Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
As I catch sight of my reflection in a mirror in the hotel bar I thank goodness I packed a black, off-the-shoulder dress for my dinner with Zeta and Takis.
I have dressed the look up with jewellery and a slash of my Chanel red lipstick that I wear on special occasions.
Zeta looks sensational in a white trouser suit, and her hair softly curled.
Sitting on barstools at the hotel bar with its mirrored backdrop and bottles of every drink imaginable, I notice Takis arrive.
Oh my goodness, someone pass me the smelling salts. He looks effortlessly sexy in a light-grey suit, with a black T-shirt beneath. He greets us both with a kiss on the cheek. He smells delicious.
‘You both look amazing,’ he tells me, as his eyes meet mine. ‘Beautiful, in fact.’
‘You look great too,’ I manage to stutter.
‘So, shall we go?’
‘You are not driving,’ Zeta tells Takis as she glances at her watch. ‘No one goes to Aphrodite’s without drinking the wine. Which I am buying,’ she says firmly. ‘Our taxi should be outside any minute.’
‘Well, if you insist.’ Takis smiles. ‘A glass of wine would be nice.’
Seated in the back seat of the taxi next to Takis, his presence stirs something in me once more.
Outside, the sun begins to drop, the sky gently streaked with pink and orange. I gaze out of the window, trying not to move too much, in case our legs touch.
The taxi pulls up quickly as a few mountain goats wander into the road, pushing our shoulders together in the back seat. It seems like forever before they decide to move on. Our driver, apparently accustomed to it, is unfazed as he chats to Zeta as we wait.
We drive on and I gaze out of the window once more, trying to regulate my heartbeat. I wish Takis had sat in the front instead of Zeta. Isn’t that what most blokes would have done? But then I recall Zeta opening the front door of the car and greeting the driver like an old friend.
Despite the pleasant views out of the window, I am hoping the restaurant isn’t too far away. Part of me wishes it was just me and Zeta heading out for a meal as I originally planned, before Takis hijacked the evening.
After what seems like a lot longer than ten minutes, we pull into a village, welcomed by the twinkle of lights adorning a large olive tree at the centre of a mini roundabout, surrounded by a low stone wall.
The sound of music and conversation is spilling from several bars and tavernas that line the street.
I step out of the taxi and smooth down my dress that had ridden up in the back seat. I am pretty sure Takis kept glancing at my legs. I am looking forward to a large glass of wine.
I reach into my bag to pay for the taxi, but Zeta tells me it has been taken care of, as the driver disappears with a hoot of his horn.
‘Good evening, Zeta.’
A man around Zeta’s age greets her with a kiss, before welcoming us inside.
‘Evening, Eduardo.’
‘I have reserved the best table for you.’ He smiles as he guides us through.
I look around in wonder at the seriously beautiful restaurant, and feel relieved for the second time to have packed my black, off-the-shoulder knee-length dress in my suitcase.
The hotel has Greek columns, gold chandeliers and an opulence I did not expect.
‘When you said you knew a nice restaurant, you weren’t joking,’ I tell Takis as we are shown to our seats.
‘The food is amazing,’ he says as a waiter hands us a menu, before he disappears then returns with a carafe of water and glasses.
I glance around at the diners, some dressed in their best outfits, others in smart-casual dress, but no one in shorts or beachwear. The sound of Greek music is playing gently in the background and the scent of mouth-watering food fills the air.
Zeta orders the wine and a waiter swiftly appears asking if we would like to try it.
‘Go ahead,’ Zeta says to me. ‘Make sure it is okay for you.’
I sip the full-bodied red wine with a velvety texture that tastes nothing like the usual stuff I buy at the supermarket or the local pub back home.
‘Lovely,’ I tell the waiter.
He fills our glasses, as a different waiter appears with a basket filled with an assortment of breads.
‘The service here is amazing,’ I comment, as, right on cue, someone arrives to take our food order.
