Arrogant Arrival: A Hero Club Novel

by Gail Haris

  After dinner I sit out on my room balcony and watch the waves coming in. I still can’t believe some people get this view every day. I sit on my balcony back home and all I see is another concrete building. That thought depresses me.

  “Hey, you.” I look over and Bianca has walked out to her balcony. “I was thinking. Maybe you could write something like a blog post and I could send it to my boss? Write about your trip here.”

  “I don’t know–”

  “You have time right now, and besides, look at your inspiration.” She points to the ocean. “Don’t settle, Jolene. If you don’t want to, fine, but if you’re wanting to do something else, now’s the time to do it.”

  “It’s that easy, huh?”

  “It’s that easy.”

  “Shouldn’t I be packing? We leave tomorrow.”

  “In Greece, the night is young.” She goes back to her room and I hear her balcony door sliding closed.

  Of all the phrases she could’ve used. The night is young. I grab my phone and swipe the screen. I decide I’ll just play around with what I would say if I did write a silly travel piece. Greece offers the best beaches. Greece offers amazing cuisine from family recipes passed down for generations. Greece offers… I look down to see Jimmy walking shirtless on the beach. Romance.

  Instead of focusing on writing a good travel blog piece, I write something for me. My fingers can’t move fast enough as the words pour out of me. Greece offers everything a tourist could dream of, but it also offers more than that. It offered me an opportunity to find happiness and a chance of tasting not only the most amazing cuisine, but also love.

  Before I can even read over it again or think better of it, I send an email to the address Bianca gave me. I refuse to even look back over what I’d written. The words were raw and probably revealed more than what I’d like to show. Either way, it was nice getting them out.

  I look back down at the beach, but Jimmy’s not there any longer. My heart deflates a little until there’s a knock at my door and now my heart is in my throat. I turn around, and there’s Jimmy. My emotions are still too raw from what I’d written. I really don’t need to see him right now. But he doesn’t wait for an invitation. The door clicks when he shuts it, and then I hear the lock click into place. I stand and come inside from the balcony. I slide the door shut and also lock it. We meet each other in front of the bed. Jimmy begins unbuttoning my shirt. His blue-green eyes swirl with a cloud of emotion, but he doesn’t speak. He doesn’t have to. I can read all the same frustrations and uncertainties in his eyes that he can probably see in mine. This is our goodbye. Maybe it doesn’t have to be, but neither one of us is going to cave, that much is evident. So, we’ll let our bodies do the communicating.

  I shiver as my shirt falls to the floor, and Jimmy’s warm lips touch my collarbone. I reach behind and unfasten my bra. It slides down my arms and joins my shirt on the floor. As Jimmy’s lips make their way down to my breasts, I unhook my khaki shorts. Then I unhook his. I sit on the bed and scoot toward the top. Jimmy crawls up after me like an animal in search of its prey. I’m all too eager to become his evening meal.

  What starts out as slow sensual touches and kisses, soon turns into hunger and passion. His hands grip each part of me tightly as if I’ll disappear if he lets go. My hands greedily grab him everywhere and pull him closer. Even though our bodies are flushed together, I need him closer and deeper. Our movements are jerky, as if we can’t get enough and we know we’re running out of time. Each kiss and touch are precious moments we won’t get back, and yet we both want it all. All at once. I want him everywhere, except for the one place where he already is—my heart. He’s there but I’m not sure I can handle him leaving without a backwards glance.

  Despite the bed squeaking and the headboard hitting the wall, I hear a rumble. Then glass crashing downstairs. I look up and the clock on the wall is shaking.

  “Jimmy,” I pant. “I think there’s another earthquake.”

  “That’s just me, baby, rocking your world.”

  He would think that.

  Downstairs, someone calls up, “Earthquake.”

  Jimmy looks at me, “Should we stop and go downstairs?”

  I’m so close…and this feels sooo good. If I have to die, this is as good a way to go as any. Jimmy keeps moving in and out of me, and I moan. His movements turn slower and harder. “Well? Want me to stop and we go outside?”

  There’s another rattle but it’s smaller. “It’s just a little one, right?”

