Page 171 of Love Among the Ruins
CHAPTERFORTY-SIX
ELENI
“Your mother is really sweet.” Miranda picked up a tequila shot from the neat little row that Stefanos had lined up, examined it, then set it back down again.
“She likes you.” Her mother was a judgmental person, but something seemed to have softened her lately.
When it had happened Eleni couldn’t tell for certain—it might have been that time on her birthday when her mother had told her about her father, or it might have been when Eleni had moved away to Athens, giving them both the space they needed.
Last night, soon after arriving back at the island, her mother had cooked a nice dinner for the three of them and had insisted they sit around the table and eat and talk. She wanted to know more about Eleni’s job and how she was finding her new life, and she was also interested in hearing about Miranda’s life in the city.
Coming home had been the break Eleni needed and Miranda coming with her was a bonus. Miranda had become her go-to person in Athens, and Eleni now wanted the chance to repay her for her kindness.
Music thumped inside the rowdy bar and it was so loud it could be heard outside where the three of them now sat on benches under a canopy umbrella. Phoebe couldn’t get anyone to look after her baby, and Angeliki was on a date.
“Are we ready?” Stefanos sat down next to her, facing Miranda. They all picked up a tequila shot—omitting the hand licking and salt sprinkling altogether. He counted to three. They downed it on three. Eyes narrowed, mouths crinkling as they sucked on lime wedges.
“Ewwww.” She shook her head, disgusted by the tartness. Miranda’s face scrunched up, and then her eyes widened. “Another one?” They each had two more shot glasses left on the table, but they’d already gone through a pitcher of Sangria.
Stefanos clapped his hands together. “My kind of girl.” Miranda beamed at him, but at least she knew that it was no use trying to attract his attention. Eleni had made sure to let her know Stefanos wasn’t interested in women. Just like she’d let it slip to Stefanos that Miranda had a crush on Dominic.
“Ready?” Stefanos counted to three again, and they all had another shot.
Then another one.
“Shouldn’t we slow down?” Eleni gave Stefanos a dirty stare. She didn’t want Miranda throwing up at the table, or at home.
“Another one! Let’s do it!” Miranda cried. “I’m having so much fun.”
They’d also been out last night after dinner, doing more of the same. Eleni felt compelled to go wild, in order to forget recent events. Alcohol and dancing were a sure fire way to do this.
She’d laid low at work after that interaction with Dominic, and stayed out of his way.
Two days of late nights, partying and drinking and dancing, and Eleni knew she had to slow things down before returning to Athens tomorrow. She had planned something sensible, a long and lazy brunch by the sea in the afternoon. The weekend had given her time to clear her head.
“I’ll get another round,” suggested Stefanos, getting up to go to the bar.
“No, don’t. I think we’ve had enough.” She flicked her gaze at Miranda who had stood up and was dancing away. She had never seen Miranda like this. Uninhibited and free.
Stefanos made a clicking sound with his teeth. “She’s having a good time. Why don’t you let her have some fun?”
“Please can we have another shot?” Miranda pleaded.
“You’ve had three!” Eleni cried.
“Are you policing me? I’m having fun. Ineverhave fun.”
Stefanos gave Eleni a told-you-look. “Let the poor girl have some fun.”
“Yes, let me.” Miranda pouted. “I never have any fun at work.”
“Talking of work, tell me more about Dominic Steele,” said Stefanos, shimmying up the bench to move closer to the dancing Miranda.
Eleni shook her head. “No work talk,” she cautioned, suddenly developing an urge for another shot of tequila.
“Dominic is rude and ungrateful and it’s no fun working for him. No fun at all. None,” Miranda continued. She started to sway erratically to the music. Eleni couldn’t work out if she was drunk and having trouble with her moves, or whether that was how she really danced.
Stefanos folded his arms, jerked back his head, and stared at them both in turn. “You’re working in close proximity to one of the hottest men on the planet and you’re complaining?”
