16
“Here you go.” Gaia places a plate of food in front of me.
She has been working late at the restaurant, so I thought I’d stop by at the end of her shift to walk her home.
Lucky for me, Tuesdays are apparently slow, and there are leftovers of something called moussaka.
I take a bite, the hot food burning the tip of my tongue and making me gasp. I reach for the glass of water.
“I’m sorry. I should have warned you it would be hot,” she apologises, worry pinching her brow.
“You say sorry a lot without ever actually having anything to be sorry for.”
“Sorry,” she repeats, laughing at herself when she registers that she’s said it again.
We’re sitting at a sweet little table in the back of the restaurant, a small tea candle almost burning out in between us.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask, and you can tell me it’s none of my business, but you mention your dad all the time, but never your mum. Is she not around?”
“No. She’s not,” I say in a hurry. She watches me patiently, and I let out a deep breath, preparing myself to give Gaia an open and honest answer.
“When I was ten–actually, it was the day before my birthday. I was trying to choose which dress to wear to my party the next day. My mother came into the room, and she picked the yellow one. She said that yellow made my hair shine. I had always been a touch resentful because she had this beautiful blonde hair. I love being a redhead now, but when I was little, I just wanted to be like her. She was always so much fun. We’d get all dressed up and go on adventures around the town, and we’d pretend we were explorers or spies trying to uncover the town’s dark secrets.
” Gaia leans forward, the glow of the tea candle illuminating her face as she listens.
“She would disappear sometimes for a couple of days or a week, but then she’d come home, and everything would go back to normal.
That night was different. Something about her was off.
She told me to get ready for bed, and she read me a story.
She always made up her own versions, like Belle ran out on the Beast, saved her dad from the asylum and then moved to the beach somewhere.
She put her little twist on everything. She tucked me in, told me she loved me and left.
In the morning, she was gone, and she never came back.
And for future reference, that is why I don’t celebrate my birthday. ”
Gaia lifts her hand and wipes a tear from her face. “So, it was just you and your dad?”
“Yeah, pretty much, except he was away a lot for work. He’s originally from America, so he goes back, or all over, to Japan, China, and even Mexico.
That first year, I stayed with Abi and her family while he was away.
Then he was away more often, so I basically never left.
I went from being almost totally alone to having a whole family.
They took me in and made me feel like I belonged.
I owe them a lot.” I blow on my food before shovelling more into my mouth.
Gaia smiles while I eat, waiting for me to continue.
“Abi and I were inseparable throughout school. She’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister.
” An unwelcome sting of vulnerability burns my eyes and I can’t help but shift in my seat, fighting the sudden impulse to run.
“But enough about me and my sad little story. What about you? Do you have any siblings?”
“Yes, two older brothers, they’re in their thirties.
My parents never said it, but I get the impression that I was a surprise,” she says with a laugh, brushing her hair off her forehead with her delicate fingers.
Her beautiful curly locks are pulled back in a messy bun on the top of her head.
I look down at her body. She looks flawless, wearing black dress pants, a white shirt and a black apron.
It’s astonishing that after working all night, she can still look so effortlessly stunning.
“My brothers were in their teens when I came along, so they were always off with friends. They moved out when I was still young, so I got both of my parents’ full attention for most of my life.”
Her parents’ full attention. I can’t imagine what that would have been like…
If my dad didn’t work so much, and if my mother had chosen to stay.
She fooled me into thinking that I was all she needed in life, but it turns out she needed much more than anything Dad or I could give her.
I sit quietly, listening to Gaia talk while I polish off my meal, scraping my fork along the plate, desperate not to leave any of the flavour behind.
“And they’re all back in Greece? That must be hard being away from them,” I say, licking my fork.
She nods slowly. I can tell that she misses them more than she’s trying to let on.
“Did you leave anyone else behind?” I ask, intrigued to find out if someone back home is pining after her.
“I mean, other than your family. Surely, you had a girlfriend? Boyfriend?”
“I was seeing someone in Greece, but it wasn’t serious. She ended things once the bullying started.”
First, I’m surprised, then a hot rage fills my limbs, pulsing adrenaline through me. Her ex was a weak idiot, letting others get in the way of knowing this beautiful person sitting across from me. She deserves more than what those assholes gave her, and now she has no idea just how perfect she is.
All of the anger disappears just as quickly as it came when she subtly places her hand on top of mine, her bracelet sparkling in the candlelight.
“What about you?” she asks, brushing her fingertips across the back of my hand. “Any exes going to jump out of your past to try and win you back?”
“I highly doubt that. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a real relationship.
They’re over before they begin. I’ve never liked someone enough to get past the initial getting-to-know-you stage.
You know, when you’ve just met someone, and everything is exciting, then you learn that they’re kind of racist or hate old people?
Well, that is pretty much the story of every, almost-relationship I’ve been in. ”
“And how do you think this is going?” She looks at me with an endearingly coy grin. “Do you think I’m girlfriend material? I promise I’m not racist, and I adore old people. Or do I chew too loudly?”
“I definitely think you’re girlfriend material.” I’d never say it, but truth be told, she does kind of chew too loudly, and–God help me–I think it’s cute.
“Good. Because I like you,” she says confidently, rising from her seat. She picks up both of our plates and takes them to the kitchen. The door swings closed behind her. Without planning to, I stand and follow her like a puppy following its master.
“Hey, employees only,” she says with a soft laugh. We are the only ones left in the restaurant, and I’m sure as hell not going to make her clean my dishes on her own. I stand next to her at the sink and grab a tea towel. She slides a wet plate into my hand, and I start drying.
“Have you told Abi about me?” she asks, not making eye contact.
“Not yet, but I will.”
She peers up at me through her eyelashes. “You’re not trying to keep me a secret?”
“Fuck no. Everyone is going to know about you. I just have to find the right time.”
I put the dry plate on the side of the sink, not knowing where it lives and turn to face Gaia.
I have been dying to kiss those lips since the first time I saw her.
As if reading my mind, Gaia places a hand on my face, her skin soft on mine.
I take a step closer, pressing my body against hers.
I can feel her chest rising up and down with each breath she takes.
Her breathing becomes deeper as she parts her lips.
Her tongue runs over them in anticipation.
My lips brush hers, and she lets out the softest, most sensual sigh I’ve ever heard.
I move my hand to the back of her head and push her face closer to mine, intensifying our kiss.
My tongue ventures past her lips, and she tastes as sweet as I had imagined.