Page 23 of Pomegranates and Olive

"Tell me about it! I thought my father was going to self-combust!" Ginny giggles. "But I told him, just like I told everyone else... I love him. It's that simple."

"It doesn't stop them from worrying... or meddling."

"They can worry all they want. I'm a little too far away for any serious meddling."

"Maybe that's why I'm here."

"To meddle?” Ginny laughs and throws her head back. “Hit me with your best shot, sweet stuff, because nothing’s going to break up me and Aydin."

"Wouldn't dream of it. I mean, he's totally hot, isn't he?"

"Yes, yes he is." The sly, crooked smile comes back on Ginny’s face. "Deniz is rather spectacular as well."

"You can be a red, hot chilli pepper, but it doesn't make a damn difference if you're a bit of a prick."

Ginny grabs asigara borekand bites the end of it with a grin. "I have it on very good authority that there's more than just a bit of a prick to our Mr. Yilmaz...theysay it’s a size 15 ding dong."

We both start laughing until she snorts, which makes us laugh even harder. "You're terrible, Ginny!"

"And apparently he'll happily dip his ding dong into any warm crevice."

"Charming."

"But it’s all hot air, you know? He’s a pretty good guy with a rather shitty reputation.”

"I just experienced that reputation first hand.”

Ginny snaps her fingers in revelation. "You know, maybe Rosie's idea of a fling would do you the world of good."

"I'm not interested in Yilmaz."

"Yilmaz? Are you talking about Deniz?"

"Deniz… Yilmaz. Either way he’s an asshole."

"You’ve already given him a cute nickname?" Ginny laughs loudly at the idea. "I don’t think I suggestedDenizakaYilmazto you. I merely suggested you need to get laid."

"He's obnoxious."

"Okay so we are talking about Deniz then. Well he's thoroughly likeable."

"Thoroughly repugnant."

"There's a fine line between love and hate, Liv." Ginny lets me squirm for a moment before changing the subject. "And he's definitely got that brooding bad-boy thing going for him. Tats and all. Imagine what your mother would say."

"She'd probably drop dead on the spot if I brought Deniz home."

"Speaking of your mother, she telephoned me last night."

I put my hands up in surrender. "Don't! If I start talking about Luca and the crap-fest that my life has become, I'll have another breakdown and I don't want to do that right now. For the first time in I don't know how long I feel genuinely happy. What I do need, however, is to scarf down this delicious looking breakfast and then maybe I’ll take a nap. Can we put off analysing my life until a little later, please?"

"Analyze? Yes. Nap? No way. If you do, you'll be forever jetlagged. How about we go for a swim instead?"

"Now that's an idea I can totally support."

After we enjoy a lazy breakfast catching up on the past three years since Ginny left Australia, she walks me down to the guestroom located behind the kitchen.

"There are four bedrooms upstairs but only two of them are complete." She opens the door, stepping aside so I can enter first. "Plus, I thought this one would give you a little privacy."

---