Chapter 12 #4
When they returned to the main restaurant, trying their very best to look innocent, Nancy shot Eliza a knowing look and raised her eyebrows suggestively.
Eliza felt her cheeks flush but couldn’t suppress the smile that spread across her face.
She’d just had hot sex with her rebound in a storage closet. Nancy would be so proud.
‘Oi, you two,’ shouted Stavros, ‘stop flirting and come and join the rest of us.’
‘Well, I certainly don’t have you figured out,’ whispered Eliza, ‘a country boy, with a secret love of London and a best friend called Stavros. Were you guys at school together? I am completely intrigued.’
Luke paused. ‘It’s a long story, but let’s just say we’ve been through a lot together, and he’s like a brother to me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that man.’
As Eliza was heading back to the group, she spotted Stavros carrying another tray of shots. ‘Are you trying to kill us all? How much ouzo can one person drink?’
‘Oh, you’d be surprised. Once you start, it’s hard to stop!’
‘If you say so,’ said Eliza, laughing.
‘Hey, Eliza,’ said Stavros, grabbing her arm. Leaning in, he whispered, ‘It’s really great to see Luke this happy. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him smile like this. Go easy on him, though, won’t you – he might seem like nothing irks him, but I really wouldn’t want to see him hurt again.’
Hurt again she thought? What could that mean? Luke hadn’t mentioned anything to her. And how was she going to find out?
A hand suddenly grabbed hers. ‘Come on, Eliza, I think you owe me this dance. I’m worried if I don’t get you on the dance floor, you might go and join Nancy at the microphone, and I’m not sure anyone is ready for that,’ Luke said.
In that moment, it really did seem like everyone was having the time of their lives.
The next morning, Nancy and Eliza were leaning against the kitchen island, having a strong cup of coffee. They both looked like they had been dragged through a bush backwards.
‘From what I remember, at the end of the evening, Luke was passionately snogging you on the dance floor, then he said he had to go as he had a big meeting today. We all continued to dance like utter twats for a bit longer, and then we came home via the kebab shop. Or did we leave because Stavros kicked us out?’ Nancy said, holding the back of her hand up to her forehead.
‘Anyway, where did you both disappear to earlier in the night?’
Eliza could barely speak. Her mouth was so dry she thought she might die. But her heart started to flutter as the memory of their frantic shag came back to her.
‘Nothing, you know, bathroom.’
‘Yeah, right. You were probably shagging him, because he’s hot as fuck. So why do you look so peaky this morning; it’s not just the hangover, is it?’
Eliza shook her head and then thought better of it. ‘No, it’s just something Stavros said to me last night, “I really wouldn’t want to see him hurt again”. Apparently, I’m making him happy.’
‘Of course you’re making him happy; you’re putting out every day. How can he not be?’
Eliza lowered her head to the cool surface of the counter, muffling out in indignation, ‘Nancy! Not every day. Anyway –’ she raised a finger – ‘what are we missing? Who hurt him? Do you think it was something to do with that witch, Bella?’
Moving around to pop some toast in, Nancy replied distractedly, ‘Which one is Bella? I can’t keep up with all your random new country mates.’
‘She is not a mate! She’s the grumpy one we met in the pub. I’m convinced she’s madly in love with Luke. There is definitely something strange going on there.’
‘Do you know what I think, Liza? You shouldn’t overthink it.
It’s early days, you’re getting laid, and there are forces at work obviously trying to bring you guys together.
Look at how he just happened to be at the restaurant last night!
It’s like fate knew you deserved an epic rebound, and it delivered. So why not try and enjoy it?’
‘I guess so.’ Eliza felt a bit queasy, but that could’ve been the fourth ouzo shot talking.
‘You guess so? No, you know so! You also need to get a paying job, so you can stop dwelling on it so much.’
Eliza started to open her mouth to reveal just how bad the debt really was, but then she decided having that conversation hungover was a terrible idea, so she’d wait until she felt better.
Nancy then added, ‘Also, can I get an invite to Fenella’s wedding? It sounds amazing. Please say I can? I’ll even be a waitress.’
‘Yes, you can come. I’m too ill to say no. But I’m not hiring you, you’re the worst waitress the world has ever seen. Also, please remind me to never drink ouzo again.’
Buttering the toast and sliding a plate towards her, Nancy grinned. ‘Deal. But that was a fun night, right? That was like the old times.’
Right at that moment, Freya let out a wail.
Biting into the piece of toast and feeling her world right itself slightly, Eliza groaned. ‘Okay, that’s my cue to head back to the country. Thank you for hosting me, destroying me, and giving me one of the most bizarre nights of my life.’
‘You know I’m always here for it. And, Eliza, enjoy that man. He was created for it!’