Page 100 of Love Among the Ruins
“When?”
“I haven’t even thought about that.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I haven’t been thinking about Jonas much, either.”
Stefanos leaned forward in concern. “It’s okay,” he said softly.
“How could I forget?” she whispered. It was Dominic who was starting to occupy the place in her heart and mind that Jonas once had. “How could I do that?”
“It’s okay to not think of him all the time. You’re not expected to.”
“But I loved him.”
Loved him.She’d never talked about her feelings for Jonas in the past tense. She lowered her head, overcome by a crushing sense of guilt and sadness. Stefanos put an arm around her shoulder. “It’s okay, Leni. It’s okay.”
But it didn’t feel okay. It felt like she was starting to forget Jonas. Her cell phone pinged and she glanced at it. A message from Dominic had just arrived. She hadn’t replied to his last message, and this being a weekend, she hadn’t expected to hear anything further from him. Her heart rate surged. She hadn’t even read the message, but the mere sight of Dominic’s name was enough to give her palpitations.
Dominic: When are you coming back?
How did he know she’d gone home? She hadn’t mentioned it. She’d only told Miranda.
Her heart missed a few beats. Maybe this wasn’t a continuation of the flirty messages, but something work related. She got worried.
Eleni: In a few days
She didn’t want to make the journey back to Athens just yet and working from home here seemed like a good idea.
“Who is it?” Stefanos asked, as she tried to bring the phone closer to her face so that he couldn’t see her message.
“Miranda.” She placed the phone by the side of her leg, then stretched out her legs, flexing and pointing her toes gently. “I should get back. My mother is cooking dinner again tonight, and she wants us to eat together.”
“She misses you.” Stefanos got up slowly, and together they folded the large blanket they’d been sitting on. “Let’s get something to eat with Angeliki and Phoebe tomorrow. Angeliki has man problems.”
“A new man or the one she met in Athens.”
“She’s gone through a few more since then.”
Eleni gasped. “But it’s only been—”
“I know.” Stefanos’ expression was the epitome of disapproval.
“We need to see her.” Eleni did not like the sound of that. Her phone buzzed again and the high she got from seeing Dominic’s name flash up caused her to break out into a huge smile. She quickly schooled her expression, but it was too late.
Stefanos was watching her closely. “What’s she saying now?”
Dominic: That’s vague. Care to be specific?
Eleni thought fast. “She wants to know when I’m coming back.”
“When are you going back?”
“Maybe in the middle of the week. I overdid it with my walking and my ankle feels sore again.”
“We can hang out for a few more evenings?” Stefanos was excited.
“Yes.” She smiled in acknowledgement. The idea of being at home and hanging out with her friends again filled her with happiness. She tapped an answer out quickly on her phone.
Eleni: Maybe Wednesday. Are you missing me?
She’d hit SEND too fast, getting carried away in the double conversation with Stefanos.
