Page 14 of Accidental Getaway

It’s not that I’m afraid of heights. I’ve hiked plenty of very tall mountains.

But I’m not the biggest fan either. And I really don’t like the feeling of my feet dangling around with nothing to grab hold of.

Or the possibility of plummeting. On a mountain, at least I’ve got dirt and rock under my feet.

Okay, maybe I might be afraid of heights … I refuse to share this with Niko, though. No way. Not when this is a way for me to connect with him and figure out a plan to win him over to Aspen Sky.

I contemplate the implications of this new phobia as I pace back and forth in the lobby.

I came downstairs way early because I didn’t want to be late meeting Niko, but I think I think I came down too early because the waiting is making me even more nervous.

I’m wearing my swimsuit, as instructed, with a pair of sandals, khaki shorts, and a green cotton tee.

I fire off a quick text to Piper and Sarah, letting them know they can have my camping gear if I don’t survive this.

Piper: Your camping gear is junk. We don’t want it. ;) So you better survive. HAVE FUN!! !

I roll my eyes, even as a chuckle breaks through my nerves. Everything I have is secondhand and decades old. Still, I appreciate her sarcasm.

Jenni: Fine. You can have my bike. Also, why are you awake? Go to bed!

Piper: I told you I’d be here for you day or night. But yes, I should get some sleep. Love you!

Jenni: Love you too. Even though this is all your fault.

Piper: You’ll thank me later.

I check the time and slide my phone into my pocket. Niko should be down any minute. My only goal today, in addition to surviving, is impressing Niko in order to convince him that we’re a good fit.

“Good morning, Miss Swanson!” Alexander, who has just arrived at the front desk, smiles in greeting.

“Hi, Alexander! Please call me Jenni,” I say. He and I are basically peers here, both either working for, or hoping to work for, Niko.

“Of course, Miss Swanson. I will. Mr. Psomas has instructed me to have you meet him in the hotel restaurant before your excursion today. Right this way.”

I follow Alexander across the lobby toward the restaurant.

Has Niko prepared even more food for us?

My mouth salivates at the memory of the baklava.

I could go for more of that. Although, I am feeling slightly queasy about this whole flying-through-the-air-while-tethered-to-the-back-of-a-boat thing.

“Niko is taking me parasailing today,” I tell Alexander as we walk. “Have you been?”

“Me? Oh, no! I’m much too afraid of heights.”

“Me neither. I’ll let you know if I survive. ”

When we round the corner, I scan the room and find Niko off to the side, standing next to a table set for two.

The sight of him tickles something inside me, like the first bubbly sip of cola on a hot, sunny day.

Niko has replaced his suit with swim trunks and a black T-shirt, the sleeves tight around his biceps.

He looks so friendly and fun, and I just know it’ll be a great day.

Then my brain catches up and sends a wave of nervous energy crashing through my veins.

I need to focus. Last time I checked, being a good marketing team doesn’t involve ogling the client.

“I hope you had a pleasant night,” Niko tells me. “Are you getting adjusted to the time difference?”

“I think so. I only woke up twice last night—either confused about where I was or what year it is.” I shrug while he laughs. The sound catches me off guard. I’m not used to people responding so well to my humor. Only Piper usually shares my frame of mind.

“What’s all this? You have to stop feeding me!” I gesture to the table set in front of us, just as a woman in a chef’s coat approaches and hands Niko a circular aluminum tray with a tall three-pronged handle. He thanks her before setting it down in the center of the table like a lantern.

“No, I do not need to stop feeding you. But alas, we aren’t eating. I wanted you to try traditional Greek coffee.” Niko pulls a chair out for me. Hmm , he’s charming.

Niko takes a seat across from me and hands me a tall glass of water and a small white cup of coffee from the silver tray. “Drink the water first to clear your palate.”

I do as he says.

The coffee has a thick layer of creamy foam on top, which smells nutty and sweet.

Will this be the first thing I end up trying in Greece and hating?

I drank enough warm gas station beer in college.

I can get this down without letting on that I hate it.

I normally can’t stand coffee that isn’t iced and loaded with sweetener.

I bring the cup to my mouth, taking a tiny sip of the hot, thick liquid. Barely enough to taste it.

“It’s good, right? We boil our coffee grounds in water and sugar instead of just pouring hot water onto them. It’s what gives Greek coffee the thick, creamy texture.”

He dips his finger into his own cup and pulls it out. “This foam is called kaimaki . It’s the best part. Make sure you get a bit of both when you drink it.”

He’s not going to let me wing it here, is he? I take a bigger sip to get both the foam and the coffee. Well, he might be on to something. It’s the creamiest coffee I’ve ever had. And sweet too, in a subtle way. Way better than my parents’ drip coffee at home.

“That’s actually really good!” I say, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

He laughs. “I’ll try not to be offended by the word ‘actually.’”

My cheeks flush, and I try to backpedal. “That’s not what I meant?—”

“Don’t worry. You don’t have to like it.”

“—I just don’t normally drink hot coffee.” I realize we are talking over each other and pause. Niko has stopped talking too and motions for me to continue. “I just surprised myself, that’s all. It really is very good.”

“Good. I’m glad. You can get it here anytime you want or put in a request with room service. On me.”

A few sips later and we’re exiting the restaurant. Niko extends an arm toward the front door of the hotel to gesture toward a waiting car.

I brush a lock of hair behind my ear. I’m suddenly extremely aware of the power dynamic in this scenario and how vulnerable it makes me.

