Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
T he sun warmed the soft cotton sheet draped over my body. I stretched, relishing the hot Grecian sun that shone through my bedroom window.
As always, Alfie was the first thing on my mind.
Was he awake yet? Showering? Was he working already?
I grabbed my phone, my fingers hovering over the keys to text him, but I hesitated.
I’d come on this trip for a break with Keira.
Not to spend the whole time with one eye on my phone waiting for a temperamental billionaire to text me back.
Choosing to avoid temptation altogether, I switched my phone off.
That didn’t mean I switched my mind off though.
My imagination ran wild with thoughts of Alfie and for once, I allowed them in.
Usually, I would force these thoughts away, too afraid of my resolve against Alfie weakening, but as the days had passed, that resolve seemed to be weakening all on its own.
I missed waking up with that man in my bed. I missed the safety of his arms, the way his lips pressed against my neck every morning, the way he shifted over me half-asleep, nudging my legs apart so he could slip inside…
My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a banging on the wall.
“Pssst!”
“Keira,” I called back, “you can’t bang on the wall loud enough to wake the dead and then say ‘Pssst.’ It’s counterproductive.”
“Whatever,” she whispered through the wall. “Are you up? I want breakfast.”
“I’m not stopping you.”
“I need you to be my bodyguard. My Mum is scary in the morning.”
“I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree,” I grumbled as I dragged myself out of bed. Though we had a kitchen in our little villa, the cupboards were bare. If we wanted any kind of breakfast, we’d need to face the Larsons.
“That’s not funny,” she yelled back.
Dressing simply in a sundress and sandals, I brushed my hair and teeth and headed downstairs, a hungry Keira on my heels. Maia joined us and we walked up to the main house together where Keira’s parents were already up.
Breakfast was light and passed without incident. Afterwards, the three of us decided to head into town. The streets were busy and for once I enjoyed following Keira around as she shopped.
Two hours later, her hands were full of shopping bags and we had moved from stores and out into the market. It didn’t take Keira long to catch an admirer and the admirer had friends.
I watched her flirt out of the corner of my eye as I perused a market stall full of jewellery and other trinkets. I purchased two pairs of earrings, red for Natalie and a deep blue pair for myself. Thanking the stall owner I slipped mine into my ears as Keira came bounding over.
“They want to take us for lunch, you coming?”
I looked at the three young men. They were attractive, their smiles friendly, but I wasn’t in the mood to flirt with strangers. Thoughts of how hurt Alfie would be flashed through my mind but it wasn’t his pain that prevented me from going.
This trip was supposed to be a chance for Keira and I to catch our breath, to spend time together–why did I get the feeling that my best friend has purposely sought out a penis-shaped distraction to keep her from dealing with whatever had been bothering her?
“You know, if you wanted a casual hook up we could have stayed in London for that.”
“It’s just lunch, Lo.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll meet you in a bit, I want to explore the market some more.”
“Suit yourself. Maia?”
“I’ll stay with Lola.”
Keira gave an indifferent shrug and walked off with three men on her heels.
Maia followed as I headed further into the crowded market, the midday sun bearing down on us.
I paused at another trinket stall, my eye landing on a set of leather bound journals.
Maybe they were a bit too grown up for my ten year old nephew but I picked one up anyway in deep green. He could grow into it.
Up ahead I spotted what I was looking for, the same plant stall that I had found the last time we’d been here.
The woman behind the stall gave me an enthusiastic wave.
I was shocked that she’d remembered me. She chatted in a mixture of Greek and pieces of broken English, showing me the oregano bushes, one of which I’d purchased during my last visit.
I gestured at the plants and she pulled me in so I could take a closer look.
“You’re going to take a plant on the plane?” Maia asked.
“No, it’s for Keira’s mum. As a thank you for letting us stay.” I glanced up to find her watching me, a strange look in her eye. “What?”
“I didn’t think you liked Keira’s mum that much.”
“I don’t, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t say thank you.
Plus, she gave me my best friend so…” She gave me a weak smile before clearing her face.
