I Got You ~ C.B

FORTY-SIX

I'm up early the next morning, mainly because of excitement but also the fact we left the curtains open over the deck doors. We decided we'd just get our own breakfast and meet around nine at the courtyard to start today's adventure. So I slip into some clothes and slides and head down to the markets again. It's even more bustling in the early morning than yesterday. With fresh breads not sold out yet, pastries that are still fresh enough you can smell them. First thing I do is grab a cheap wicker basket from a stall to put all my purchases in. I first grab a loaf of olive bread from the bread stall, a bougatsa, baklava, loukomadies. Then some fresh grapes, peaches and apricots. Some honey, walnuts and Greek yogurt. A stall is making Greek style Shakshuka, a meal I recognise and love already. So I grab a serving of that. All of it in the basket. Before heading back, I go back to Donna and Eros' cappuccino freddo stall. They're there, just like they said they would be
"Ah," Eros exclaims "it's darling Alaska again."
I'm greeted with hugs this time.
"Good morning."
I greet them. Donna steps back, looking over me after our hug
"You're looking like a true Greek."
I laugh, explaining
"I just thought I'd come down and grab some breakfast to bring home. I'm glad I got here in time to get some bread this time."
Eros claps
"Ah, a woman who loves carbs. They're rare these days."
Donna playfully slaps his arm, asking me
"How many today, dear?"
"Just two thanks."
As Eros moves off to make them, Donna gives me a knowing smirk
"Only two? Who is the lucky friend."
She already knows the answer, but I verify
"Colby."
She winks
"Who could have guessed that one."
I fill them in on today's plans as the coffees are made. Taking a catamaran out on the water, snorkeling, coming back and watching the sunset on the stairs of Oia. Donna grins, nudging me
"Sounds romantic."
I laugh
"You really like Colby huh?"
She shrugs
"I like the way you eyes smile when you talk about him."
I smile, she's got me. She hands me the two drinks
"Have a fun day, dear."
Back home, I chop up the fruits and make salad of them. I combine the yogurt, honey and walnuts. I plate up the Shakshuka, slice the bread and put it with it. And make a plate of desserts and pastries. Putting everything out on the table on the deck with the coffees before heading up the ladder and shaking Colby's leg.
"Colby- Brock!"
He pops his head up, mumbling
"Hmm?"
I tell him
"Get that booty on the deck now before the octopus swims off."
He looks over his shoulder at me
"Huh?"
Without a word, I drop down and head outside. He joins me a minute later, cooing
"Wow, what time did you get up?"
I shrug
"Like, six."
His eyes widen
"Just to prepare breakfast?"
I explain, poking at my eggs
"I went down to check out the market, got all these goodies for us before they sold out."
He looks over it all
"It looks amazing. Thank you."
I sip my coffee
"My pleasure."
He huffs, sitting back in his chair with his coffee
"You did get me excited about an octopus though- but I'll let it slide."
I giggle, going for the olive bread
"Maybe you can catch one while we're out on the water today and bring it home for dinner."
He scoffs
"You are fitting in way too well here."

