My eyes flew to Hannah.
She stared at me.
I stared at her.
I was the one talking. “Let’s go, Hannah. I don’t care to be in the company of someone who treats people so poorly.” I got up, but Nikos grabbed my wrist.
“Hey. Hey. I’m sorry.” He looked from me to Hannah. “I’m sorry, Hannah. She’s right for calling me out. I’ve been a complete asshole to you.”
There was no doubting his sincerity. He was like a spoiled kid, throwing his weight around and needing to be reminded of his limits.
Hannah nodded, her chin quivering. “I have to go,” she said. “Eddie has to get the other passengers to the hot springs. You two should stay. Please stay. Don’t let me spoil your afternoon.”
“Hannah,” Nikos said, but she spun on her heel and headed for the boat.
Nikos turned to the deckhand, but he was already on his way to check on her.
“Moti?”
Moti with a hard T. I’d corrected him the first time he said my name, and he’d never attempted it again until today.
“Moti, please sit down.” He looked so dejected I almost felt sorry for him.
“Thank you,” he said, when I sat.
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m only staying because I need to clear some things up.”
“Fine.” He let out a tired, frustrated sigh. “My day can’t possibly get any worse. My plan totally backfired.”
“You guys okay if we take off?” Eddie called to us from the boat. “Captain Bailey just radioed us in.”
“Go.” Nikos raised the glass of champagne that started it all. “Cheers.” He downed it as Eddie started the boat.
“The cell phone signal isn’t strong here,” Eddie called over the drone of the engine. “Use the flag when you want to come in.” He pointed to the green flag lying on the ground beside us. “Stick it upright in the sand. We’ll keep an eye out for it on the yacht.”
“Got it,” said Nikos, watching as the tender took off, leaving a trail of foam in the water. “Well…” He poured himself another glass of champagne. “It’s just you and me.”
“About that, I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
“Oh?”
“Everything was fine in the beginning. I was completely smitten with you. At least, the idea of you. It meant a way out for me, but…”
I took a deep breath.Forgive me, Dolly. I’m about to destroy whatever future you’ve envisioned for Nikos and me.
“I’ve fallen for someone else,” I said. “Madly. Completely. Unexpectedly. The only reason I agreed to meet you today is because my mother wanted me to. Now I can tell her I did as she asked, but it didn’t work out. I’m sorry for using you to get her off my back. I have no intentions of pursuing anything with you.”
A furrow formed between Nikos’s grape-green eyes. “You used me?”
“I know. I feel terrible about the flowers and the—”
“Let me get this straight.You…” He pointed my way. “Usedme.” He pointed at himself.
I kept my eyes on his extra thumb, the magical digit I had pursued all my life, only to push it away. I deserved whatever his bruised ego was about to unleash on me.
Nikos slapped his thigh and roared with laughter. “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s just…” He trailed off, chuckling. “That’s a first for me, but you know what? I deserve it. That’s karma for you.”
“How’s that?”
