Good Greek Girls Don't by Georgia Tsialtas Page B

it’s best to go with an insult or two. ‘I don’t even know the guy. With my luck he’s a sociopathic psycho and a sexual deviate all in one, and I’ll end up regretting this.’
    I hope not.
    â€˜Des, not all guys are like Denny.’
    â€˜Easy for you to say, you’ve got Ari.’ They’ve been together for over a year and he still treats her like a queen.
    â€˜Yeah and while I’m living in Shepparton I have a boyfriend I can only see on the weekends.’ She sounds a bit down.
    â€˜You okay, Rick?’
    â€˜Ignore me, Des. I’m just shitty with work.’
    â€˜What’s up? Tell me.’ Ricki rarely lets work get to her. This must be big.
    â€˜Nothing, Des. Don’t worry about it. Get ready for your hot date.’
    â€˜Shut up smart arse and tell me. I’ve got plenty of time.’
    â€˜I got a transfer.’
    Oh, God, where are they sending her now? First the bush, now where? The Simpson Desert?
    â€˜You will not believe where.’
    Oh, jeez, how many hours will I have to drive this time? ‘Hurry up and tell me already.’ She knows that I am not a very patient person.
    â€˜Ocean Grove.’
    All right, this has potential. ‘When? Rick, this is great. Make sure you rent a place near the beach.’ We must have our priorities straight.
    â€˜I’m supposed to start there in three weeks.’ Something in her voice gives away that she’s not as excited about this as I am.
    â€˜What’s wrong, Rick?’ She should be jumping for joy at this move. Ocean Grove compared to Shepparton is a no-brainer. This is second only to her coming home. ‘Ocean Grove will be great! It’s close to Melbourne, beautiful ocean air, cute surfer boys to liven up the natural scenery…’
    â€˜I just thought the next transfer would be back home. Jeez, Des, I’ve paid my dues.’ She has a point. She’s been out at Shepparton for over a year now. It must be hell on her relationship with Ari. It would be a bit hard to keep the momentum up with a two-and-a-half-hour drive between you and your boyfriend. ‘I’m too far away from everyone. I wasn’t there when you needed me. My parents didn’t tell me my mum had her appendix out until it was all over.’
    â€˜They didn’t want to worry you. They knew you’d jump in the car and drive straight home in the middle of the night.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, no-one wants to worry me and I feel fucking useless.’
    She has got to see something positive in this move. ‘At least this time you’re only about an hour away. With the freeways it’ll seem like you’re right next door. You’ll be able to spend more time with Ari and you’ll be closer to everyone.’
    â€˜I guess you’re right.’ And there’s another positive that Ricki really should focus on.
    â€˜And you’ll have the beach. I’ll come up this weekend and we can scour RealEstate.com and find you a place to rent by the beach.’
    â€˜Are you kidding? You are so in lust all you’ll want to do this weekend is be with Chrissy-boy making kissy kissy lovey dovey faces at each other.’
    â€˜Shut up, bitch. I am not in lust.’ Liar liar pants on fire. ‘Besides, this is so much more important.’
    â€˜Ari’s driving up Friday night if you want to get a lift with him. And if you can’t bare to be away from lover boy you can always invite him up.’ I don’t think so. And I think I will drive myself. Ari and I may kill each other given that he won’t let me smoke in his car. Two and a half hours in a car without a smoke? Not going to happen.
    â€˜You’re so funny. I gotta go.’ I’ve got to start getting ready. It’s almost six-thirty and I’m still standing here in my bra and undies.
    â€˜Call me when you get home, Des. I want all the gossip.’
    Oh,