‘Not really. I’m not the type to give up work completely and sit twiddling my thumbs. I just need to sort out what the next phase will be.’
You and me both, thought Grace. Her life had split wide open over the summer. Before Greece was done and dusted, but she really wasn’t sure about After Greece yet.
ChapterTwenty
Grace did a twirl for Angeliki and peered at herself in the full-length mirror. The one in her room at the language school offered a view that only reached the waist, and she was desperate to see how her new dress looked.
She’d bought the garment in the few minutes she’d had between lessons in town earlier, mainly because it had big splodges of silver everywhere over the white linen, and she wanted to at least make an effort for Will’s space-themed party. It had looked approximately her size on the rack, but she hadn’t had time to try it on, so she’d come straight to her friend’s apartment near the port after her final lesson. Unfortunately, for her bank balance anyway, she’d also happened to pass the shoe shop where she’d bought the horribly expensive espadrilles with Sofia, and had persuaded herself it was an investment to get a pair in silver too.
The sound of Angeliki clapping made Grace smile.
‘Bravo! The dress is dynamite. And the shoes are gorgeous.’
Grace didn’t class herself as vain, but even she was thrilled with the way the thin spaghetti straps showed off her tan and the cut of the simple knee-length shift dress hugged her curves without being too suggestive. It had hit thirty-two degrees during the day, not unknown for early August, and it hadn’t cooled down that much by the evening. It was impossible to wear anything that wasn’t loose and lightweight, otherwise she’d start to sweat– not a great look. She bowed low at her friend’s applause.
‘Phew, it fits.’
‘It more than fits, baby. It’s going to make you the belle of the ball.’
Grace took the glass of wine that Angeliki offered her.
‘Let’s have a little freshener first. You drink this while I get changed out of my white coat. There’s more in the fridge if you run out.’
Grace wolf-whistled when her friend came back twenty minutes later, wearing a tight-fitting silver jump suit and high silver heels, with her long curly hair down for once and her face made up.
‘Wow. You look like one of Charlie’s Angels. No one’s going to recognise you.’
Angeliki completed her own twirl.
‘That’s the idea. Normally they see me lightly splattered with blood, vomit or worse.’
‘Yuk. TMI.’
‘Exactly. So, this is my chance to appear somewhat normal.’
Grace applied a little more pale pink lipstick in the mirror.
‘Well, I hope Will appreciates what a big effort we’ve made. Unlike him, we’ve both been working all day.’
Angeliki nudged her in the side. ‘Oh, I think Will most certainly will.’
‘Stop it. I’ll admit that he and I are friends now. But that’s it. Nothing more.’
She hadn’t told anyone about Will’s uncharacteristic meltdown at the bar, and she wasn’t planning to.
Angeliki tapped her nose. ‘If you say so…’
‘I do. Let’s order that taxi.’
Will had sent her several texts over the last twenty-four hours, thanking her for rescuing him, for getting her taxi driver to drop him off first at his house, and for paying for their food and drinks. It was like the evening had come back to him in stages, which it probably had, given the amount he’d drunk. He’d had nearly two days to sober up, so she hoped he was ready for his party. She and Angeliki certainly were.
* * *
The light was fading fast when they climbed out of the taxi on the road above Will’s house, and the first streaks of orange in the sky promised a spectacular sunset. From the level of chatter and music coming from below, they were far from being the first guests.
Grace and Angeliki walked down the path together towards their host, who had his back towards them, deep in conversation.
The slam of a car door made him turn, and Grace noticed that he took a step back at the sight of the two of them, before remembering his manners.
