Page 105 of Better Than Gelato
And then we’re outside the restaurant and it’s time to say goodbye. I think about the first time I met this crew, how glamorous and ‘other’ they all seemed. And now they feel like a part of me. In fact, the best parts of me.
I planned to bid my friends farewell with dignity and grace. Instead, I sob into Valentina’s hair and blubber, “This has been the greatest year of my life,” while Carmen pats my back. Then I hug Paolo and try to explain how much he means to me, while also trying to keep my snot off his tacky American T-shirt.
Turns out I’m not a gracious goodbye-er. Finally, after promising to write and visit, Jake leads me to my bus stop, and we sit on the bench.
“That was pretty awful, wasn’t it?” I say, embarrassed about my tears.
“I thought you did great.” He wraps his arms around me.
And then, for the last time, I take the 27 tram to the Rossis’ apartment.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
The flight to Athens is less than two and a half hours. In that time, I say “I can’t believe we’re flying to Greece,” at least seven times. As we descend, I see the Aegean Ocean sparkling beneath us, and Greece’s most famous ruins waiting to be explored.
Jake gets us a cab at the airport, and I take in the city of Athens as we speed toward our hostel. It’s loud. And indecently hot. And I can’t understand anything. But my skin is tingling with the thrill of being in a new country.
We check in at our hostel then go straight to the restaurant next door. I get a Greek salad. The tomatoes are red and juicy. The cucumbers are fresh and crisp. The olives and purple onions add sharp bites of flavor.
“You’re making your happy food sounds again,” Jake says with a smile.
After we finish, I head back to the counter and thank the wonderful souls who made my food.
“Amazing work you guys. Truly incredible. There should be statues built of you.” I’m not sure how much English they understand, but one of them gives me a thumbs up.
“Okay,” I tell Jake once we’re out on the sidewalk. “I’ve planned the perfect day for us. Are you ready to get punched in the face by Ancient Greece?”
“I think so?”
“Perfect. Follow me.”
The hike to the top of the Acropolis is steep and the heat is sweltering. By the time we make it to the top, Jake and I are both covered in sweat and grinning like maniacs as we gaze at the ruins around us.
“This is incredible!” Jake says.
“I know!”
I take approximately one trillion photos. We stroll along the towering columns that make up the perimeter of the Parthenon. We visit the temple of Athena Nike and explore the Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus. I tell Jake interesting facts about each site.
“Wow,” Jake says. “Did you already know all this stuff, or did you learn it so you could be a sexy tour guide?”
“Not telling,” I say. Then Jake wraps his arms around me and starts kissing me just below my ear. It gives me the shivers and makes me giggle.
“Okay, fine. I read a bunch of stuff on Wikipedia to impress you.”
“It worked. I’m impressed.” He kisses me until I’ve forgotten everything about the Acropolis and my first name.
“Should we blow off these ruins and go make out somewhere?” I whisper.
“And miss out on you as a sexy tour guide? No way!”
We keep exploring until our legs ache and our stomachs start growling.
“Are you ready for some dinner?” I ask Jake.
“If it means I can sit down, yes.”
“You’re in luck,” I say. “I chose one of those fancy Greek restaurants with chairs.”
