As they chatted, it became clear that Tikhon, like his new acquaintances, had come to this little slice of paradise for a break. He mentioned a mysterious new project he was working on but didn’t elaborate, and Svetlana quietly signaled to Julia not to press him for details.
Tikhon also revealed that he’d been here before. He usually stayed with friends for a week or ten days to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and the constant flood of information. However, he didn’t specify where this overwhelming chaos took place. Julia didn’t seem to notice the omission, and Lana chose not to ask. She wasn’t about to share personal details herself, either.
Their conversation didn’t last long, just until Tikhon walked the sisters back to their house. Julia, utterly enchanted by their new friend, didn’t stop talking for a second, bombarding him with questions about local activities. Tikhon, with a smile that was more indulgent than intrigued—much to Svetlana’s relief—promised to show the girls everything he knew about the area. He even suggested starting right away. Noticing the excitement in her sister’s eyes, Lana reluctantly agreed to grab a bite at a nearby restaurant. After all, who goes to bed at seven in the evening?
“What an extraordinary guy! Don’t you think? He’s so handsome! He could be a movie star!” Julia exclaimed with over-the-top enthusiasm as she tossed clothes from her suitcase onto the bed, searching for the perfect outfit.
“He’s alright, I guess,” Lana replied, switching off the hairdryer.
After a shower, she realized that going to a restaurant wasn’t the best idea. After the long journey, she craved rest more than entertainment. But at Julia’s age, exhaustion fades quickly in the pursuit of new experiences. And since Svetlana had already promised...
“Alright? Come on! Don’t pretend you didn’t like him, because I won’t believe you,” Julia declared, slipping into a pair of faded, ultra-short denim shorts. She was already wearing a black crop top with the words “Not Yours” emblazoned across it.
“Fine, I liked him. He’s a good-looking, experienced man in his prime,” Svetlana conceded, all the while wondering how to explain to Julia that Tikhon was too old for her without summoning the eternal spirit of teenage rebellion. She’d had enough battles with that over the past school year. How had their mother managed to handle her stepdaughter for five years without ever raising her voice? Oleg Andreevich was always busy with important work, leaving Julia’s upbringing to his second wife. Thankfully, Julia had an easygoing nature and didn’t hold grudges for long.
“Think, Lana, think. You’re a teacher, after all.”
“Perfect! Just what you need,” Julia chirped with enthusiasm, rushing to the mirror to tease out her bouncy curls. “My hair is a nightmare. Lana, you really need to hook up with someone while your prince charming on a white horse—or better yet, a Ferrari—is taking his sweet time. I’m serious, and don’t give me that signature teacher glare. A grown, healthy woman needs regular intimacy. Back home, you’d never date just for fun. But here… You’re lucky—your hair barely curls. You don’t even need to style it. What am I supposed to do with these ringlets? And there’s no time to straighten them.”
Svetlana adored Julia’s gorgeous chestnut curls, which almost glowed red in the light, but her comments… Sure, Lana hadn’t been with anyone in nearly seven years, and there was no one on the horizon, but a vacation fling wasn’t the answer either. Casual hookups weren’t her style. The very thought made her flinch.
It wasn’t that men didn’t notice her. Some had even made offers, purely for “health reasons,” as they put it. A few of them were married, too. But none of it interested or tempted Svetlana. She could only recall a handful of dates over the years, all of which had led nowhere.
Lana pictured Tikhon in the glow of the evening sun, his striking, vivid eyes fixed on her, and shook her head.
“First of all, playing matchmaker is a thankless job. Second, we’re here to relax, not to mess around. The sea and the sun—that’s what’s good for our health. I’m only okay with Tikhon as a guide, and that’s just because you won’t let it go. Got it? Tie your hair up in a high ponytail.”
Better to let Julia have her fun under supervision than with who-knows-who.
“But flirting wouldn’t hurt, right? You deserve some positive vibes after the year you’ve had. Otherwise, you’ll just bury yourself in notebooks and textbooks again, and the only thing you’ll care about in a man is whether he’s someone’s dad,” Julia mused aloud, not without reason, as she tied her hair back with a colorful elastic. “Lend me your hoop earrings. Mine are too small. And anyway, I’m sure he’s totally into you.”
