always been together. Through primary school, secondary school and even college. But after that summer we knew that everything would change. I’d go to uni in Manchester, whilst she’d study in London.
Knowing that we were going to spend long periods apart, we’d promised to make the most of that summer and see each other as much as possible.
Sometimes we’d chill at her place; other times she’d come to mine and we’d cook together or grab a pizza and snacks, binge-watch whatever series we were into, then talk for hours about everything and nothing.
I’d pretend to hate watching her romcoms (but would secretly enjoy them) and she’d watch my sci-fi and fantasy shows and mainly just gush about how ‘hot’ whatever buff character appeared on the screen was.
Years later, she did the same with The Witcher and I wasn’t joking when I said she used to be obsessed with Henry Cavill. So when she compared me to him (well, technically she didn’t – she’d compared me to Superman), for a few moments I felt ten feet tall.
But of course then she’d said I looked nothing like him. Ali had tried to soften the blow by saying that I looked good different, but I already knew I wasn’t her type and I was fine with that. It was no big deal. There weren’t many men who could compete with Henry Cavill, so no harm done.
‘Do you mind if I look in here?’ Kayleigh said, snapping me out of my thoughts. ‘I need to get some fridge magnets.’
‘Go for it! I’ll wait out here,’ I said.
That’d give me time to get my head together.
It was bad enough that I’d sat next to my best friend instead of my match on the coach (although to be fair, Kayleigh had insisted). But now there was no excuse for thinking about Ali.
I was in a country I’d wanted to visit for as long as I could remember and I’d been given a great match, so I should be focusing on exploring this pretty town with Kayleigh.
As I waited outside, I listened to the variety of languages around me. I heard people speaking French, Spanish, German, Chinese and then someone speaking English in a thick Greek accent.
‘Come, we will go on the cable cars. The views are spectacular.’
I turned to see Adonis taking Ali’s hand. The blood was literally draining from her face. And I knew why.
When I was doing research online and saw those cable cars, I knew they’d be her idea of hell.
The ride involved a descent from Fira above the water to the old port and the drop was steep and dramatic. Apparently when you were on them, it made the boats and everything beneath you look like toys.
Ali would be terrified. That’d be right at the top of her activities to avoid list. The same went for the quad bikes that were popular in Santorini.
Of course, I wouldn’t expect Adonis to know that. They’d only just met. But surely the right thing to do would be to ask her if she’d like to go on the cable cars, rather than assume or tell her that was what they were categorically doing.
The temptation to tell him to back off was strong, but like I’d reminded myself, I was here with Kayleigh. I couldn’t keep interfering with Ali’s relationship with this guy.
Even if I didn’t like him.
Even if I knew that he wasn’t right for her.
Ali was a grown woman. I had to leave her to make her own decisions.
If she asked me what I thought of him I wouldn’t be able to lie though.
‘Uh, I… I’d prefer not to,’ Ali said. They’d paused a few feet away but hadn’t spotted me yet. ‘I saw it online and the drop is really steep.’
‘It will be fine,’ Adonis said. ‘It is perfectly safe.’
‘I’m sure it’s safe, but I… I just wouldn’t feel comfortable.’ Ali’s voice trembled.
‘This is Santorini!’ He laughed. ‘The island is shaped by a volcanic crater with dramatic cliffs – some that reach hundreds of metres above the sea. The most beautiful sights are seen from the highest viewing points. So, my darling, you cannot come to a place like this and be scared when there is something that is higher than a few steps! I will hold your hand and give you cuddles like a baby if you feel scared. Come.’
So fucking patronising.
‘I don’t—’
‘Hey, Ali, Adonis!’ I jumped in. I knew I said I wouldn’t interfere but I couldn’t stand here and listen to him try to force her to do something she didn’t want to a second longer. ‘I didn’t see you there. How’s it going? Beautiful place, isn’t it?’
I decided that a friendly approach was better than going in all guns blazing.
‘Yeah.’ Ali’s face instantly brightened. ‘I love these narrow, cute streets.’
‘Kayleigh’s just inside buying some souvenirs,’ I added. ‘Which reminds me. We should get our postcards.’
‘Yes!’ Ali’s eyes lit up.
‘Did I hear my name being mentioned?’ Kayleigh suddenly appeared beside me.
‘You did!’ I smiled at her. ‘I just bumped into these two. And Ali and I were just saying we needed to get some postcards.’
‘Postcards?’ Kayleigh frowned. ‘Do people even do those any more? Is it for your grandparents?’
‘No,’ Ali replied. ‘It’s to send to… each other.’
Kayleigh and Adonis’s faces crumpled with confusion.
