‘Understandable,’ Lydia says. ‘Would have helped if I handed you this.’
The phone rings again. She glances at it, letting out a long sigh, like a yoga meditation. It comes to an end when the phone stops ringing. She turns back to me, opens a drawer, takes outa leaflet. ‘House rules’ for nudity. Looking through it, the lobby is the only place where youhaveto wear clothes; anywhere else, not so much.
‘Hm, this may have helped.’
‘I forgot,’ Lydia deadpans.
‘Look at this. A whole nude cruise.’
‘Will you be going?’
‘Absolutely not, Lydia. Oh, and look. Life drawing classes.’
‘Mm.’
‘I’m sorry, am I bothering you?’
‘No.’
I pause. ‘Do you like me, Lydia?’
‘Undecided.’
‘Okay, well, let me know when you’ve decided, and we can go from there.’
The phone rings and this time Lydia snatches it up, which definitely feels like my cue to leave and not at all a sign that Lydia would rather talk to an annoying hotel guest than me.
Outside, I get a sweating can of cold Diet Coke from the supermarket next door, and wait on the corner for Sam, who is giving me my first Athens tour today. My nerves jitter. Where will he come from?
When he arrives, the knot in my stomach eases. He waves, wearing a very loose white vest and red shorts, his bare feet in sliders. He’s clutching a Polaroid camera. Really, he looks magnificent. He pulls me into a hug, fitting next to me well.
‘Ready for an adventure?’
‘Sam, do you know anything about The Laurel Hotel?’ I blurt.
Sam looks from me to the hotel entrance, eyes wide, ‘Oh, no, nothing at all.’
He’s way too airy. ‘Youknew?’
Sam cracks. ‘Everyone knows,’ Sam says. ‘Didn’tyouknow?’
‘No, I did not,’ I say. ‘Oh, Sam, you must think I’m a’—my voice drops—‘nudist.’
‘Well, when people say they’re staying at The Laurel, they’re normally going for the whole “as nature intended” experience.’
‘I had a shock,’ I say. ‘I went to breakfast this morning and there werenaked people.’
‘Again. Nudist hotel.’
‘I can’t believe it.’
‘You’re not a nudist,’ he confirms.
‘I’m not,’ I admit. ‘But, like, do I want to be?’
‘Do you?’
Sam stares at me.
