Page 54 of A Grecian Getaway

“Noelle, I love your parents so much. Mr. T is hilarious!” Caroline walked up to the side of Noelle’s bed.

“Mr. T?” asked Eli.

“Claire and Caroline have called our parents that for as long as I can remember,” said Niko.

“Yeah, Toloupos is not an easy word for a toddler. Now listen, Noelle, you close those eyes and sleep. I mean it. Do you want us to leave?” Caroline motioned to the door.

“No, please stay. I promise I’ll rest.”

“I need to get home, but I’ll check in with you later. I’m so glad you’re okay. Promise me if I kiss you, you won’t faint again?” Eli grinned. He leaned over and kissed her forehead before he left.

Noelle closed her eyes to rest, but her thoughts kept her from falling asleep. After around ten minutes, she heard Claire, Niko, and Caroline whispering.

“Uh guys, Demetri texted me,” Noelle heard Claire say, and Noelle wasn’t sure she heard correctly.

“I’m sorry, what?” barked Caroline.

“Who is Demetri?” Niko asked.

“Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. Don’t you pay attention to anything?” Caroline replied.

Claire explained how Demetri had been checking in with her to see how Noelle was doing since they left Greece. “You know I’m a hopeless romantic. I’d hoped Demetri would come to his senses and chase after her and work things out. I really thought they were meant to be, but I didn’t think it would take this long. He texted me, and I think I should let him know what is going on. He cares about her. Why else would he keep checking in on her?”

“Maybe because he’s a stalker? I don’t know. If he cared about her, he wouldn’t have let her go.” Caroline sounded frustrated.

“Well, maybe he is confused. I have to tell him. Caroline, she loves him!”

“She what? I don’t understand. I thought she didn’t like the guy. Were they serious? I don’t get what’s happening.” Noelle opened one eye and saw Niko pinching the bridge of his nose. She tried hard to listen to the conversation, even with exhaustion creeping in like a dense fog. She hadn’t told Niko much, only that she met a guy, but nothing really came from it.

“Noelle met him in Greece and they had a... fling. She cares about him, but we were leaving and he let her go without trying to have more with her. It devastated her.”A fling? I guess that’s accurate, even if it didn’t feel that way to me.

“She told me she’d met a guy, but she didn’t say she fell in love with him. Oh God, they had sex, didn’t they? That fucking asshole! I don’t understand why she would do that.” Niko raked his hand through his hair.

“Do what exactly, Niko? Fall in love? Have sex? We’re grown women, Niko. Your sister isn’t a child anymore. I think it’s about time you noticed. You are only seven years older than us. Stop acting like you’re her mom or dad.” Caroline stomped her foot in anger. “Here, let me textDemetri.”

Noelle’s eyelids were getting heavy. She wanted to keep listening, but she was having trouble fighting the fatigue.Do I want Claire to text Demetri?Before she could answer herself, she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 37

FOREVER FLIGHT ~Demetri~

What the hell? Why hasn’t Claire replied yet? I need to know how Noelle is doing.Now that he’d decided to pursue something with her, Demetri was eager to get things moving. He pulled his phone from his pocket and checked Noelle’s Instagram account. She’d only posted one time since her trip to Greece, so he doubted he would find anything now. Then he saw a photo flash on his cell. Noelle smiling with Claire, a man who he recognized from other pictures as her brother, Niko, Caroline, and some other man with his arm around Noelle. “Having fun with my besties!” It was taken in Florida tonight.What? Why are they in Florida? What is going on?He shot off another quick text.

Demetri: Hello, it is me again. I checked her Instagram and see you are all together. I guess she is fine then? What is she doing in Florida? I thought she lived in Illinois. And who is that man?

Demetri had fallen asleep with a glass in his hand when he heard the text notification from his phone. He startled awake and spilled his drink down his hand onto the bed.Shit.He got up, took care of the mess, and then read the reply.

Claire: Why do you care? You let her go. If you cared about her, you would be here at the hospital with her instead of on a different continent. Leave her alone. Let her get over you.

Hospital? What the hell? What is wrong with my little lamb?His stomach roiled. Memories of a past he’d tried to forget came rushing back into his mind. Bile rose in his throat.Whatever is wrong with her, she will be fine. Claire would have told me if it was serious.

Pacing back and forth, thinking about what to do, he read the message again and again. He asked for more details, but he didn’t think Claire would share any information with him. She was worried about Noelle and pissed at him. Rightfully so.They were in Florida, but where?And why? If I go to her, I can make sure she is okay. I can see with my own eyes that she will be fine. This is not the same thing that happened to my mother and father. She probably just broke her arm or something less serious. She is always falling down. That is all this is. Think, Demetri.

He looked at the Instagram picture again. Demetri noticed the name of the place and googled it. He knew the town from her Instagram tag. He could figure out which hospital she was in later. As soon as he had the details worked out, he called and told Yannis his plans, threw his clothes in a bag, and left for the airport. Yannis told him he would get him on the first flight out of Greece that he could find.

***

Through security and seated on the plane, Demetri leaned his head back and closed his eyes.I will be there soon, little lamb. I should have never let you go like I did.. You will be fine.He sent off a quick text to Claire, hopeful she would respond.

---