Everybody looks like Sonny in this house. There are cousins everywhere and it's difficult to find out who is who, since they come from other houses too, going in and out without warning to shake his hand and marvel at them. Sonny has been prudent before flying and insisted heavily on the phone that he was coming with a boyfriend and the message has passed. A great-aunt might have raised her eyebrows when she sees Sonny take Will's hand to move to the dinner table, but it stops there. It helps that Will, even though he really doesn't look Greek, has made quite an impression, from his ethereal beauty (Sonny is still struggling to accept that his beloved to him is so ... breathtaking) as well as from his polite and reserved manners.
They sit in front of a full Greek meal, with flavors that make Sonny realize that anything he has tasted at his uncle's place pales in comparison. There's a pleasant chattering noise all around and the children are hiding under the tables. One of the cousins, Gregorios, has proclaimed himself an interpreter, explaining to Will what's in every dishes. But although he can speak in English quite well, he can't grasp the concept in the sentence "No thank you, I'm full." Even though they explain, Sonny and Will can't leave the table before their bellies are on the verge of exploding. Their hostess, Marina, gives them an anxious look. When Will sees her go back to the kitchen, he mouthes a silent and pathetic 'Help!'. Sonny fakes a yawn that makes half the room join him. Will smiles and follows him to their bedroom.
"I ate too much." "I know, kitten." "No, seriously, my stomach aches …" "Mine too, we'd better move a lot this afternoon when the heat is less intense." "No, I'm never moving again, ever." Will look ridiculous and adorable. Sonny takes a picture furtively, already thinking of ways to make amends for it later back in Salem.
But after a too-short nap, Gregorios calls them and soon they find themselves packed in a minuscule car, knees against knees. Angelique, Gregorios' wife, keeps calling Will 'Apollo' despite his repeated denials and pats him on the thigh whenever she gets excited in her enthusiastic tour duty. Will takes it quite well and looks at the views in question. Suddenly, his complexion changes and he backs up against the seat, knocking Sonny shoulder in the process. Sonny frowns, while still listening to their improvised guide who is answering him "No, these are not towers, wait, you'll see it in a minute. It is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world! "Sonny finally understands. It's beautiful, the pillars disappear on the horizon connecting Rio and Antirrio across the Gulf. Sonny marvels while keeping an eye on Will who is tensing as discreetly as possible. Their eyes meet and Will breathes "Please…".
Sonny thinks quickly. He taps their driver's shoulder "Hey, Gregorios, won't we have a better view of the bridge from below? For instance from a cruise boat ?" The idea is immediately accepted. Sonny hears a whisper when he exits the car " I'll make it up to you tonight, I promise." He refrains from laughing out loud and rather focuses on learning more Greek.
In the evening, they go to a restaurant, which means they can happily limit themselves to Tzatziki soup, along with an aniseed drink that Will can legally drink since he's on the Greek soil. After one glass, Sonny becomes suspicious and checks out the alcohol content. It's nearing 50%, a 100 proof. Will has reached his second glass and is starting to nod along.
Thus there is no promised show of gratitude from Will that night, as he spends the evening talking to their bedside lamp. Sonny is melting. Especially as Will is explaining how much he loves Sonny and how wonderful he is. The lamp does not feel very concerned, but Sonny has tears in his eyes and holds his boyfriend as tight as he can form behind. Will feels like a mollusk. He opens blurred eyes and grins "Heeeeeey, darling..." before closing them again and falling asleep immediately.
Will's POV
My head hurts so much, I can't keep my eyes open. And that f*ing Greek sun doesn't help matters. They've lent me a straw hat, way too big, that I intend to remove before Sonny gets back (it really doesn't look good on me). That's the third time, I've run to the bathroom and Lydia is laughing more and more. She's two years younger than me and is still in high school. She lives in the house next door and I'm not sure how exactly she and Sonny are cousins. She's wearing a bikini, lying on a recliner, and has been talking non-stop since I've come outside this morning. It's a torture with that hangover, but if I go back inside, Marina is putting plates under my nose every five seconds, so I've chosen the lesser evil.
My shorts are vibrating, which makes my head hurt even more. I take the cellphone out of my pocket, wincing. There's a text from Sonny 'Isn't this gorgeous!' with a photo that I suspect has been taken from very very high. It is indeed beautiful but my legs are giving way, just imagining how high he must have climbed. I reply 'Very. Be careful.' and I put the cell on the floor. Lydia stirs a little "Hey, Will, you want to go swimming?" "No, thanks. I'm not feeling well... " She puts her hand on her forehead to squint at met, then smirks again "That's why you didn't go climb with Sonny? Because of the hangover?" I shrug. She adds "He's really patient with you. If it were me, I would already be with someone else! You're really a wimp for a guy ... Well, almost a guy. "
The shock is so strong that I forget that I can't move and I find myself running inside. But this time, I don't come out again, instead I sit on the toilet's lid, head in my hands. I did not expect homophobia from someone so young. The other teens in this family are super open-minded and I thought it must be a generational thing, like at home. The problem is that she still has put her finger on something. Something I've tried to ignore, but since we've left, it's becoming harder to. I am a wimp. I'm afraid of everything and ill-suited to Sonny.
I end up back in bed. In a blur, I finally hear Sonny coming back. He opens the door softly, and I pretend to still be asleep so that he can go join the others downstairs. No need for me to make his vacations even worse.
Sonny's POV
I'm starving. I even feel able to swallow everything that Marina will put on the table. But Will isn't there. I'm told he is sleeping it off in our room. My kitten... He's still asleep and still as cute. I love him so much. I need him, I missed him this morning. I stroke his hair gently, I guess it still hurts. He doesn't react. I tear myself away from the contemplation and walk downstairs to taste the eggplant caviar. Closing the door, I think I hear a sound, like a sigh, but I must have been dreaming.