‘I don’t get it?’ Kayleigh said. ‘You’re both here. In the same place. At the same time. Why would you bother sending each other postcards?’
‘I know it sounds unconventional,’ I attempted to explain. ‘It’s just a thing that we do. A tradition. We’ve done it since we were kids.’
‘Do you remember that one I sent you from Spain when I went on my girls’ holiday? It was a bit naughty so we weren’t sure if it’d reach you.’
‘Yeah. Just a shame that my mum got to it before I did!’ I chuckled and Ali burst out laughing.
‘I am taking Alicia to the cable cars,’ Adonis jumped in, clearly not amused by our trip down memory lane. And still not getting the message that Ali didn’t want to go, despite her telling him multiple times.
‘Really?’ I feigned innocence. ‘That surprises me. Ali hates that kind of stuff. Last time someone took her on something like that, she threw up all over them. Completely ruined her date’s fancy Gucci loafers.’
I was actually quite impressed at how quickly I’d made that up. Ordinarily I didn’t condone lies, but I had to think of something that would avoid Ali discussing something painful and would also get a man like Adonis to listen.
I’d noticed that Adonis wore a lot of overtly designer clothes, not the subtle ones that rich people often favoured, but the ones with big logos that screamed: look! I bought something expensive! so I thought that would get his attention. Fingers crossed it’d work.
Right on cue, a look of horror spread across Adonis’s face.
‘Really?’ Adonis asked, glancing at Ali before looking down at his immaculate suede loafers nervously then back at her again.
‘Er, yeah.’ Ali nodded, before her gaze dropped to the ground. She wasn’t comfortable with lies either, but in our defence if Adonis had listened to her from the start, we wouldn’t have had to resort to making up a story.
‘Well, perhaps it is better that you do not go on the cable cars. I would not like you to feel unwell.’
‘Probably for the best,’ Ali said. ‘But now I feel bad, because I know how much you want to.’
‘I’ll go!’ Kayleigh said. ‘I mean, we can go, if you want, Noah?’
‘We could but…’ My voice trailed off. I wasn’t worried about the height, but what did concern me was Ali. It didn’t seem right to leave her alone.
‘Unless you want to wait with Alicia and then we meet up later?’ Kayleigh offered.
This was tricky. Waiting with Ali was exactly what I’d prefer to do. Best friends didn’t just ditch each other.
But it’d be bad to leave Kayleigh again especially after she’d already swapped seats on the coach.
Then again, it was her suggestion, not mine.
‘It’s up to you,’ I said. ‘I’m happy to go with you, but Ali’s sense of direction is about as good as someone who’s been blindfolded in the dark.’
‘Oi!’ Ali slapped my bicep playfully and the connection of her palm against my bare skin made my pulse race. Just like it did when she’d prodded my muscles on the coach.
I had to admit, it wasn’t terrible to hear that she’d noticed my muscles. They weren’t as big as Adonis’s obviously, but I was happy with how I looked.
‘Am I lying?’ I cocked a brow.
‘Unfortunately, he’s right.’ Ali laughed.
‘Even with Google Maps, somehow she still manages to get lost. So I’m just concerned that she won’t find us at whatever meeting point we arrange once we’ve finished on the cable cars.’
‘You stay with Alicia; I’ll go with Adonis,’ Kayleigh suggested. ‘I’ll call you once we’ve finished and we can all meet up then. How’s that sound?’
‘If you’re sure?’ I said.
‘Positive,’ Kayleigh confirmed.
‘Is that okay with you, Ali?’ I asked.
‘Yeah, thanks. And sorry again.’ She winced and gave apologetic looks to Adonis and Kayleigh.
‘It is fine, beautiful.’ Adonis leant forward and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. I ground my jaw, then quickly fixed my face. It wasn’t like he’d just started snogging her on the street. And even if he did, it was none of my business.
Ali flashed a small smile.
‘I will see you very soon,’ he added.
‘See you.’ Kayleigh pecked me on the cheek and smiled.
The action caught me by surprise.
She’d done the same last night when we’d said goodbye, and I’d put the fact that I’d felt nothing down to tiredness. But today I was well rested and I still didn’t feel that spark. I didn’t understand why.
Kayleigh was really pretty and nice.
If the guys at the office knew who I’d been matched with, they’d say I was a lucky bastard.
But somehow, I felt nothing.
‘Uh, yeah. See you soon.’ I smiled, hoping to reassure her.
And as she walked away with Adonis, I didn’t find myself checking out Kayleigh’s arse or feeling excited to see her again.
So strange.
Maybe I just needed to get to know Kayleigh better.
And once I did, everything would change.