“Thank you. I plan on exploring the area. Anywhere you suggest?”
I inhale the coffee like I need it to live. It’s the best thing I’ve smelled all damn day. It even beats my sea view at dinner time.
“You need to check out Michael’s Eco bar. It’s along a wee alley at the back of the hotel. It’s in a little hidey hole. It’s an amazing place. You need to be there for it opening at twelve p.m., because people come from all over Bulgaria just to see it.”
“Why is it called Eco Bar? Is it eco-friendly?”
“Something like that. It is all manmade, like a cave. Once you’re inside, it opens up and there are pools of water, trees, and little booths where you can have a refreshing drink. The best bit is the little turtles that swim around you.”
“Real turtles?” I ask excitedly.
“Absolutely real. You can’t be in Old Nessebar without seeing it. If you meet me in the hotel lobby tomorrow morning about 11.30, I’ll give you directions. It’s pretty hard to find if you don’t know where it is. When I’m out in the village shopping, I get asked so many times where it is. I should wear an arrow attached to me saying,Michael’s Eco Bar this way.”
“Wow! Now I’m excited to see it. I’m fairly sure I’ll be like the walking dead, though.”
“Michael’s is lovely and cool. The best place to be in the scorching heat. I live here, but the beauty of Old Nessebar and places like Michael’s never gets old. I guarantee by the end of your holiday you won’t want to leave, and you’ll return year after year just to see things grow and become bigger and better.”
“Now I know why my brother sent me here. He knows me too well. I like history and exploring new areas. I like seeing different things.”
“He sounds like a good guy.” Giovani folds his legs underneath himself and now I feel like he’s towering over me, but in a good way. He doesn’t intimidate me or make me feel nervous, which is good.
“He’s a good guy. Just annoys the life out of me with his protective ways.”
“I know the feeling of annoying brothers,” Giovani points over to a now snoring Lucca. He reaches over and takes the bottle of beer from him before it spills all over the place. I can’t help but laugh at him.
I lean my head back on the cushions and sigh. “Lucca’s a good guy, too, Gio. He’s funny.”
“I’ll remind you that you said that at the end of your holiday. Now he’s found a drinking buddy, you’ll never get peace.”
“I don’t mind. It will be good to have some company while I’m here. I thought I’d be spending the four weeks on my own. I’m not really big on socialising or getting to know new people. In fact, I’m socially awkward around people full stop.”
“I would never have guessed. You did amazingly well to keep up with us tonight.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. But all good things must come to an end.” I sit forward. “Do you mind pointing me in the right direction to get back?”
“Nope. I can do one better than that. I’ll walk you back. I wouldn’t dream of letting you walk the streets at this hour on your own. I love this country, but there is the odd bad apple that wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of a woman walking alone.”
I look down at my watch and gasp. “Oh my, it’s three a.m.! I’m sorry to keep you up so late.”
I’m shocked that I was so distracted tonight that the dangers of being out and about in a strange country never once entered my head.
“Don’t be. I’ve had the best evening in such a long time. Come on, beautiful. Let’s get you home for some sleep.”
I put my mug down on the table then lift my shoes and put them in my bag. I’m going home barefoot, my party piece. I’m not a fan of shoes at all. I’m always barefoot at home. I think that might have come from my time with Martin, because I always had to be fully dressed from the moment I got up to the moment I went to bed, shoes and all. It’s pleasurable now to have that freedom of choice, and I choose to be free of shoes.
We leave his house and walk down the street and turn slightly left. His hotel is sitting on the corner of the square. There are still people walking around, but not as many as earlier this evening.
“It’s so easy to get lost here. All the streets look the same.”
“Just remember, most streets always lead back to this square. You find the square; you find the hotel.”
“Handy to know. I’m terrible with directions.”
“I’ll bear that in mind.” He turns and winks at me as we enter the hotel lobby. “Well, I’ve had a good evening, Harleigh.”
“Me too, Gio. I guess it’s goodbye.”
“I’ll settle for goodnight.” He leans in and places a kiss on my cheek.