What if I change my mind or something feels off?

I don’t need to get into a similar situation as my last boyfriend.

I hate to think that way, but it’s not like I haven’t been here before.

Alexander knows I’m leaving with Niko and will presumably be waiting for us to return.

Piper also has my location on her phone.

“Alexander. We’ll be back around four, okay?” Niko calls out. Then he turns to me. “Do you want to call anyone to let them know what we’re doing?”

I pause for a second. Everyone I know is asleep, so I shake my head. My gut is telling me that Niko is safe, but I wouldn’t be looking out for myself if I weren’t cautious.

Niko directs me to an SUV with a driver waiting by the passenger side of the car. She’s dressed in a uniform and looks like she is not someone to be messed with. She smiles when Niko greets her with a kiss on the cheek. See! That’s not the way a bad man would greet his driver.

“Sophia, this is Jenni. She’ll be my guest for the next little while.”

I reach out to shake Sophia’s hand. Her grip is strong, but warm and reassuring. “It’s a pleasure,” she tells me, as she opens the door and ushers me in.

Niko and I both sit in the second row, water bottles and warm hand towels in a basket between us.

“Have you been parasailing before?” Niko asks as we start down the road.

“No, I haven’t. I usually prefer to have my two feet on the ground, actually. It’s probably safer for everyone. As you’ve seen, I have a knack for unfortunate events.”

Hopefully, I sound more like I’m joking than panicking. A tiny glimmer sparkles in his eyes as he bites his lips together, a dimple forming on his right cheek.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“Of course not, but you do have a point.” He smirks. “Your clumsiness is kind of adorable. ”

“For you maybe, but tell that to my leg,” I retort. “Or your front desk.”

At that, Niko’s smile grows and he chuckles. I flush at the ease of our back and forth. Malcolm could never laugh at my mishaps; he always seemed to be embarrassed by me. Hopefully Niko’s ability to laugh is a sign that it will help him fall in love with Aspen Sky Marketing.

I turn the conversation toward Niko. “I read on the hotel’s press release that you went to business school in California. Was that the first time you lived in the States?”

“No, actually,” he says, seeming surprised I don’t know his background. “I grew up in California. My mom is American.”

“You didn’t grow up in Greece? I thought your family owned a series of vineyards. Was I mistaken?”

Niko inhales a deep breath, and I see his quads tighten, his feet pressing more firmly to the floor of the car.

“My dad’s family,” he corrects. “My parents weren’t together when they had me. I grew up with my mom in California. Meanwhile, my dad was here. I’m a dual citizen.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize. Did you see him much?”

“He would visit when he could, and we spent my summer break in Greece most years. I never actually lived here until about six months ago, though.”

I take a minute to digest this new information. I can’t imagine growing up on a different continent from one of my parents. As much as they sometimes drive me crazy, I would miss them way too much. Which reminds me that I should check in with my mom when we get back.

“That must have been hard. To be separated like that.”

Niko just shrugs and then unbuckles his seatbelt as the car comes to a stop. “I didn’t know any different.”

He tries to brush it off, but his eyes look sad. I want to say something, but I have no idea what would be appropriate.

Niko speaks instead. “Here we are! Hope you’re ready! ”

We climb out and make our way to a white tent near the dock where we are greeted by two guys who look like they can’t be any older than sixteen, wearing matching pink muscle tanks. This is who I’m entrusting my life to? Panic creeps back into my gut.

After Niko and I watch a safety video and sign our lives away on a waiver, a kid named Mike asks, “Do you want to do a single harness or double harness today?”

“We’ll take a double harness,” Niko says and turns to me. “That way, we can both spend as much time as possible in the air.”

A double harness? If that means what I think it means, I might actually puke. I feel dizzy as I picture myself hundreds of feet in the air, hyperventilating while Niko hangs next to me.

“Sounds great!” I smile back feebly. Deep breaths. It’s going to be fine.

We collect life vests and walk to the end of the dock where a speedboat and two more teenage-looking boys wait for us.

Mike puts one foot on the boat and reaches out his hand to help me board. I take a deep breath to calm my shaking hands and must hesitate for a moment too long because, just as I’m taking Mike’s hand to step onto the boat, Niko grabs my shoulder and I stumble.

“Wait!”

I regain my footing and turn around, expecting some sort of emergency, but Niko just scans my face diligently.

“You seem nervous. Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to.”

I’m caught off guard that he even noticed.

I glance between Niko and Mike and the brightly colored lump of polyester sitting in the back of the boat. I could walk away right now. I really don’t belong here; walking away would make sense. I could go back and sit at the hotel until our next meeting and not have to deal with any of this .

“You can’t do this. When have you ever been brave?

He’s giving you an out. Take it.” Malcolm’s familiar voice rings out in my head, reinforcing my fears while trying to knock me down.

But wouldn’t it be way worse to bow out now?

I would be nailing my own coffin shut, wouldn’t I?

As much as Niko seems genuine that he only wants me to do this if I feel comfortable, it still wouldn’t make me look good.

I can’t risk that because I can’t lose this deal.

“Of course! I totally want to do this,” I say. “Couldn’t be more excited.”

Lying straight through my teeth.

At least that’s a skill I got good at in during my time in Chicago. Always covering up any pain, worry, or disappointment. Being and feeling exactly the way Malcolm wanted me to.

“Thank you for checking, though,” I add. I mean it, even if it didn’t free me from the need to keep going.