Chapter 3: Abandoned on the Road for Her

After dinner, we all filed out of the restaurant to say our goodbyes.

Some waited by the curb for their cars; others lingered, still chatting.

I walked over to Kostas’s car and reached for the passenger-side door.

But Eleni darted around from the other side, squeezing right in front of me.

“Let me sit up front.”

“I get carsick. The back makes me feel awful.”

Without waiting for an answer, she pulled the door open, slid in, and buckled her seatbelt.

The motion was seamless, practiced.

She turned to Kostas. “Let’s go.”

Kostas glanced at me, his tone matter-of-fact.

“Eleni really does get sick in the back.”

“You can sit back there.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line, opened the rear door, and got in.

Once we were on the road, Eleni casually opened the glove compartment.

She pulled out a bag of nuts.

After shelling a few for herself, she held one up to Kostas’s mouth.

“Open up.”

He leaned over and took it from her, his lips brushing her fingertips.

“Kostas.”

“Mason and the guys are going to that new campground next weekend. Are you going?” Eleni asked.

“I am,” Kostas said. “It’s been a while since I got out.”

“Then I’m going too.”

“You’re still driving this SUV, right?”

“I’ll ride with you.”

“Sure. I’ll pick you up.”

Eleni smiled.

“It’s a date.”

“Don’t you dare bail on me at the last minute again.”

She reached out and poked his arm playfully.

I sat in the back, listening to them finalize plans for a trip I knew nothing about, my fingers slowly curling into fists.

Kostas had never mentioned it to me.

At a red light, Eleni held her phone up for Kostas to see.

“So annoying. My boss is already hounding me for that proposal.”

“Look at this list of requirements. Is this even sane?”

Kostas glanced over.

“Just write it the normal way. Don’t let him get in your head.”

Eleni pulled her phone back with a sigh.

“You’re the only one who gets it.”

“When I complain to anyone else, they don’t even understand what the problem is.”

As we neared Kostas’s street, Eleni started to cough.

It was a small tickle at first, then it grew more urgent.

She clutched her chest, leaning heavily against the seat, her voice a strained whisper.

“Kostas… I can’t breathe…”

Kostas immediately slowed the car and pulled over to the curb.

“Where’s your inhaler? Did you bring it?”

Eleni shook her head, her breathing growing ragged.

“I… I forgot it…”

Kostas reached over and began rubbing her back, the motion automatic and familiar.

He was turned sideways, one hand on the wheel, the other stroking her back in long, soothing motions.

Eleni gasped for air, then suddenly turned to glare at me in the back seat.

“Did you spray perfume or something?”

“I really can’t handle that smell…”

“I’m not wearing any perfume,” I said.

She ignored me, coughing harder as she curled into a ball in her seat.

Kostas looked at me, his eyes filled with an irritation that was clearly directed at me.

“Romy, are you sure you didn’t spray anything?”

“I’m sure.”

He didn’t press it.

He glanced out the window, silent for a few seconds.

Then he said, “My place isn’t far from here.”

“Romy, you can walk back.”

Before I could process his words, he was out of the car and opening my door.

The cold night air rushed in, chilling me to the bone.

I got out and stood on the sidewalk.

As the door shut, I heard Eleni’s weak voice. “Kostas… let’s just go to the ER…”

“I feel really awful…”

I watched the car speed away, a sense of absurdity washing over me.

The street was nearly deserted.

The wind cut right through my thin jacket.

I hadn’t wanted to go to his apartment anyway.

But the property transfer document was still on his desk.

My mother, after weeks of my nagging, had finally mailed the original from her small town.

It was the only copy.

If I didn’t get it, she would have to go through the whole notarization process all over again, and all her previous effort would be for nothing.

I hailed a taxi and gave the driver Kostas’s address.