“You fancy a night out tonight, bro?” asks Lucca, my younger brother, who is visiting from Scotland. I say visiting, but he’s a permanent fixture lately.
“Sure. What do you have in mind?”
“What about a trip over to Sunny Beach, or just a few drinks around here? I need to let off some steam.”
“I don’t fancy Sunny Beach tonight, but I’m up for a few drinks around here. What’s up?”
“Dad.”
I roll my eyes at that one word. Lucca and our father have a love/hate relationship. Since our parents moved back to Italy three years ago, they expected Lucca to go back with them. But he’s young, independent, and looking to see the world. He isn’t a child anymore, and I don’t blame him. I can’t imagine being tied to the one place. I like my freedom too much.
“Dad only wants what’s best for you.”
“And Italy isn’t that. Maybe one day I’ll settle down there, but not now.”
“Okay then. Do you want to have dinner here before we hit the bars?”
I need to change the subject, because I won’t have Lucas on a downward spiral. It has taken me months to get him to where he is now. He walked out of his life in Glasgow and showed up on my doorstep one morning at four a.m. We got drunk and put the world to rights. The rest, as they say, is history.
“Sure. I’ll meet you in the restaurant at eight and we can decide what to do. Are you okay? You looked far away when you entered the office.”
“I’m good. Just busy. Lots of new arrivals today and tomorrow.”
Which is only half of the truth. I can’t be dealing with being taunted by my brother, now or ever. He will mean well, but he will only drive me up the wall. My family know my history and they’ve all been on my case about settling down, but after everything I faced at the hands of a woman, I’m lucky to be standing here today with everything I have. I vowed after that living nightmare, I would never let a woman get her claws stuck into me again… ever.
That’s why I made this life here. I love my job. I love my life. I’m never going back to the dark place I once was.
Chapter 5
Harleigh
When I arrived at my room this afternoon, I contemplated whether to hide away or face the world. Instead of doing the only thing I know how to do – hide – I did the next best thing. I grabbed a book from my hand luggage, changed into lighter clothes, threw a beach bag over my shoulder, and exited my hotel room with my head held high, or as high as my timid self would allow. My sunglasses give me a little safety net as I hide behind them, and I feel more confident than I have in such a long time.
“Miss Harrison…” I look over my shoulder to see Manuela walking towards me. “Shall I ask Oliver to place your bottle of prosecco in your fridge?”
“Oh, please, don’t worry about it.” I stutter over my words.
You wouldn’t think I was an English teacher with the way I’ve been speaking since I touched down in Bulgaria. I feel like I’m learning to talk to people all over again.
“Miss, our boss won’t be happy if I tell him I didn’t deliver your bottle, compliments of the management.”
“Okay.” I smile warmly. “The fridge will be grand.”
“Enjoy your day, Miss Harrison.”
“Thank you. You too, Manuela.”
I walk out of the hotel and take in a deep breath. I look around myself for the first time and I’m in the middle of a square. I don’t know why I didn’t notice before, but the area is bustling with tourists. The small play park across the road has children of all ages playing, laughing, yelling in many different languages, and having fun. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing children enjoy life. It’s one thing I love about teaching.
Walking closer to the park, I notice a restaurant/bar that looks out over the sea, set upon a cliff. It looks beautiful and peaceful. The front of house guy waves to me, and I smile brightly at him.
“Hello. Would you like to come inside?”
I nod. “I would. Thank you.”
He shows me to a table overlooking the sea. I’m glad he picked this table, because it’s gorgeous. It’s like he read my mind. It wasn’t the delicious smell of food drawing me in here, it was the sight of the glorious, calm Black Sea.
“A beautiful table for a beautiful lady.”