“Stop making things up,” Lana said, caught off guard as she handed over the earrings. “We’ve known him for barely an hour. We don’t know anything about each other. Haven’t you considered he might be married? By the way, don’t share any personal details about us with him, okay? We shouldn’t be too open with strangers.”
“You older folks are so cautious! In the age of social media, it’s impossible to hide anything from anyone. How’s he supposed to find you later?” Julia threw up her hands, but catching her sister’s reproachful look, she added, “Anyway, married men don’t look at women with that kind of interest.” She spoke with the authority of a sage as she put on the earrings. Svetlana inwardly smiled at such naivety but didn’t want to burst her younger sister’s bubble out loud. She stayed silent. “Wear that blue-striped sundress. It looks great on you.”
To avoid an argument, Lana set aside her jeans and pulled out the sundress. It did suit her. Luckily, the fabric was barely wrinkled, and it was already dark outside. The restaurant probably wouldn’t have bright lighting anyway.
She was right—the small venue with an open terrace was lit by soft spotlights. Calling it a restaurant was a stretch; it was more like a cozy tavern. But the warm atmosphere, friendly staff, Mediterranean cuisine, and Tikhon’s captivated gaze more than made up for any shortcomings. Though Svetlana hadn’t planned on anything, she couldn’t deny that the male attention flattered her.
Julia immediately ran off to dance, leaving Tikhon and Svetlana alone—or as alone as one could be in a crowded place. It was too noisy to talk. They could have tried, but it would’ve meant sitting close together, and Lana wasn’t ready for that. So they sat in silence, occasionally stealing glances at each other. What else was there to do?
Tikhon was the most attractive man Svetlana had seen in a long time. Maybe he really was an actor, hiding out here from paparazzi and fans—or rather, fangirls. She’d met people from that world before, but she had no desire to get involved with them again. Still, she was on vacation now, and the man sitting across from her wasn’t vying for any significant role in her life.
At one point, a pretty brunette with long, straight hair and a wide, smiling mouth joined their table. She said a few words in an unfamiliar dialect and, after kissing Tikhon goodbye on the lips, returned to her friends.
Lana couldn’t explain why she felt disappointed if someone had asked. Tikhon wasn’t her boyfriend, and he was free to kiss whoever he wanted. But the evening’s enjoyment suddenly dipped. Worse, her companion noticed. He leaned across the table and said, “Rosa runs a little shop near the beach. She asked me to stop by tomorrow. Said she’s prepared a surprise for you.”
A surprise for a stranger? The invitation seemed a bit suspicious.
“Please thank her for me, but I can’t…”
“Listen…” Tikhon paused and smiled. “Can I just call you Lana?”
“I don’t mind,” she nodded. Why not?
“Listen, Lana: Rosa’s an old friend. She doesn’t mean any harm. She has a cute little shop with beach gear and souvenirs. Don’t pass up the chance. Is it okay if I switch to ‘you’?”
“Sure,” Svetlana smiled, though she added, “I just don’t like surprises.”
Unexpectedly, Tikhon took her hand in his—warm and dry. Lana checked in with herself: she didn’t feel any discomfort.
“I’m sure Julia will love it there, though.”
He’d figured out her sister’s personality so quickly. Well, if it was an actual shop, there was little chance of any danger.
“Maybe in a couple of days… We’re planning to swim and sunbathe early tomorrow. Summer’s almost over.”
“Then let’s meet on the beach tomorrow, and around noon, I’ll take you to Rosa’s.”
How quickly he’d decided for them! And Julia would undoubtedly back him up.
“But…”
“You think too much, Lana. That’s not good for you on vacation,” Tikhon remarked with that same charming smile. She’d heard similar words before, more than once. She didn’t even feel like arguing. He continued, “Want to dance? That dress looks amazing on you.”
She knew it did, but hearing it from a man felt nice. Plus, they were finally playing something slow, and she thought, “Why not? I’m on vacation.”
Svetlana nodded and stood up.