Page 80 of Pomegranates and Olive

Her eyes widen as her face turns pink. "What are you insinuating?"

"Now that Liv has brought this up —" Ginny removes the t-shirt from her face and sits up. "You and Luca do seem to have a pretty strong connection."

Aricia and Kat lean forward again in anticipation of a little more family drama.

"Ginny! Liv is my sister! I would never —"

I snort loudly as I weigh into the conversation. "Baby sister, I've always known how you feel about Luca. You've been crushing on Luca since you were three."

"I'm certainly not interested in Luca. We just bumped into each other a few times while you were gone."

"Like at the markets?"

"Well, no, I didn't see him there. Actually, I'm kind of surprised that he went. I mentioned that I'd be working there the day before." And the plot thickens. "After you left, we just kept bumping into each other. At first it was a bit of a joke. I'd see him at the coffee shop. Then at a party and finally I bumped into him... I mean actually bumped into him... while surfing off Long Reef."

"You never surf down there."

"I know, right? But after the infamous Northern Beaches Christmas pandemic lockdown, and I got stuck at your place, I started surfing there. Anyway, I was driving along Pittwater Road one day and I saw these amazing sets rolling in and I just knew I had to get out there. And, well, you know, I saw Luca there, and we ended up paddling out past the break. We just sat there together for hours. He didn't talk or anything. I think he just wanted some company. It was just natural to hang out after that. We'd surf together or meet up for a drink at the pub." She pours herself another glass of white wine which she gulps down before continuing. "Why are we even talking about this? I was just trying to be a good friend."

"Hmmm."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I shrug as the horn blares indicating we are at our first stop. We've arrived at one of our regular destinations on the daily cruise, the meteor hole onKara Adaor Black Island. The water here is deep, at least 25 metres, aquamarine blue and as clear as glass. Aydin definitely knows his customers (or in this case, his thoroughly delectable… no... detestable… cousin, and Luca). He has stopped here for one reason, and one reason alone. I look toward the island where a small group of men are standing on top of a cliff, egging each other on until one throws himself over the edge.

Cliff diving.

Although it's illegal to cliff dive here, with no police around, tourists happily take the risk for the exhilaration of the experience. I’ve even thought about jumping off the cliff myself a few times (intentionally I mean). Luca and Deniz will dare each other, I’m sure. Men.

Aydin turns to the group. "Anyone feel like jumping?"

Luca sits up, puffs out his chest and replies, "I will."

My head twists to face Luca and I shake it emphatically. "No, you won't."

"Liv, please! Do you forget what I do for a living? I’ve jumped off the side of buildings higher than this."

I really don't want this to happen. I mean, God forbid if Luca breaks his neck and I have to go home and explainthatto his family! First, I break his heart and then his neck. “I don’t want you to do it.”

Deniz slaps Luca on the back. "It's okay, my friend. If Russo says you're notallowedto do it..."

"Liv doesn’t tell me what to do."

Deniz snorts with mirth. "Really? It sure seems that she does. "

"Are you being serious right now?"

He shrugs in reply. "Just saying."

"I don't see you rushing to do it."

"I've done jumps much higher than this one. This is no challenge for me…" Deniz laughs as he strips off his shirt and places his Ray Bans on the table. "… but if you insist."

Luca mumbles under his breath again before stripping down to his board shorts. They both size each other up before diving overboard. Mouth agape, I watch these twoaptallaras they now race each other to shore.

"I'm quite certain they'll kill each other before the day is out."

Ginny laughs loudly. "Well, that will take the pressure off you needing to make a choice then, won't it?"

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