She remembered the beginning of the evening well and being introduced to the delights of the drink. She’d wanted to see the magic happen again and again. It was delicious as well, nothing like alcohol, more like tasty medicine. After the first few, things had got a little hazy.
The pleasantly woozy feeling she had now couldn’t be anything to do with the ouzo, surely, more to do with staying on her balcony in the sun for too long this afternoon. There were several plates with flakes of pastry on too, which was proof there had been snacks at some point, little bits of sausage and spinach pie as she recalled, but that did seem a very long time ago.
Why was Will questioning what she and Thanassis were doing? It was none of his bloody business. He was like some overbearing big brother. If she wanted to stay out all night, he couldn’t stop her.
Will leant down so close to Thanassis that wafts of his lemon aftershave blew her way too. His voice was low, but Grace heard every word.
‘Isn’t it time you got back to Maria and the kids, mate?’
She jerked her head back at the words.
Thanassis had told her he was separated. That it was well and truly over with his wife. The bastard! To think she’d been considering giving him the honour of being the first man she slept with since Phil died. Three whole years of being celibate. And quite some time before that if she was being honest. Phil’s illness had made anything other than a kiss and cuddle impossible.
Grace put her hand on Thanassis’s arm and forced him to look at her.
‘So, you’re not really separated?’
Thanassis stared at the ground and mumbled something.
‘Speak up!’
Grace found it hard to modulate her voice. The one that came out of her mouth was the one she used in the classroom with the naughtiest of children.
A shamefaced Thanassis finally met her eyes.
‘We had a huge argument. I moved out a few days ago. I really thought it was over. And it’s true I’ve been staying at the language school. It’s broken my heart. Hence… this.’ Thanassis moved his arm across the table, managing to knock off one of the glasses. He caught it just before it hit the floor and placed it back on the table.
Will was still hovering like the spectre at the feast. She wanted nothing more than for both of them to disappear in a puff of smoke.
Thanassis picked up his phone and cigarettes from the table.
‘I’m sorry, Grace.’
She had to play this down. Giving away any hint that she’d considered sleeping with him could ruin things at work, let alone embarrass them both. And there was nosy Will to think about too. She didn’t want his pity.
‘You have nothing to apologise to me for, honestly. We’re just colleagues who’ve enjoyed a fun night out. No harm done.’
Even to herself her words sounded stilted but, having had the rug pulled out from under her, she had to regain the advantage somehow.
‘Thank you, Grace.’
‘No problem.’
She fixed her eyes on Thanassis with some difficulty.
‘But will you promise me something? That you’ll try and make it work with your wife if there’s something worth fighting for. For her sake and the sake of your children.’
Grace’s voice caught in her throat, and she willed her eyes not to well up. She wanted to shake the man and tell him to grab his chance while he still could.
Thanassis did the sign of the cross on his chest.
‘I promise.’
He seemed sincere, but Grace barely knew him. She barely knew either of the men standing in front of her. She wished Thanassis well, but she had to face her own truth. It looked like she wasn’t cut out for casual sex. She wasn’t like her wonderful friend Sofia, taking her pleasure where she could, without a backward glance. Grace Foreman needed to get to know someone well before she offered up her body. She admired Sofia for going for it, and it would be nice to have a man’s arms around her again, but not at the price of someone else’s marriage.
Will’s dark eyes were boring into her. Why was he still hanging around?
Thanassis got to his feet and held out his hand.
