40
HOTEL MARGARITÁRI, AVLAKI
Arriving in the car park, Kostas turned off the engine of the motorbike and, using his shoulders, Faye got off, immediately trying to unlatch the helmet strap under her chin. It was still warm, too warm for wearing a padded hard hat, but safety first…
‘Why can you never do it?’ Kostas asked, laughing as he dismounted and watched her.
‘As soon as I get it off I am going to hit you with it. It’s so hot!’
‘Too hot for you, Mrs Lawson? I am not sure that situation exists.’
‘Help me.’ Her fingers were starting to get sore with the attempts to press and pull the plastic latch. ‘Parakaló.’
‘OK,’ he said. ‘As you beg so nicely.’
In one swift motion, with those long fingers, the catch was released and he gently guided the helmet from her head. The outside air, although still warm, was like an instant balm and Faye fanned out her hair with her hands.
‘I think, despite the being unable to take off the helmet, that you like riding with me,’ Kostas told her. He put the helmet down on the bike then moved close, his fingers unfurling a caught-up strand of her hair.
‘I think,’ Faye began, ‘that I’m not the only one who enjoys the joint experience.’
‘I fear you are right,’ he breathed, leaning in.
‘Fear?’ Faye asked, putting a hand on his chest and halting any more movement towards her.
His expression told her that he was thinking on her question. And then he answered. ‘Not fear. But…’
‘But?’
He cupped her face with his hand. ‘Come back to my suite.’
She closed her eyes, relishing his touch and the sensation of having that soft, almost tender, support. And then, when she had soaked every single, tiny nuance of it, she opened her eyes and answered him. ‘I can’t.’
‘You can’t?’ he queried. ‘Or you don’t want to?’
She sighed, so many thoughts spiralling. ‘Kosta, I had a wonderful time tonight. I just think… you and I, we keep blurring too many lines and that’s probably my fault because I should be the grown-up and you are a guest here but?—’
‘Wow. OK.’ He dropped his hand, and the energy fell too.
‘Let me finish.’
‘Why? So I can hear all the ways you’re going to tell me no? Well, I got the message.’
‘Don’t be like that.’
‘Like what? Please, as a grown-up, tell me how I am being. Because I thought I said everything I needed to say about age earlier.’
‘Kosta—’
‘Do not patronise me, Faye. I am not a child.’
‘And I really don’t do casual sex.’
‘Really? Because you were pretty great at it the other night.’
‘And I am sure your other “friend” was pretty good at it too.’
‘Fuck, Faye! I told you nothing happened. I swore to you that nothing happened. What, you don’t believe me now? You think I am a liar! Really? And this is the conversation you want to end the evening on?’
