Sofia, who Grace knew could drink most blokes under the table, took her arm as they exited onto the street.
‘How about this place? It looks nice.’
A restaurant with white distressed tables and chairs and padded patchwork cushions in muted reds and blues was only a couple of steps away, and Grace was happy to sink into the comfy embrace of a large bench seat.
The owner rushed out to greet them, and pointed at the specials board, written in Greek. Grace always thought it was a good sign if the restaurant didn’t have everything written out in English.
‘We have lovely rabbit stifado tonight, stuffed peppers and drunken pork with wine and peppers.’
Grace knew stifado was a type of stew. She wasn’t too sure about rabbit, but she didn’t get the chance to ask about alternatives before Sofia piled in.
‘Sounds great, we’ll have one of each please, with a Greek salad. Plus a carafe of white wine and some water.’
Grace closed her eyes for a moment. Sofia wasn’t the one who’d been teaching all morning.
‘Hey, wakey wakey. The night is still young.’
Grace poured out a glass of wine and one of water for both of them, knowing the food would take a while. The Greeks believed a meal should be a relaxed experience, and service was never quick.
They sat back on the bench and watched the passersby while they waited, commenting on their clothes and guessing at their ages.
A tall man appeared at the bottom of the street, walking their way.
Grace put her head behind the nearest plant.
‘Quick, hide.’
‘What? Why?’
Sofia stayed where she was and stared into the street.
‘Woah. He’s hot. A definite ten.’
‘Keep your voice down.’
Will had almost reached them, but Grace saw with relief through a bunch of leaves that he was talking animatedly to a male companion and not looking their way.
‘Who’s that? Do you know him?’
‘Yeah. Sort of. It’s complicated. He’s called Will, but that’s about all I do know.’
Sofia stared at the two men all the way up the road until they disappeared out of sight.
‘But still… Can you introduce us?’
‘Believe me, it wouldn’t help you. He bats for the other side.’
Sofia mimed swinging a cricket bat and both women got the giggles. When she could breathe again, Grace took a slug of wine.
‘My kids would kill me for saying that. It’s another of those phrases we’re supposed to forget we ever knew. Will is gay, I should say.’
‘Shame. The good ones often are. You have to admit he’s a hottie.’
‘I will admit that he’s cute, as there’s no possibility of it ever happening, for either of us.’
Sofia drained the rest of her wine.
‘Well, that’s progress, you admitting you fancy someone.’
