Page 47 of A Grecian Getaway

“I don’t even understand you, silly American! Kick to what curb? No one kicked me. If you try to kick me…” Athena’s voice became a faint murmur the farther Noelle, Claire, and Caroline got from her.

“Girl, I love this sassy Noelle! That. Was. Perfect!” Caroline hugged her.

“You’ll be okay, Noelle. It’ll get easier.” Claire put her arm around her as they walked.

“You’re strong and beautiful and have an amazing soul. He’s too stubborn to realize what he’s missing. It’s his loss,” Caroline reassured her.

“The thing is, he told me. He told me from the beginning. So I can’t really be mad at anyone but myself.” Noelle wiped her tears.

That night, she fell asleep with tear streaks down her face and a broken heart. Her only consolation was the satisfaction of telling that crazy woman off, even if Athena didn’t quite understand her jab.

When morning came, the girls were packed and ready to leave. Before they went to the boat, Noelle had the taxi stop by Demetri’s place. She walked down the dock to his door but didn’t knock. Noelle assumed he was still out of town, since she hadn’t heard from him. She wanted to leave him something to remember her by. He may not want or care to remember her, but it made her feel better. Noelle would always remember him. She bent down and placed a package near his door and then walked away towards the taxi, wiping a few tears from her eyes.

The girls took the boat to Piraeus, the port city of Athens, to catch a taxi to meet their flight. Noelle wondered if this ship was the one Demetri captained. She hoped he would step out to say goodbye. She hoped to hear his voice, tell her he’d made a terrible mistake, and he couldn’t live without her. But he never did.Wake up, Noelle. This isn’t one of the romantic movies we watch. Prince Charming isn’t coming for me because he doesn’t believe in love.

They arrived in Athens and went straight to the airport to wait for their plane to depart. As they took off, she knew she was leaving a part of her heart in Greece that she would never get back.

Chapter 32

GIGGLES AND GOODBYES ~Noelle~ One Month Later

Noelle lay on her bed in her childhood home back in Illinois. She’d secured a job at a small graphic design firm on the coast of Florida. The interview she’d had when she returned from Greece went well, and things moved quickly. She’d always wanted to live near the beach, so she was excited about the move. It would be nice to start somewhere fresh. Maybe fresh places and people would help her forget Demetri. Noelle sent a text to the girls and her brother.

Noelle: Niko, are you meeting us at the comedy club?

Niko: Yeah. Caroline and Claire, I'll pick you up since you aren’t too far. But I have something early tomorrow morning, so I won’t be up for a super late night.

Caroline: Hot date?

Niko: Yes, Caroline, a hot date at 7 a.m. *rolling eyes emoji

Caroline: Hey, I haven’t the foggiest idea how you get your kicks old man.

Claire: I’m staying with my parents this weekend. They need me to watch my brother tomorrow. So Noelle and I will meet you guys there. What is everyone wearing?

Niko: Preferably clothes. It gets a little nippy at night.

Caroline: FYI, women get nippy at any temperature, Nikolas.

Noelle: CAROLINE!

Claire: CAROLINE!

Niko: *face palm emoji

Caroline: What? Niko started it!

Noelle: Okay, see you all later.

Claire: No one seriously answered the clothing question. I guess I’ll figure something out. Byeeeee

Noelle set her phone aside. She was leaving the next day and moving to a new city. Caroline and Claire had tried to get Noelle to go out with them the past month to help her forget Demetri. But she had no desire to socialize. They’d gotten together to watch old movies and commiserate about men. Claire and Caroline had both remarked that Noelle was a little thinner. She had had little appetite since Greece. They finally convinced her they had to celebrate her new job, and she couldn’t say no. She looked at herself in the mirror after applying a little blush.Who am I?Did I make a mistake with Demetri? No. I won’t ever believe it was a mistake. I fell in love with him and I hoped he loved me, too.I was naïve and innocent, just like he said when we first met. But I don’t regret what happened, even if it didn’t turn out like I wanted.A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

“Hi honey, can I come in?” Noelle’s mom asked through the door.

“Yeah, come on in.”

Noelle’s mom sat on the bed next to Noelle. “Are you all packed and ready to go?”

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