In Blue Water

Chapter 9

Filippos pov

The lunch with Phoebe’s parents goes well. Her parents look like they want me in their daughter’s life. I’m in the living room now talking with her dad and Phoebe with her mom in the kitchen; clean the dishes, and then they will serve dessert.

“So you are excited that you will be teaching?”

“Yes. I always want it, and now it is happening.”

“It must also be exciting to work in Greece.”

“Well, when you work, you don’t appreciate that time the sun and the sea. But yes, it was amazing.” I say, and he looks at me

“But?” he asks, and he leans resting his elbows on his knees

“It wasn’t that I was liked to do. I’m happy with teaching, and meeting Phoebe made me put aside the fear and go for it.”

“I’m happy to hear that. But I must warn you; she has been through a lot. I have found the truth recently. And I will never keep my eyes closed again. I will make sure to be happy from now on,” he says

“Mr. Walter”

“Josh. Call me Josh. I’m not so old” he cuts me, and I laugh

“Ok, Josh. I don’t know how to say this or make you understand. Phoebe came into my life so unexpectedly in one day from a workaholic I became a different man.” I sigh

“I don’t know how to describe it. The only thing I can say is Phoebe is so special to me that I would not risk losing her.”

“There are many temptations out there,” he says seriously

“Maybe. But I want only one. Phoebe,” I say, and I look dead serious. After a few seconds of looking at me, studying me, he cracks a smile

“I’m glad that you know what you want.” He says, and before I say anything else, I see Phoebe and her mom

“I hope you like the walnut pie. I had the recipe from an old Greek lady when we were on vacations in Greece years ago,” Clair says as she gives the plate and sits down. Phoebe sits next to me.

“What flavor of ice cream do you want?” She asks smiling

“Chocolate and strawberry,” I say, and she serves me. Our visit to Josh’s and Clair’s house went tremendous, but it was time to go. I can tell that Phoebe wants to stay alone with me, and I’m not going to lie. I want that too. I like her parents, but I will give everything to be alone with Phoebe right now.

“We would love to stay, but I have to make a tour to Filippos,” Phoebe says and walks to take our jackets.

“Ok. You are welcome any time you want, Filippos,” Clair says

“Thank you. It was great to meet you.”

“We are happy too, son,” Josh answer

“We will talk later,” Phoebe says and opens the door. A girl with similar hair to Phoebe, a little darker, is outside with another guy.

“Christin. We expecting you two later for dinner,” Clair says, and Phoebe and I step aside to enter. So that’s Phoebe’s sister, well she is beautiful. But nothing like Phoebe, so I don’t understand the comparison.

“Filippos. This is our other daughter Christin and her husband, Alan. Guys, this is Filippo's new professor at our university and Phoebe’s boyfriend,” Josh said, and I shook hands with them. From the first moment, I sense Christin looking at me flirting, but I don’t give a second eye to her.

“You leaving?” Alan asks

“Yeah. We were here for lunch. Is it time to go”

“Maybe the other time we get to know each other,” Alan tells me

“I would love to. Now I need Phoebe to do me a tour in the city.”

“You can do that later. Why don’t you stay to get to know each other” Christin says, and I feel Phoebe beside me being upset. Clair and Josh looking at me

“I’m sorry. Maybe another time. Now I have to go Phoebe somewhere” Phoebe looked at me with a smile

“You say you go for a tour,” Christin says, annoyed

“I have a surprise for her. We have to go now. Nice to meet you all,” I say, and I lead Phoebe outside. We start walking, and Phoebe is quite

“Are you ok, baby?” I ask, and she says, nodding

“Yeah, I’m fine. If you wanted to stay, I wouldn’t have a problem.”

“Sure you do have a problem. But I didn’t want to stay. I like your parents, but I want to be alone with you right now. Soon I will start classes, and I will not have the time that I have now,” I say, and I take her hand in mine. I stop her, and I look at her

“You don’t have to worry about me. Ok?” She is looking at me. I know exactly what she is thinking, she has burned before, and she is afraid that I to cheat on her like the others. But I’m not them

“Ok. If you say so. I trust you,” she says with a smile

“It’s just her. Every time I see her, she goes under my chin.”

“You shouldn’t let her. You are an amazing person and a gorgeous woman. Because few others didn’t appreciate you, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have other people in your life who love you.” I say, and she smiles

“Thank you. How to manage every time to make me feel better and beautiful?”

“I’m just telling the truth. I am moving to another country, on another continent for you. That must tell you something?”

“Yeah, that you are crazy,” she says, laughing few tears fall down her cheeks. I wipe them

“Crazy for you,” I say, and I kiss her long and deep. I want to make her see that I wish only for her.

“Do you want to be honest with you, baby?” I ask, and she nods

“You have a beautiful family. Also, your sister is beautiful. I'm not blind” She frowns

“But I love you. And I will never do anything to hurt you. And I’m not stupid to do something that will cost me you. Ok?”

“Ok. At least you are honest.”

“I’m not a cheater, ok? If we break up, it will be because both want it. Because I don’t know, “ I say, and I look up, then her

“We don’t fit. I don’t know how to say”

“I get it. Don’t worry, honey,” she says, and I smile

“You will not hurt me, and I know it. I won’t either,” she says, and after one more kiss, we start our tour. I’m here for a few days, and she has taken me to the most tourist times in the city. Now we go to a small cafe

“Usually, I sit here with Ashley. It has the best coffee in town,” Phoebe says as we sit down.

“It’s cozy,” I say, and she nods

“That’s why we like it. It's quiet and warm,” she says, smiling

“I like it to see you smiling. You are cute,” I say, and she leans on my arm. The waiter came, and after she said hello to Phoebe, she is regular here, she took our orders and left. The rest of the day rolls like that. We walk around her neighborhood and return home to eat dinner. The following week went like that until my first night at my apartment. It was torture, and it reminded the days and nights I was away from Phoebe. We are in the same city now, but she’s not in my bed, in my arms. That sucks.