Page 40 of All You Need is Greece

‘Go for it then.’ I settle down onto my bed and remove my cotton dress over my head, to reveal my black and white bikini, before I apply sun cream. I know for a fact that the sun, although pleasant, is not hot enough for the sea to be warm; besides, I have just witnessed the young girls shrieking as they ran out of the sea.

Artemis smiles at me before removing his shorts and, beneath a huge beach towel, wriggles into some swimming shorts. He walks towards the water, and I take in his broad shoulders as he strides confidently. My eyes are still on him as he walks further out and dives beneath the water.

‘Come on,’ he shouts and waves to me as he resurfaces, but I sink further down onto my sunbed, enjoying the feeling of the warm sun on my face.

A while later, he strides out of the water, six-pack proudly on display, brushing his hair from his eyes and looking a bit like a Greek god. A young woman on an adjoining sun bed lowers her sunglasses to get a better look.

‘That was refreshing,’ he says, with a grin on his face, before he places his wet hands on my stomach and has me almost leaping off the sunbed.

‘Come on.’ He stretches his hand out and pulls me to my feet. ‘You are accustomed to the temperature of the water now.’

Despite myself, I laugh and follow him into the sparkling clear water, before taking a breath and wading in. It doesn’t feel cold after all and I swim out, lolling on my back and gazing up at the clear blue sky. It feels so wonderful, just lying here and listening to the drones of speedboats in the distance, and watching swimmers having fun, others soaking up the sun on the sand. I think of Hannah, and how she might enjoy swimming here, and resolve to return here with her and spend some time together. I also hope everything is alright with her and Panos, who she seemed to be getting along so well with, yet I got the impression she didn’t really want to talk about him this morning.

Walking out of the water together, I suppose to a spectator we might look like a loved-up couple spending time together, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Even if I was in the right headspace to even consider a relationship, the news that Artemis may soon be moving away for work would make growing closer to him rather pointless. Then again, I guess I will soon be on my way back home too, even though with each day that passes, I fall a little more in love with Crete.

Settling down on the beds, I reapply some sun cream and Artemis offers to do my back.

‘Sure, thanks,’ I say, rolling over onto my stomach.

I hand him the lotion and he applies the cream with long, confident strokes, his strong hands almost sending me to sleep and I sink down onto the bed. He certainly knows what he is doing with those hands, and for a split second I fantasise about them running all over my body, before I sit bolt upright.

‘That’s great, thanks,’ I mutter, hoping he doesn’t know just how much my pulse rate seems to have gone through the roof as I slip my sun cream into my beach bag.

‘No problem.’

He puts his sunglasses on and stretches out on the bed beside me, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

An hour or so later, Artemis sits up, stretching his arms, and asks, ‘Are you ready for something to eat now?’

‘I am, just about.’

We both take a quick beach shower, before drying off and going in search of a restaurant.

The main street in Malia has come to life a little now, with people drifting over from the beach in search of food. Restaurants and bars sit side by side, alongside games zones and flashing lights from children’s rides. I follow Artemis down a side street, where we descend some steps and are soon standing outside a huge wooden gate. Artemis pushes it open, and it is as if we have entered a secret garden. Outdoor tables sit on a black and white tiled floor, with lemon trees dotted about, and diners sit at wooden tables.

TWENTY

‘Wow. This is like a secret garden. I wouldn’t even have known this was a restaurant as there doesn’t seem to be a sign outside.’

‘There is during low season. In high season it is not necessary,’ Artemis explains. ‘The locals eat here, and word of mouth is enough for the place to always be busy.’

Glancing around, I can see there is definitely no need to advertise, as the place is full. A friendly waiter scans the restaurant, before seating us at a table beneath a tree that has just become vacant. He quickly clears the table before reappearing with a menu.

‘This is just gorgeous.’ I take in the glazed pots of flowers, the lemon trees and the ambience; everyone seems to be enjoying the wonderful atmosphere.

Artemis speaks in Greek to the waiter, who takes our food orders, and orders a bottle of white wine.

‘Don’t forget about the drive home,’ I remind him, thinking of how he enjoys getting behind the wheel, and giving those racing drivers a run for their money.

‘If the car needs to stay here, we can take a taxi.’ He shrugs. ‘It is Saturday, after all. Let us see how the day plays out,’ he says as the waiter appears with our drinks and he pours me a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio.

We dine on the most wonderful food. I enjoy the tastiest, melt-in-the-mouth lamb kleftiko and a colourful Greek salad. Artemis has afasolada, which is a tasty-looking Greek bean stew, served with crusty bread. After a second glass of wine, I’m feeling mellow and more relaxed than I have in a long time. The food, the surroundings, the company, everything is adding to the day, making it all wonderful. We finish with a shot of ouzo, handed to us by a waiter, before we decide to hit the bars.

The streets are filling up now, music coming from the bars, and groups of people are dressed up and out to party, even though it is only just after six. A hen party passes by, the bride-to-be complete with veil and L-plates and a man in the doorway of a bar offers them all free shots, so they let out a whoop and follow him inside.

We sip a cocktail in a bar, and an hour later, the sun is slowly beginning to descend. The thought of heading back to the rescue is becoming further and further from my mind, as the smells, sights and sounds of the strip are so intoxicating that I find myself not wanting the evening to end.

‘It is still so early. I didn’t imagine it would be this busy,’ I tell Artemis, as we stroll along the busy street.

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