Page 84 of Holding Out for a Gyro
“I just thought—” I didn’t know what I thought, and Bas stood there, expression open, waiting for me to finish my sentence. “I thought we were friends. You could have told me,” I finished lamely.
His face clouded over. “We are friends. But so long as that’s all we are, I need to make plans that won’t always involve you.”
It cut, but he was right. I’d given up any claim to him in November when I chucked him. Maybe when we both got home from our trips, we could sort things out.
Zoe came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with eight shot glasses filled with ice and a clear liquid. She said, “Surely you have time for one drink.”
Bas handed one to his mom, then one to me, then the rest of the adults reached out and took one. Bas declined, saying, “I’m driving.”
Zander said, “Nonsense,” shoved a glass in his hand, and said some expression I’d never heard in my life. It sounded likeya mas. Bas shrugged and tossed back his drink, as did the rest of the clan, so I did as well.
Ouzo. I recognized the liquorishy liquid immediately, but it had been years since I’d had it. The lights dimmed, and music began to blast through unseen speakers. Next thing I knew, Bas pulled me up onto my feet. “Dance with me?”
I shook my head, acting coy, and he smiled a playful grin, tugging me into the mayhem. Then we joined in with the restof the family, spinning, clapping, and laughing. I moved to a rhythm I’d never known, passing in and out of Basil’s arms.
After another round or three of ouzo, he pressed me close against him, his hands on my back, his forehead on mine, and asked, “So? What do you think of this madhouse?” with a nervous inhalation.
“I love your family.”
“Even my brother?”
“Even Nicky.”
A smile stretched across his face, and he swayed slowly with me as if in time with a song playing only in his head.
As the ouzo worked its way through my system, putting me at ease, I fell into his rhythm, eyes closed, dwelling on what I’d learned about him today. I began to question everything.
If Bas came from such a strong family, with parents and siblings who’d married happily and for keeps, maybe he’d inherited and internalized some of that. Maybe he could deliver on forever, if I’d let him.
Or maybe I was looking for an excuse to get into his pants. I really wanted to get into his pants.
I looked around the house where he’d grown up, surrounded by uncomplicated love, and a powerful supernova burst in the center of my stomach. I wanted this. I could reach out and touch the life I’d never believed existed. When Bas leaned down and kissed me, I felt wanted and loved. I felt like I could belong.
If there was one man on the planet who was worth the risk of heartache, I’d found him. I honestly believed he felt the same about me.
He was right here. Right now. And I worried I was going to lose him.
I looked up to find his deep brown eyes searching mine, and I would have given anything to read his thoughts. I could read his body easily enough. What he wanted was frustratingly obvious.Delicious. Powerful. Passionate. If I said the word, he’d be mine.
I wanted to say that word. I wanted to trust him to take that step into the future with me, but he was ready to head off to Greece. We stood on a precipice, and the slightest push would send us tumbling into something uncontrollable. When that happened, I wanted to make sure he’d be there to catch me.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Basil
Challenge: Spend a day without the internet
The definition of insanity is falling in love with Chelsea Abbott.
She was like playing a video game and leveling up only to get defeated by friendly fire. And then having to start the game over again.
Or like spending hours on a beautiful soufflé but then ruining it by peeking in the oven too soon.
Or like putting together a complex puzzle and discovering the last piece is missing.
Or like falling in love with a beautiful, intelligent, funny, sensual woman despite her insistence you’re just friends.
In the past twenty-five days, I’d had glimmers of hope that she’d want to stop treading water and dive in, but she wasn’t ready yet. Maybe she’d never be.
