“What about you?” she replied, pulling back from the hug but keeping her hands on Alex’s shoulders, taking her in. Her bleach-blonde curls seemed to bounce with every word, appearing almost white in the afternoon sun. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m just here for a quick visit, then I’m headed to a wedding.”

“You’re staying at the hotel?” She looked down the bar at the handsome young man shaking a cocktail, and dictated an order to him in perfect Greek.

“No, no, I got a cheap place in the city. Also, excuse me, you speak Greek now?” She looked over at the bartender now preparing two drinks for them, and startled herself with the realization that as young as he looked, he was probably about the exact age she was when she worked there.

“Well, you know, English is enough for slinging drinks to tourists but,” Louisa sat herself down at the open barstool next to Alex, “if you want to join the ranks of management, at some point you need to learn Greek.”

“I’m impressed.”

“Your Greek was always pretty good, if I remember correctly.”

“You don’t remember correctly,” Alex laughed.

The young bartender seemed to materialize in front of them, setting two refreshing-looking green cocktails with edible flower garnishes in front of them.

“Two Olympus Smashes, one virgin,” he said, in a heavy but perfectly clear accent.

“Thank you, Georgie,” Louisa said, raising her glass for a toast. “To your unexpected visit!”

“And to your upcoming visitor!” Alex smiled, gesturing toward her now fairly visible bump. Louisa had posted the ultrasound months ago, and it had been one of the first pregnancy announcements on social media that made Alex feel genuinely old. She was thrilled for her—and the father, Dimitri, who worked in the resort kitchen when Alex was there and was now head chef at one of the hippest new restaurants in Athens. But it also felt like a sign that everyone, from all eras of her life, was moving forward and becoming adults, while Alex was still waiting at some kind of existential bus stop.

“Oh, thanks,” Louisa said, looking down at her stomach. “The mat leave here is shit, but Dimi has good investors at the restaurant who are going to give him time off, so we’re making it work.”

“I can’t believe you two are going to be parents.” Alex smiled, sipping her drink. “It’s so surreal.”

“Right?” Louisa asked, raising her eyebrows. “I never thought I’d quit smoking, never mind giving up rosé and oysters for almost a year.”

“You’re going to be an amazing mom,” Alex said, and meant it.

“Don’t get all sentimental on me.” Louisa smiled, gently cradling Alex’s face in her tanned fingers. “I need there to be a few strident bitches left in the world.”

“Am I a strident bitch?”