  Jimmy frowns and goes in deeper. “What’s a little one?”

  “Jimmy? Seriously? I think you’re insecure. Don’t be so defensive. I meant the earthquake.”

  “Let’s see who can do more shaking.” And with that, he goes all in.

  Jimmy

  Jolene insists on getting dressed before we go downstairs. She said she is not going to let everyone see her naked again. So the earthquake is over by the time we…and, well, she got dressed. Dex comes walking over to us outside. “Did you guys feel the earthquake?”

  “That was just us. Sorry about the scare, everybody. Ow!” Jolene smacks the shit out of my chest. I lean into her ear and whisper, “Sweetheart, that shit is fine in the bedroom, but not otherwise. I only enjoy my pain as long as it’s accompanied by pleasure.”

  She smacks the shit out of me again as everyone laughs.

  We go back inside and hang out in the living room. Dex and Bianca bring Georgina over. They sit cuddled together on the couch while Jolene and I play with Georgina on the floor. I make one of her little stuffed puppies bark and Jolene takes another stuffed puppy and has it pretending to lick Georgina’s face. Both of their sweet giggles melt my heart. I feel as though I’m being watched, and turn to find Yia-Yia’s appraising eyes. She’s almost blind, but she doesn’t miss anything. Sensing the wheels turning in her head, I stand and go sit next to her.

  In Greek I ask her, “What is it?”

  “You should marry the American.”

  “What?”

  “Marry that girl.”

  “Wait, we’ll swing back around to that. You knew she wasn’t Greek?”

  “Dimitrios, you are such a bright boy. Where do you think that came from? Your mother and father? No. You get it from me. I’m not stupid. The first time that girl ever even tasted anything Greek was when you stuck your tongue down her throat.”

  “Yia-Yia.”

  She shrugs as though to say it’s true. “Marry her.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she is the one for you. She would not clip your wings, but instead fly with you. When you two are together, your love soars. That’s happiness, Dimitri mou. My dying wish is for you to find someone with your spirit and love. Birds do build nests, Dimitri mou, but they still fly.”

  “Are you saying we’re birds of a feather, Yia-Yia?”

  “What I’m saying is don’t let her fly away from you. Let her fly with you.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat at her words. They ring more true than she knows, or maybe she does know. Little old Greek ladies have some mystical powers. That’s why everything that they cook tastes better.

  Jolene stands and smiles. “I think I’m going to take one more stroll down the beach. I’m going to miss…all of it.” She hurries out and I watch after her. I turn to Yia-Yia who raises a single white eyebrow at me. I scowl and then hurry after Jolene.

  “Wait up. I’ll join you.” I fall into step next to her.

  “What did your grandma have to say? You looked pretty tense.”

  “That I’m a bird.”

  “Ha. Again?”

  “Yup. She also told me I’m thoroughly flocked.”

  “I doubt she said that.”

  “She did… in so many words.”

  She laughs and the sound physically hurts because I want to hear it every day, but I’m too much of a damn coward to tell her. Multiple times on this trip we teased each other about being a chicken and the reality is that it’s me
. I’m the chicken. I really am a fucking bird.

  We begin walking back toward the condo. “I’m thinking about applying for that job with Bianca’s magazine. She said I could work from anywhere, so that’d be nice.”

  “That would be.”

  “I may or may not keep my current job if I get it. I’ll for sure cut back on my hours.”

  “That would be a good idea. Probably. If that’s truly what you want.”

  We approach the back door. I watch her inhale and then exhale as she waits for me to say something. I don’t know what she wants me to say. She can make any career move she wants. She doesn’t need my approval. With a sigh, she turns and goes into the house without another word.

  I think I just flocked up.

  I stand at the beach a little while longer. I need to figure out what the fuck I want. I think I want Jolene. She’s perfect for me. She doesn’t take my shit and keeps life interesting. We both have careers that would allow us to live anywhere. This was a trial relationship run, in a way, and I don’t want it to end. I think I want the full subscription. She doesn’t seem like she wants it to end. We should make it permanent! Why am I still standing here with my toes in the sand?

