‘No.’
‘I can explain.’
‘It was never real, was it?’
‘Open up, Evie. I don’t want to do this in the dark.’
‘No, Georgios, I’m tired. I’ve walked this entire island twice today and all I want to do is throw myself in the shower and then sleep for week.’ Or a decade. Millenia.
‘OK, that’s fair. Can I come back tomorrow?’
Tomorrow. I’d planned on jetting out of here but with Zeus’ disappearance I haven’t had a moment to make the booking, tell Gran or explain fully to Roxy about the day-to-day running of the bookshop.
‘Goodbye,’ I say and shut the door so he doesn’t see me cry.
Chapter 34
Over breakfast, I tell Gran my plans about leaving. Her face falls. ‘But why? You were all set to stay?’
I explain to her about what Roxy overhead. ‘Pish-posh. You did the very same thing for me, Evie, so what does it matter?’
‘It matters because Iactuallyfell for the guy.’
‘And you’re telling me he hasn’t fallen for you?’
I stare at her.
‘Don’t give me that look. Have you talked to him, asked him about all of this?’
‘No and I won’t.’
‘Evie, I hate to say this but you’ll be making the biggest mistake of your life if you don’t. Take it from me, I know a thing or two about love and you can’t fake the way that guy looks at you. It’s like the sun, stars and moon shine from your very eyes, and he’s dazzled by you.’
‘Oh please, it was an act.’
‘Don’t you “oh please” me. When I first met him, he was forlorn, never smiled. You saw him that very first day. He was an empty shell until you came along. He’s been here every day, sometimes two or three times a day. That’s not a guy pretending to be in love; it’s a guy who isinlove. He didn’t have to take it that far, if it was indeed fake. And you’d be a bit of a hypocrite if you didn’t give him a chance to explain.’
‘Will it get you off my back if I do?’
‘It will. But be open to it. Listen to him, darling, promise me that at least?’
‘Fine.’
I push my uneaten breakfast plate away and send him a text asking him to stop by for a quick visit.
Ten minutes later he’s there, his face pinched, worry in his eyes. He probably doesn’t want this getting out around town or his next victim might be more wary of him. Oh yeah, he plays the part of innocent so perfectly. Gran jumps up and takes our plates. ‘I’ll get out of your hair, lovebirds.’ Lovebirds. Hardly. She goes into her villa but doesn’t hide the fact she’s listening. She’ll have a mesh indentation on her nose from how close she’s got it pressed on the kitchen window screen.
‘Evie—’
I slump against the table. ‘Let’s get this over with, OK? Gran’s insisting I talk to you before I leave. So talk.’
‘OK, can we go somewhere private?’ Gran’s pushed so hard against the mesh I’m sure she’s going to fall clean out of the window.
We go to my villa. My suitcase sits on the bed, packed ready to go.
‘You’re leaving?’ There’s panic in his voice.
I nod and fold my arms. Try to channel my best glare but I don’t have the heart for it.
