Chapter 19
NINETEEN
I meet Kai downstairs and he lets out a low wolf-whistle.’ You scrub up well,’ he tells me.
‘Are you from the nineteen seventies?’ I roll my eyes. ‘You do know wolf-whistling is frowned upon these days.’
‘Only if you are an intimidating bunch of men, on a building site surely? Oh, and if you like equality, this is where you ought to tell me that I look good too.’
I smile. ‘You do.’ And I mean it.
In fact, ‘seriously hot’ would be more of an accurate description, with his cream-coloured shorts, black polo shirt, sunglasses and a whiff of an expensive woody cologne.
‘Ready then?’
‘Yep. Let’s go.’
We head down a set of steps at the far end of the hotel and find ourselves on a stretch of beach.
At one end, orange umbrellas on sun loungers are flapping in the slight breeze, as a worker walks along dismantling them and stacking them against a beach wall.
The sunbathers have headed home for the day.
The sun is beginning its descent, although it will stay light for at least a couple more hours.
We chat about our mutual day as we walk.
‘Any funny stories?’ I ask Kai.
‘Not especially. Although there was one kid who peed in the pool and cried when I asked him to come out. I felt a bit sorry for him then.’
‘No one can get away with that anymore with the colour dye, although one or two people are still too lazy to get out of the pool,’ I reply.
So how about you?’ he asks.
‘Nope, I can honestly say I have never peed in a public swimming pool,’ I tell him.
‘Maybe I phrased that incorrectly.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘I meant, do you have any funny stories?’
‘I had to break up a fight over an inflatable crocodile life saver. Two six-year-olds going at it.’ I laugh. ‘Parents oblivious, until one kid started screaming because the other had pulled their hair. Next thing the parents were arguing, both defending their little darlings.’ I chuckle.
We have taken our shoes off, and are both walking barefoot along the sand that has cooled from its volcanic-like heat in the afternoon. I suppose to anyone around we look like a couple taking a romantic evening walk, listening to the sound of the crashing waves. How deceptive appearances can be.
‘It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?’ Kai stops and stares across the Aegean Sea. Beyond the bay, rocky coves, the sea and the sand, hills covered in pine trees seem to rise from the sea, giving it a picture-perfect outlook.
‘It is. Which is why I want to stay. For how long, who knows?’ I feel the familiar excitement in the pit of my stomach as I say the words.
He nods. ‘That is my philosophy too. I never know how long I am going to stay in a place, although, so far, this place certainly has its merits.’ He gives me a sidelong grin.
‘Do you think you will ever settle down?’ I ask, as we walk beneath the ever-changing sky, its brilliant blue having slowly changed to a pretty shade of pink.
‘Maybe one day. But not for the foreseeable,’ he admits. ‘I’m not really sure I am the settling-down type – at least not yet.’
‘That’s fine, just another reminder to be sure to tell any future girlfriends that.’
‘Duly noted,’ he says as we walk on.
As the sky darkens, I spot a wooden beach taverna in the distance, its front covered in fairy lights. Several chairs and tables are arranged on a wooden platform; others are on the sand.
‘Is that the place?’
‘It is. Giannis’s. They serve the best seafood around here.’
‘It looks beautiful,’ I say as I take in the pretty beach restaurant.
‘Just like my date,’ he says, and I roll my eyes.
We are welcomed warmly by a server and shown to a table on the wooden terrace. I declined the offer of a table on the sand, after recalling a pretty undignified landing once, when the chair leg sank several inches into the sand causing me to lose my balance and topple over.
A waiter informs me that as well as the food on the menu, there is a special of rabbit stew.
‘Oh, no thanks.’ I pull a face after he has left and we have ordered a bottle of red wine and some water.
‘What’s wrong with rabbit stew?’ asks Kai.
‘It feels to me like eating a cat or dog. Or horse.’
‘So, fish, chicken and cow are different.’
‘Yes. Maybe it’s because I had a pet rabbit as a child.’
‘I get that. I was going to opt for the red snapper anyway.’
‘Sounds good, I’ll have the same.’ I close my menu; when the waiter returns, we place our food order.