We meet the boys in the courtyard at nine on the dot, before heading down to the port where we were told to when making our booking. There our tour guide, the other tourists, and catamaran are waiting. We take a spot right up the front of the boat as we set out, gliding though the peaceful water like drifting through air. Aboard, as we sail, we're fed cheeses and wine and mimosas. Different olives and breads and cut fruits. It's paradise. Finally, right out in the middle of the water, but with land still in sight, we anchor and gear up for snorkeling. The water is chilly, but we adjust. Although admittedly, there isn't much to see. Some small fish, a couple of dull starfish, there was an octopus rushing to hide back between to rocks as we swam over him. Being Australian, I'm unimpressed. I've seen more outside my back door. Other than that, we climb back into the boat soon after. We're also fed lunch on board, which we get served first since we came in so fast. A variety of traditional dishes- moussaka, lamb souvlaki, calamari, Greek salad and even octopus. I eat it all- I love it all. Something about Greek food is so fresh and light but satisfying too. After lunch, I lay on the front of the catamaran sipping peach juice, soaking in the sun rays. I know it isn't summer here but I still want to come home with a vacationed, Greek goddess worthy tan. Colby joins me, clearing his throat
"At least two thirds of the tourists on this boat are looking at you. Chicks and dicks alike."
I open one eye, shielding my eyes from the sun with a hand to see him clearly, and smirk
"They must be European."
He chuckles, asking
"You're not impressed by the Grecian sea life?"
I raise an eyebrow
"Ever Snorkelled in the Great Barrier Reef?"
He shakes his head, and I click
"You'd be let down too. I'm going to need something spectacular. Something I haven't seen before."
He hums, looking back out over the edge. I close my eyes again, hanging my arm over my eyes. I'm incredibly aware of his presence, his proximity to me. The familiar feeling of his eyes on me. Behind my closed eyes, I'm taken back to when he would lay me down, pulling his shirt off as fast as he can so his eyes aren't off me for too long. Then moving over me, his hand exploring the dip and curve of my waist and hip. Lips brushing down my body.
"Dude- the fuck is that?"
I bolt up, looking in the direction he's sat forward in to see. Not to far from the boat, a whale shark glides by peacefully. No way.
"Oh my gosh."
He asks me with a half smile
"Is that spectacular enough for you?"
I grin, reaching for my flippers and pulling them on my feet
"More than enough."
We're joined by the others, excitedly speaking over one another about the whale shark. Colby responds
"Yeah- we've seen it."
Heath looks down at me, eyebrows furrowing
"Rey... what are you doing crazy?"
I pull the goggles onto the top of my head, stating
"I'm swimming with the whale shark."
Their eyes widen at me. Brennan double checking
"You're what now?"
I laugh, standing and moving to the back of the boat where we lower ourselves into the water, the others in my steps
"Swimming with the whale shark. Come too if you want."
Brennan holds his hands up
"I'm good."
Heath comments
"That shark could swallow you whole. Like an hors d'oeuvre."
I smirk, turning and pulling the goggles over my eyes
"Well, I am a snack," I giggle "I'll take my chances."
My adrenaline is pumping, excitement propelling me fast into the water without another word. Leaving my friends gobsmacked on the back of the boat. I kick out gently, slowly, scared to alarm it and make it scare away. Like approaching a cat for the first time. I have to remember I'm in it's home, and give it respect accordingly. He's a gentle giant, hovering vertically in place and sucking in water at the surface when I near him. I do the same thing, less than a metre from him, hovering vertically with my head out of the water for some air. I hear the boys hollering at me from the boat a good twenty metres away
"Wooh! Yeah Rey!"
I stay there, keeping my head out for air until he moves, and I follow him. Diving under and swimming around him. Above at the surface, looking down on him. Under, looking up. And right next to him. He allows me to get close, my hand gently touching his fin as we swim along. I have to keep returning to the surface every minute for air, but I come right back. At times it even feels like he almost follows me to the top. The second time I swam under him and looked up, it's then that I noticed I've been joined. Elton swimming at the surface with another GoPro, other than the one I'm holding. This is going to be a crazy video.  The shark swims fast, but gracefully. And before I know it, I've made us go over time and they're wanting me back on the boat ASAP. So sadly, I look into his eyes and thank him for the swim before heading back up.

Colby helps me into the boat, telling me
"You're crazy."
I pout
"You should have come in."
"Why?"
"It would have been cool to share with you."
He smiles over my face and wraps a towel around my shoulders. Drying off, the catamaran takes off back to shore, and we get back right in time to catch the sunset on the steps of Oia. I sit in the edge of a wall, legs over Colby's lap and leaning on his shoulder. We've gotten close again. Polar opposites to how this trip started. It's like being here has made us realise we can leave all our drama back home, the home that is so far away. Colby tells me, his voiced hushed to keep the conversation between us.
"What you said earlier, about sharing that with me?"
"Yeah."
"I'll take you to swim with them again. We both will."
I hum, kissing his shoulder
"I'll hold you to that."
He glimpses as my shoulder, laughing
"Wow- I forgot you had that."
I look where his thumb brushes, the bird tattoo on my right shoulder. I smile, looking down at his hand that I hold, his one mid flight there also. I raise it to my lips and kiss it
"I don't regret it, you know?"
He shakes his head
"I couldn't regret anything about you."
He shifts, shrugging his backpack off his shoulders and retrieving something from it. He moves my arm so I'm holding it out from my body slightly, clasping a delicate string bracelet around it. On it is a small Greek evil eye in blue and white crystals. He explains
"The other night, on the yacht, just made me realise I'm not always in not always going to be there to have your back you know? And I was looking in a stall at the market yesterday filled with these evil eye things. The guy at the stall told me they're called a Mati and that wearing them is meant to warn off bad energy and negativity- or the evil eye curse but same thing. So I figured, if I can't always be there, at least if you wear this something's got you."
I'm biting my lip, my throat tight as it attempts to restrain tears. I nod, smiling
"Thank you, Colby. I don't know if it's going to do as good a job at having my back as you do though."
He kisses my temple
"I'll always have you back, Rey."