  I hurry back to the condo. I rush through the door, past Ma and Yia-Yia. I take the stairs two at a time. “Jolene!” I open her bedroom door, but it’s empty. “Jolene?”

  “In here,” a voice purrs. Looking over my shoulder at my cracked bedroom door, I narrow my eyes. The room is dark, but that’s where the voice came from. I hesitantly open the door the rest of the way. “Jolene?”

  A throaty chuckle greets me as I enter the dark room. “No, someone better.”

  My balcony door is open, and lying on my bed basked in moonlight is Pamela wearing only red lingerie. Her lips are painted in red and she’s wearing red heels. Yet nothing about me craves her. I don’t find anything about this sexy or hot.

  “Yeah, I don’t see better. Maybe it’s the wrong lighting for you, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, Dimitrios, you’ve always had such a mouth on you. Why don’t you come show me if your mouth can do anything other than spew lies and sarcastic comments?”

  “I’d hate to disappoint you. Get dressed and out of my room.”

  “Jimmy!” Oh, God, no! My eyes widen in panic when I hear Jolene’s voice. “Jimmy, did you call out my name?”

  “Get. Out.” I ground my teeth at Pamela. I do not need this shit right now.

  “Sure.” Pamela smiles. She slides off the bed and walks toward me.

  “What the fuck! What are you doing?”

  “YES! Yes, Jimmy. Mmmmm.”

  I try to get away from Pamela as she kneels in front of me with her hands gripping my belt. Jolene walks in and gasps. My hands are gripping Pamela’s shoulders as she kneels before me.

  Jolene’s bottom lip trembles. “I guess I imagined hearing my name.”

  Pamela licks the corner of her mouth and smiles. “You’ve imagined a lot this week.”

  I shove Pamela away and turn to Jolene, but she holds up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t let me interrupt.” She takes a step forward but then stops. Turning back around, she smiles. “Actually, you know what? I think I will interrupt. You interrupted my plans for me to come here with you, so allow me to inconvenience you for five minutes.” She charges over and points a finger at Pamela. “I hope you know this doesn’t mean you’ve won. It just shows that you really are a universal whore. Congratulations.”

  Jolene rears her arm back, and then sends her fist into Pamela’s nose, knocking her on her ass with a cry of pain. Pamela holds her nose as she tries to stand. I don’t see her leave the room because Jolene’s eyes are bright as she turns them on me. “Malaka!”

  Even though I know the hit is coming, and I brace for impact, I’m so surprised by the force behind her punch…so much so that I stumble backwards. I grab my jaw and stare wide-eyed at Jolene. Her face wears a strong mask, but her eyes are bleeding before me. She turns back around walks away.

  I want to scream for her to listen to me. Let me explain. But what can I say? Pamela set this up to where there’s no way Jolene would believe me. My mind races with what I should do, but I finally get my dumbass in gear and rush after Jolene. No matter how much I cry out her name, she doesn’t slow down. She runs out the door. Before I make it to the door, Ma stands in front of me.

  “Jimmy mou! What’s happened?”

  “Did you know? Did you help arrange this?”

  “What are you talking about? Why would I ask what happened if I knew?”

  “Then who let Pamela into my bedroom?”

  Ma gasps. “Your bedroom? She came over, asked about you, and then after a cup of coffee said she needed to go to the restroom. Then you walked in and ran upstairs. I figured she hadn’t come back because you bumped into her.”

  “Yeah, you could say I bumped into her. She was laid out half naked on my bed, and practically assaulted me. Jolene walked in and…”

  “Oh, Jimmy mou. No adrouli mou.” She takes me in her arms and hugs me. “She’ll come back. Let her cool down, son.”

  Yia-Yia clears her throat. “Don’t be a fool. Go after her. At least let her know you’re not still in the bedroom.”

  I run out the door and go next door to Bianca’s condo. She answers but hasn’t seen Jolene. I jog into town. Running down each street, quickly scanning everywhere for her. I stop and place my hands on my knees. My lungs are burning and my heart feels like it’s about to pop out of my chest. I didn’t know a broken heart could still beat, but it does. I search all night, but there’s no sign of Jolene.