The fish is utterly delicious, accompanied by some pan-fried potatoes, with just a hint of lemon and garlic. We share the Greek salad that has been placed in the middle of the table. There is some bread in a basket, that I decline when Kai passes it to me.
‘I don’t want to fill up on bread when the food is so delicious. It also means I might have room for a dessert.’
‘Good thinking.’ He smiles.
Sitting beneath the stars chatting, the food and the wine slipping down nicely, I soon feel incredibly relaxed. Glancing out to sea, I imagine myself living here, and it feels good.
‘You know this restaurant isn’t open all year round,’ says Kai as if reading my thoughts. ‘In fact, hardly any of them are, only the odd taverna for locals.’
He pours me another glass of wine.
‘I know. Shops are still open though. I’m sure I would manage.’
‘I’m sure you would. You know, I admire you,’ he says as he twirls the stem of his wine glass and looks at me.
‘You do?’
‘Your focus, I mean. Swimming is your thing. And your passion for teaching kids to swim. It must be nice to have a real enthusiasm for something.’
‘So, you don’t really have a passion for anything in particular?’ I ask, as I fork the last of the delicious fish into my mouth.
‘Not really.’ He shrugs. ‘I like to do a bit of everything, although I am pretty good at cooking.’
‘Maybe you ought to channel that a bit?’ I suggest. ‘You could start with social media videos. I have seen a few amateur chefs going viral with a great dish.’
‘Me too.’ He nods. ‘Something to think about. For now I am happy to take off whenever I like and do seasonal work. Social media takes commitment. I prefer to have no ties, if you know what I mean.’
‘A girl in every port?’ I raise an eyebrow.
‘Hardly.’ He laughs. ‘And I know that one day I will have to settle down, but for now, I am enjoying my life. And they do say variety is the spice of life.’
Passing the bar area as I nip to the ladies, I spot a Greek man, wearing sunglasses and dressed casually, chatting to the bartender. As I pass, he lowers his glasses and wishes me a kalispera. It’s Takis.
‘Oh hi. How are you?’ I find myself smoothing down my hair and wondering if my lipstick has all rubbed off. What am I thinking? I barely know Takis, but I would certainly welcome the chance to get to know him more. I suddenly wish I was here with a girlfriend, rather than Kai.
‘I’m good. About to enjoy the best fish on the island. At least I think so,’ he says. ‘Anyway, I hope you enjoy your evening with your date.’ He glances towards Kai. ‘See you around.’ He takes a seat at a nearby table. Alone.
‘Thanks, you too,’ I tell him. ‘But it isn’t really a date.’ I shake my head and wonder why I said that. ‘I mean, not in the romantic sense. We are just colleagues.’
‘Good.’ He nods as he picks up a menu.
What does he mean by ‘good’?
Returning to my table, I order a square of honey cake for dessert, which arrives with a complimentary shot of ouzo. I try not to overthink explaining my date with Kai, but then I did accept an offer of a drink with Takis when I am free.
As Kai and I split the bill, I feel a mix of emotions. And when Takis nods goodnight before raising his glass of red wine to his lips, I can’t help wishing I was on a date with him. And most definitely in the romantic sense.
Kai sways slightly drunkenly along the sand on the walk home, singing the words to a well-known pop song from the nineties. A couple of beers with the meal, and two shots of ouzo (I gave him mine) along with the wine have left him more than a little merry.
‘Best get to bed,’ he says, kissing me on the cheek before heading to his room. ‘I’m in work at nine a.m. and I don’t want to get in Zeta’s bad books.’
‘Again.’ I chuckle.
‘She forgave me last time,’ he says, stifling a yawn. ‘It must be my irresistible charm.’
‘Get to bed.’ I laugh.
He fiddles with his key for a second, before letting himself into his accommodation, and raising his hand goodnight.
I climb the stairs to my room, a couple of doors down, and flop onto my bed. As I close my eyes, I think about staying here and owning my own little café. I have never done anything like this before, yet I don’t feel worried by the prospect, more exhilarated.
I often do things alone. I work better alone; I have come to realise that.
A lot of my anxiety comes from other people telling me what they think I ought to do.
My ex mainly, when I think about it. Well, there will be no more of that.
I am slowly realising I can do most things on my own.
Life is precious and should be lived in the way we desire.
And I am determined to try and do exactly that.