Page 26 of All You Need is Greece

As I walk inside, I place my hand on my cheek, where he has just kissed me. A friendly kiss. That’s what we are, isn’t it? Friends. Just as we agreed. So why do I wonder what it might have felt like if his lips had landed on mine? And why do I feel so ridiculously torn, disloyal even, as my hands instinctively touches the third finger of my left hand, where I once wore my engagement ring?

FOURTEEN

‘Oh no!’ Hannah is staring at her computer screen.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘I think I have just told Panos he is fat, when I meant kind,’ she says, mildly panicked.

‘Bit of a difference.’ I can’t help laughing.

‘I know, oh my goodness, “fat” is “lipos” and “kind” is “eidos”. I’ve been trying to recall words without looking to check. It’s the last time I will do that, they don’t even sound similar.’

‘“Lipos” as in “liposuction”. That is how I would remember that word. So, what exactly did you say?’ I’m biting my lip and trying not to laugh.

‘Thank you for helping me. You are very fat.’

I bust out laughing, and thankfully so does Hannah, as she speedily types out another message, explaining her mistake.

‘Maybe I should walk to the bar later, and explain in person,’ she says. ‘I hope he sees the funny side.’

‘I’m sure he will.’ I’m still smiling.

‘Anyway, how did your date with Artemis go?’ asks Hannah, closing her laptop.

‘Really lovely, actually. The restaurant was beautiful and the food, oh it was fabulous. It was expensive, though, and Artemis wouldn’t let me pay for a thing.’

‘Talking of food, are you going to the BBQ later at Judith’s niece’s house? Tania, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, I’m looking forward to it.’

‘Me too. She called over earlier to ask if we were all going. I said I was pretty sure that you were. It was really kind of her to invite us, wasn’t it?’

‘It was. Her and Nicos seem like such a gorgeous couple.’

‘Will Artemis be coming with you? He must know Nicos, if he grew up here in the village.’

‘I think he has other plans this evening,’ I tell her. ‘He said something about meeting some blokes from work in a bar, and watching a football match.’

We stroll over to the donkey area then, where Doll is furtively feeding the animals some fruit.

‘Don’t be giving them too much of that, they are not used to it, remember,’ says Michael, catching his wife with some apples. ‘A donkey’s diet is almost completely hay. Remember, Judith told us that already.’

‘But they like fruit too. It can’t do any harm, can it?’ asks Doll.

‘Just not too much, is all I’m saying. You’re cleaning it all up if they get ill from being over-fed fruit,’ he says and she pokes her tongue out at him like a child, although she refrains from feeding them any more apples, slipping them back into a hessian bag.

Doll and Michael have been married for twenty-five years, having met and married young on the dance circuit when they were teenagers. Even after all that time, it’s obvious they are still mad about each other. I can’t help thinking how wonderful it must be to have an enduring love like that.

The day passes quickly, and just after six, I head upstairs to shower. I glance at my phone, which is charging on the bedside table, and notice a message notification.

To my complete shock, it’s from Marco.

FIFTEEN

I read the message that simply saysI miss you xover and over, before stirring myself enough to dry my hair in the bedroom.

The message has taken me completely by surprise. I wonder how I ought to reply to it. Do I tell him I miss him too? But surely, we would just go around in circles if we still want different things going forward?

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