  Jolene

  “I basically wrote it out for him. I’m willing to try new experiences and I’m going to be working with his cousin’s magazine. You know what his response was? Nothing. Instead, I go back to the house and find that Greek whore on her knees in front of him.” I hiss into my cellphone. I’ve just arrived at Athens International Airport. I’m about to tell the family goodbye, and then head back to my life. Alone.

  “What did he have to say? Did you knock her on her ass?” Lana asks.

  “You bet I did,” I huff out. “I didn’t need him to explain. It was pretty clear.”

  “Why?”

  “If he wanted a relationship with me, then he would say so. He would ask me to be with him. He would fight for me. Instead, he went and got a sendoff and showed me just how ready he is to commit.”

  Lana loudly sighs into the phone. “Really? I don’t know, it sounds like you two were heading somewhere.”

  “We were until we came to a fork in the road apparently.”

  “Are you not a strong independent woman capable of thinking for herself? What’s with you? In every area of life, you go for what you want except for intimacy. You’ll ask a man to sleep with you but not be with you? Plus, you told him you don’t date pilots, so maybe he’s scared he’ll get rejected again.”

  “I’m just tired of having to beg–”

  “Spare me the bullshit. I think you need time to figure out what you want and then go after it. Whether it’s a relationship or new career. Nobody needs to give it to you, and nobody needs to approve of it. You decide what you want and then go after it.”

  “Go after it.”

  “Yes, go after it. But don’t think anyone rejected you until they actually have said those words. Don’t let that bitch take what you want. You do have a mouth that you can use for something other than–” I end the call before she can finish that sentence.

  Turning on my heels, I head back to the group. Since I didn’t want to see Jim again, I stayed with Bianca and Dex last night. I hated asking Bianca to lie to her cousin for me, but she did when he came by. I’ve taken a flight leg to work to get back home earlier than planned, for obvious reasons. They leave Greece today as well, and Dex offered to drive me. It was a sweet offer, but it’s time for the lies to end and for me to travel solo again.

  “My cab should arrive at any moment,” I smile and say to Dex.r />
  “Well, I guess we better get this over with before your cab arrives. Don’t want to miss your flight,” Dex says as he extends his hand to me.

  The door opens and Martha and Patty hurry in. I stand tall despite my nerves. What if they reject me and don’t even bother saying goodbye? Should I go ahead and save myself by waving bye and running off?

  Bianca turns to me and I take little Georgina’s hand in mine. “I’m going to miss you, princess.”

  “You don’t have to. You can visit any time. Besides, I’ll be in touch about the blog.”

  Unsure what to say to that, I give her a small smile. Jim’s mother and grandmother stand before me. “It was wonderful meeting you both, Martha and Patty.”

  Patty shakes her head and points to herself. “Yia-Yia.” She takes my hand in both of hers and squeezes it. “Kortisi mou.” She pulls me down and takes my cheek in her hand as she kisses one side, and then the other. She points to herself again. “Yia-Yia,” she says as she begins to shuffle toward the door.

  I want to cry. She asked me to call her grandmother. I didn’t even think she really liked me. Martha’s eyes are glassy as she lifts her hands but then drops them. Then, she lifts her hands again but hesitates. Finally, she comes up to me and wraps me in a hug. “You are, in fact, a good girl. I know what I said to you earlier. All I’m saying now is please don’t break his heart.”

  I wrap my arms around her and gently squeeze. In her ear I whisper, “What if he already broke mine?”

  In a deadly calm voice, Martha’s Greek accent rings clear. “Then we clip more than his wings.”

  We both laugh as we pull apart. The door bursts open, and Jim runs in with red-rimmed eyes surrounded by dark circles. Martha pats my cheek and turns to Jimmy. “Adrouli mou, I’ll give you two a moment. I’m going to take Yia-Yia and get a coffee, ’kay?”

  “Yeah, Ma. Will you get me something, too?”

  She nods and waves bye to me, leaving me alone with her son. Jimmy takes a few steps closer to me. “I guess you’re free of me?”