“No. He made it up after he looked over at you.” She shrugged.
“Thanks, Sara. You gotta stop with these favors, though, or I’ll never be able to make up for it.” I slipped the napkin behind a cover of one of my notebooks for safekeeping.
The attendant announced our flight was getting ready to board. After going through the ritualistic process, we nestled into our seats and geared up for hours and hours of travel. It’d be worth it once the gorgeous island of Corfu came into view.
I wrapped the u-shaped pillow around my neck, secured my seat belt, and took out my iPod. After scrolling through my playlist, I settled on You Spin Me Round by Dead Or Alive and rested my head against the window. With any luck, I’d sleep through most of the flight and not have to use the restroom.
That didn’t happen. Four hours in, I’d woken up in a panic, practically crawling over Sara and some stranger’s lap to get to the aisle. Squeezing my knees together, I wobbled to the bathrooms only to find several people waiting in line. I’d never peed myself as an adult and didn’t want to start now.
I pursed my lips together and tried not to think about it. Naturally, my mind went straight to thinking about the plane flying over water.
“Miss?” The older man in front of me said. He was shorter than me by several inches, with a short gray beard, wide-rimmed glasses, and a sizeable slanted nose. “Would you like to cut in front of me? Looks like you need it more than me.” His colors burst with bright blues and greens.
“Really? Are you sure?” I pursed my lips together, trying to hide how genuinely uncomfortable I was.
He laughed, watching my feet bounce. “Absolutely. Go for it.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much,” I said as I moved past him and into the next available stall. It took all I had not to moan out loud at the relief I felt.
After washing my hands twice, I came back out and stopped in front of my hero. “Thank you so much again. What was your name?”
“Pan,” he answered.
I blinked. “Pan?”
“Stan,” he repeated with a chuckle.
“Sorry. Ears must be clogged.” I smiled. “Stan, I’m Stephanie, thanks again.”
I shuffled back to my seat, and the stranger whipped off her seatbelt to let me in this time with an exasperated stare.
“I’m so sorry about before. It was Mission: Critical.” I gave a nervous chuckle as I scooted past her and Sara to my seat.
Sara held up a single finger in my face.
“One what?” I asked, scrunching my nose.
“Two more times and you owe me five bucks.”
Throughout the flight, let’s just say she got her five bucks.
My eyes fluttered open, feeling Sara’s elbow nudging me. After checking my face for dried drool, I peered out my window. She leaned over me, and we gawked at the gorgeous blue water, mountains, and whitewashed houses. A portion of my family was Greek, but I never considered visiting the country itself. Traveling so far as downtown Chicago was a feat, let alone overseas. Seeing its beauty staring up at me like a beacon, I regretted never considering it.
“What made you pick this place, Sara?”
“Something just called to me about it. That and I remember my friend talking about it not too long ago.” She rested her chin in her palm, still staring out the window. “Naturally, my mind went straight to Athens, but she told me if we’re going to go, it should be Corfu. Now I see why.”
“No kidding. Are there temples here?”
“Tons. Byzantine churches and Venetian fortresses too. But the first thing we’re doing after throwing our suitcases into our room is changing into our bikinis and hitting the swim-up bar.” She leaned back into her seat, shutting her eyes with a sigh.
I chuckled, pressing my forehead against the window. “Sounds like a glorious plan.”
Besides the fear of our taxi cab driver killing one of several people in swimsuits swerving through traffic on four-wheelers, or them killing us, the ride was rather pleasant. Mostly the scenery. Long winding roads through hills and mountains. Vibrant green trees and shrubs as far as the eye could see. And of course, the blue water surrounding the island.
We arrived at our home away from home for the week. To say the resort was gorgeous would’ve been a monstrous understatement. It was two buildings nestled amongst hundreds of olive trees, seconds away from the beach. Mountains were off in the distance, and the sand was almost white.
Sara curled her arm around mine. “Amazing, right? Wait until you see our room.”
“Sara, seriously, how much did this cost you? And what did I do to deserve this?”
She clamped a hand over my mouth as she pushed me toward the hallway. “You work your ass off, and I’ve lost count of how many favors you’ve done for me. Shut up and enjoy it, Steph.” She didn’t move her hand, so I nodded instead.
Marbled floors and Greek statues on Ionic columns lined the hall. We stepped in front of a room with a gold number seventeen. She scanned the card over the reader and bit down on her lower lip. My jaw would’ve hit the floor if I could’ve unhinged it. The room was a vast open space, with one wall open to the outside. The wind whipped through, making the curtains sway. It led to a veranda complete with lounge couches and direct beach access. We could wake up and walk right outside to the beach.
“Can I stay here forever?” I mumbled, unable to tear my eyes away from the sight of sand, water, and mountains.
She hugged my shoulders from behind and let out a squeal before wheeling away her suitcase.
There were two queen-sized beds with white and pale blue striped comforters and enough throw pillows to outfit an army. Everything looked so pristine, I was afraid to touch it.
“Get that bikini on girly. There’s so much more to see of this place.” Sara yanked her black and white swimsuit from her case.
As I neared the beachside window, I closed my eyes, letting the wind tussle my hair. The sun was warm and inviting, like a heated blanket. The smell of salt and olives permeated the air. For the first time in a while, I felt the tension melt away like a gooey marshmallow.
“You brought the one-piece?” Sara asked.
I turned to see her holding up my swimsuits. She held the one-piece with two fingers as if it were a slimy piece of garbage. I reached for it, but she pulled it away.
“I’m not wearing that bikini. It barely covers my…essentials.”
“That’s kind of the point, Steph. You have a rocking bod, what are you afraid of?”
I scanned her string bikini. She frequented the gym. Between that and her profession, everything was toned, tight, and in top form. On the other hand, I spent most of my time glued to a desk, and had a bit of pudge I couldn’t get rid of. Enough that it made me self-conscious.
“I’ll think about wearing the bikini tomorrow. Deal?” I held my hand out for the one-piece.
She rolled her eyes before slapping it into my hand. “Fine. At least you brought it. Hurry up.”
Stepping into the bathroom, my feet pressed against the coolness of white engraved tiles, all fixtures made of gray and white marble. I slipped into the suit, pausing to look at myself in the mirror. Turning my back to it, I eyed the white anchor positioned right above my butt. I didn’t see anything wrong with this suit. It still clung to every curve and had a cute nautical theme.