Chapters (23)
- Cover
- One Summer in Santorini
- Dedication
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by Sandy Barker
- About the Publisher
‘It does feel a little weird, sure, I guess. But didn’t that happen with you on your trips? Getting tips from people you became friends with?’
I sifted quickly through only a handful of memories of being tipped. Twenty-something tourists don’t really tip all that much. I remembered a time when a group of people had pooled their leftover foreign money and handed it over rather sheepishly.
‘Yeah, I did. Once or twice. It was weird.’
‘Well, I can give it to him if you like?’ Josh offered. ‘I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.’
I nodded and handed over my cash. I grabbed my bags and we made our way through the boat.
When we got to the ladder, Josh climbed up on deck first and reached down for my bags.
Gentleman. I handed them up to him, straining a little with the big one, and then joined him on deck.
The others were in the midst of saying goodbye to Duncan and Gerry, and we waited awkwardly for our turn. When it came, I had to remind myself how completely uncool it was to cry, especially as I would see everyone that night for dinner.
I kissed Gerry on both cheeks. She had essentially been our boat’s first mate, and I couldn’t imagine the trip without her dry wit and calming presence. ‘Thank you for everything.’
‘It was fun, yes?’
I smiled, that time unforced. ‘Fun’ was an understatement. As I turned towards Duncan, I saw Josh coolly slip the euros into his hand. Duncan, ever the pro, didn’t even glance at the money. ‘Thanks, mate,’ he said and they shook hands.
I felt like Dorothy saying goodbye to the Tin Man. Josh was the Scarecrow, in case you were wondering – sorry if that’s obvious. ‘Duncan, thank you so much,’ I whispered as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He folded me into a bear hug.
‘Of course, mate. It was beaut having you.’ He pulled out of the hug and said, ‘See you tonight, yeah?’
I didn’t trust my voice – I just nodded.
Josh and I disembarked, bags in either hand, and made our way into the town along the dusty track. The sun was hot on my back, and I squinted at the sights around me. Even though I had been to Mykonos before, I’d never been to the port or this part of the island. I hadn’t been missing out.
When we got to the actual town, I stopped next to a café and put my bags down. ‘I need to check the map for the hotel.’ I had printed out a map of the hotel’s location from Google maps before the trip, because I knew I wouldn’t have data on my phone, but the map was buried deep in my backpack. I kneeled on the hot concrete and rifled through it, my knees burning.
‘Got it!’ I stood and waved it at Josh. This is a map to the place where we’re going to have sex, I thought. I didn’t say that part out loud for obvious reasons.