We enjoy our mouth-watering food; the beef in my stifado is melt-in-the-mouth, and in a rich, tangy sauce. Takis opts for a creamy moussaka, and Zeta for a sea bass in a fragrant lemon sauce with some steamed vegetables. We share a Greek salad from a bowl in the middle of the table.
‘I can’t remember the last time I came here. I had forgotten how good the food is here,’ says Takis as he tucks into his moussaka.
‘I am glad you suggested it. It is nice to see my old friend Eduardo,’ says Zeta.
‘Didn’t you date him once?’ asks Takis, a playful smile on his face.
‘Briefly, not long after his wife died,’ she confirms. ‘He wasn’t ready for a relationship. Neither of us were. But we had a nice time. And we stayed friends.’
‘You say you haven’t been here for a while,’ I say, turning to Takis. ‘So you haven’t brought any dates here?’
He places his wine glass down as Zeta gives him a sideways glance.
‘Zeta, please, as you have finished your meal, may I steal you for a moment?’ asks Eduardo, who has suddenly appeared at her side.
‘Of course. I will be right back,’ she tells us.
‘So?’ I say to Takis.
‘So what?’
‘Are you dating someone?’ I ask him directly.
‘Why are you so interested?’ he asks.
‘I was just curious.’ I shrug. ‘As I saw you with a woman in reception.’
‘Ah yes, that would be Sophia.’ He nods. ‘She works on my uncle’s boat doing tours. She is a friend, nothing more. So no, I am not dating anyone.’
‘You’re not?’ I feel relieved yet puzzled. ‘Why does Zeta seem under the impression that you have a girlfriend?’
Takis refills his glass, before ordering another bottle from a passing waiter.
‘Been talking about me, have you?’ He raises an eyebrow and I will myself not to blush.
‘Not especially.’ I shrug.
‘Maybe Zeta would like me to still be with my last girlfriend,’ he sighs.
‘So she was fond of her?’
‘My mother and Zeta are both very fond of Anna, my ex,’ he explains. ‘Admittedly, we have been on and off several times over the years, and I think people believed we would eventually settle down and marry.’
‘And you didn’t?’
‘I did want to at one time,’ he tells me honestly. ‘Maybe I convinced myself it was the right thing to do.’
‘Did you grow up in the village across the road from the café?’ I ask.
‘No, I come from a village a little further along the coast. My mother still lives there; my father has passed away,’ he tells me.
‘Sorry to hear that,’ I say. ‘And you definitely don’t want to marry Anna?’ I ask, even though I already know his views on marriage.
‘No.’ He shakes his head. ‘And I don’t think she does either. Not deep down. We haven’t been together for months. We knew it would upset a lot of people, us not marrying; our families have known each other for years. But it is our life, not theirs.’
I think of my mum’s Greek holiday romance, whilst the news that Takis is not in a relationship seems to fill me with warmth.
Our waiter returns then and opens the wine. He is quickly followed by Zeta, so for now, it seems the conversation is over.
‘Eduardo was asking me to sample a new dish the chef is trying out,’ she tells us as she sits down. ‘A pan-seared quail dish with a wine and cherry reduction. It was quite delicious.’ Takis pours her more wine. ‘So what have you two been chatting about?’
‘The food mainly,’ I tell her.
When the bill arrives, Takis attempts to pick up the tab, but I quickly intercept him.
‘Then at least let me pay for my own dinner,’ he says. ‘Remember, this is your treat for Zeta.’
We split the bill and we head to the entrance to await our taxi as Zeta chats inside for a minute to Eduardo.
The journey home is quieter, and I glance out at the night sky that is studded with stars.
I go over the conversation with Takis about his ex-girlfriend and feel more confused than ever.
Even if things are over between them, would it be wise to get involved with someone only a few months out of a serious relationship?
He needs to spend some time alone and decide what he really wants.
And for now, I think I ought to avoid Takis to give him the chance to do exactly that.