‘Twenty-five days.’
‘Oh, that’s good,’ Jemima says. ‘We’re here for all of August.’
Naked Tim and Jemima, my hotel neighbours for all of my time here.
‘That’s great.’
‘We’ll get to know each other well,’ Tim says. ‘Both of us are regulars here. Can show you all the sights.’
‘Oh, great. But I…’
Have a Sam.
‘There is so much to do here. We love it, don’t we, Tim?’
‘Amazing place.’ Tim beams. ‘Wine, food, sun, history. Fantastic place Greece is.’
‘It looks like it.’ I panic, worried that they might think I meant them. ‘Um, well, I best be off. Things to do.’
‘Reyt, reyt,’ Tim says. ‘You just let us know if you want dinner. There’s a great Italian. Does a gorgeous sausage?—’
‘All right, then.’
I turn away, not caring if they see me naked because the worst has already happened. I close the doors, drawing the mosquito curtain across to give myself a bit of privacy without closing the room off to the sun.
Tim and Jemima.
What a pair.
Chapter Fifteen
WILL
Day One
Two topless men are pressed so close to me in the elevator I can guess their age to be around late thirties. Their Speedos stretch with what they contain, and when I smile at them out of politeness, they return it with toothy grins. I thought there would be more of a dress code in public areas. They’re eying me in my clothes like I’m supernatural.
I’m no prude and I’m all for body positivity and expressing yourself; I simply have good old-fashioned envy when I look at these European men. How effortlessly cool they are, standing on either side of me wearing nothing but tight Lycra. They get out on the first floor, leaving me flustered in their wake.
The elevator doors open to the hotel lobby, revealing richly dressed people like contestants on a game show. Lydia, behind her desk, looks in my direction at the sound of the ding of the elevator, and I give her a wave. Her expression remains blank and she turns back to her screen.
Checking the time, glancing outside, there’s no sign of Sam. Which means I have time to kill. Which means I have to befriend Lydia if this hotel is going to be even remotely enjoyable.
She sees me approaching, and with my every step her shoulders rise, until I’m at the counter. Her nostrils flare and I swear I see smoke.
‘Hi.’
‘Is your room satisfactory?’
I decide not to tell her about Tim and Jemima. What people do in their own rooms is none of my business, even if they do talk to me on the balcony stark bollock naked. Besides, here in Athens I’m cool Will. Breezy Will. I’m open and liberated.Yamas!
‘Yes, it is.’
Her fingers type on the keyboard, as if she’s putting feedback into the machine.
There’s a glass dispenser to the side of the reception desk, with ice-cold water garnished with cut lemon and an abundance of mint. With slightly trembling hands, I turn the small tap and fill my clean glass with water, taking a sip.
‘Can you do that somewhere else?’
