The Love Rectangle

Chapter 17

The air is thick and humid when we step off the plane in Athens. It's a welcomed change from the raw March weather back home. The smells of the city have hit us hard, too. It's a combination of cigarette smoke, exhaust and flowery perfume. Kat and I are so jetlagged and starving, but there's not time to do anything about either. Her dad is waiting outside in a car so they can get off to the ferry over to Mykonos. I need to find my way out of the airport quickly also, and on to Connor Sullivan.

I take a cab, a white one not a black one just like Connor advised, to his apartment. I snap a pic of me standing under the street sign next to his front stoop. I caption it 'hope this is the right street because it's all Greek to me!' I chuckle at my bad joke and send it to Connor. A minute later, he opens the door shirtless per usual. I can tell I woke him up.

We exchange the briefest of niceties, and he deserts me for a shower. I help myself to the fridge and find some beer, takeout leftovers and oodles of Greek yogurt. How typical. I devour a yogurt. Connor has class soon so I plan to shower and sleep while he's gone. His apartment is practically empty. The minimum amount of furniture is strewn in the obvious places, and there isn't a shred of artwork on the wall. Connor says he has a roommate, but I'll likely never meet him- whatever that means.

My nap is life-changing. I wake up feeling like a new person, and I can't wait to shower off the airplane sludge next. His shower is so old and small. I'm one of the shortest people I know, and I barely fit under the shower head. The whole set up is laughable, but I relish the feeling of warm water rinsing me clean.

I get dressed in a tan and white striped sundress. It's short and flirty, and its straps tie cutely on my shoulders. I slip into flat sandals that lace around my ankle, and hope they don't give me blisters on all the sightseeing I plan to do. I soon succumb to the fact that my hair is never going to overcome the humidity in spite of all the product I've laced it with. A low pony will have to do. Connor finally arrives and I almost cry tears of relief.

"I'm going to pass out if we don't eat NOW," I dramatically greet him.

"Let's go!" he answers as I catch him checking me out.

I can't help but check him out, too. He's gorgeously tan just like the first day I bumped into him last August. His hair is slightly longer, but I like the way he's styled it. It has also lightened considerably; probably a result of all the Mediterranean sunshine.

He walks me to the Plaka, and I soak in the traditional Greek scene. The narrow streets are littered with umbrellas from all the al fresca dining options of the quaint tavernas. Street merchants offer everything from postcards to purses. I adore the whole image.

Connor orders me what he says is the best moussaka in Athens, and I compliment him on his Greek. He gives Google Translate all the credit for any fluency! It's our first chance to truly talk in months, and yet I'm in no rush to start. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the beauty of everything around me including my tablemate.

"Connor, you look really great." I compliment.

It now dawns on me that it's always been much easier for me to compliment Connor than Sean, and I wonder why.

"You look really great too, Car-Car!" I shoot him a dirty look for the unbearable nickname. "What? Fine! I'll call you Carter instead, even though it's not nearly as fun. Carter, you look good. Dare, I say hot. Downright sexy. . ."

"Enough," I interject. "No need to overdo it, Sullivan!"

"Seriously though," he continues, "Being in love suits you."

"Who's in love?"

"Aren't you and Sean hot and heavy still?"

"I'm not sure we were ever hot and heavy, thanks," I explain, "but I haven't really spoken to Sean all semester."