She was a strange woman but before I could think too closely about it, the stall owner patted my arm, holding up a small strawberry plant.
I shook my head, that wasn’t what I wanted.
Casting my eye over the selection, I pointed to the tamarisk, pretty in its own way with its wiry branches and clusters of tiny pink and white flowers.
“What kind of plant is that?” Maia asked.
“A tamarisk. There’s a spot in Laura’s garden beyond our villa, completely exposed to sunlight. The soil is very bad there but these babies love infertile soil and thrive in full sun. It’s best to plant them in the autumn so they should take.” I selected one, taking a closer look at it.
“That one looks good,” Maia said.
“The leaves look okay, but here, see?” I lifted the shrub out of the pot, turning it upside down to show her the dried out roots. “It’s going to struggle.”
I moved onto another one with a stronger base and checked the roots of that one too, finding them soft and succulent. I lifted it to my nose and inhaled. “That right there, is the best smell in the world.” I grinned at Maia and I’m not sure which of us was more surprised that she smiled back.
I paid for the plant, accepted a hug from the owner and told her I would try to come back next year. Despite the language barrier I think she understood me.
The midday sun was starting to get a little too hot so we wandered back in the direction Keira had headed in. We found her sitting at a table outside a cafe, surrounded by the three men she had left with earlier, each of them looked enthralled with her.
I introduced myself but beyond that I, like Maia, was happy to sit back and let Keira do the entertaining.
By the time lunch was over, Keira had signed us up for drinks and dancing tonight.
It seemed like my best friend was going to ride the distraction train as far as it would take her, whether she liked the final destination or not.
The day's sun had sunk into my skin, still warming me despite the cool of the evening. My white halter dress brushed my thighs as I walked down the stone steps to the bar where Keira had arranged to meet her new friends.
I could hear the music from the street, my best friend practically hummed with excitement, and Maia was her usual reserved self. I’d expected her to stay back at the villa for a quiet night but once again she’d surprised me by coming with us.
The steps led us down into a large open courtyard, tables lining the outside leaving a large space in the middle for dancing.
A band was set up in one corner, a small bar was situated in another.
Everywhere natives and tourists were drinking, dancing, soaking up the last of the fun before they went back to their daily lives.
I heard a shout and following the sound I spotted one of the men Keira had been speaking to earlier. He climbed on a table, a drink in one hand as he waved us over.
Keira led the way and made the introductions.
Dimitri, Niko and Stefan each had dark hair, jovial smiles and white shirts.
Dimitri’s gaze never left Keira and she returned every heated look.
I arched an eyebrow at her, wondering why she was playing so hard.
This had always been her way of blowing off steam but I couldn’t help but think that more meaningless sex might not be what she needed right now.
The boys were about three drinks ahead of us and already tipsy. Stefan slung an arm over Maia’s shoulder, loudly asking if he could buy her a drink. Her gaze met mine and I could tell right then it was going to be a long night, we might as well have a cocktail.
An hour later, sweat beaded on my skin as Niko spun me to the last beat of the song.
I laughed, clapping with everyone else as the band took a break.
Niko was a good dancer, a gentleman too as his hands hadn’t strayed once.
Unlike Demetri whose hands had wandered over Keira every chance he could get.
“Another drink?” Niko asked, his pretty accent lilting over the words.
I nodded. “Just water please.”
The handsome man kissed my hand with a grin before heading off with his friends to get another round.
I grabbed Keira’s hand, tugging her off the dancefloor for a break.
We found Maia at our table, nursing a diet coke.
She’d allowed Stefan one dance before freeing him to find a new lady for the night.
“Having fun?” Keira asked her, breathless.
“I am actually. I like watching the dancing.” Her pretty curls were loose down to her waist, a rare sight when she usually had them tied up out of the way. “Are you enjoying yourself?” she asked me.
“Yeah, I am.” I laughed. “I’m beat though, maybe we should call it a night soon.”
Keira scowled. “You can if you want, I’m just getting started.”