Page 88 of Galata and Nutmeg
“Oh, I know exactly what you mean. My brother has an endless well of stories about himself that he just can’t wait to share with anyone who will listen.” She groans dramatically. “Zeki blabs on, for sure, I just don’t often know what he’s talking about.”
“You don’t speak Turkish?”
“I do, but its…çok zor… very hard. My students help me though, and renovating this money pit? Let’s just say I’m learning more and more every day.” She leans in closer. “Although between you and me it’s mostly swear words I hear from the builders.”
I take a moment to look around the room, admiring the completed renovations. “You’ve done an amazing job with the renovations. It looks incredible in here!”
Roxe’s face lights up in pride. “It’s been a massive headache. I don’t think any of us realised what we were getting ourselves into when Kaan brought it. One day I’d like to open as a hotel or B&B to recoup some of the money that he’s poured into the place. I’m lucky that Zeki shares my vision to return the place to its former glory.”
“Yes, he seems like quite the… visionary.” I wink at her. “How did you two meet?”
“He lives next door. Apparently, we used to play together as kids.”
A blush creeps up over Roxe’s face and I smile. “Aww, don’t be embarrassed. It’s cute.”
“You’re an author, I hear?”
“No!” I’m surprised that Kaan has told his sister about my dream to write. “I mean, I want to be an author, maybe, someday, but right now I do social media for a PR firm in London.”
“I follow your blog.”
“Oh no!” It’s my turn now for my face to turn beet red and I sip on my tea as an excuse not to say any more.
“Don’t be embarrassed. It bloody hilarious. And I know better than most, how difficult it is to findthe one.”
“Why?”
“When you’ve got a rock star for a brother—” She shrugs and looks back out the window at her brother and Zeki both now gazing up at the ceiling of the patio. “Everyone seems to have an angle.”
“It must be difficult to trust someone.”
“It is.” She grins and nods at her brother. “The only person I can trust in this world completely is my brother. He would never do wrong by me, or to those he loves.”
“He keeps saying that.”
“You can trust him, you know.”
“I do trust him. He’s not at all like I thought.”
“You’ve certainly made an impression on him.” She fills my tulip glass with more tea. “You called him out on his problem with alcohol, didn’t you?”
Yikes!
“Not directly.”
“He knows he needs to get help.”
“Knowing you need help and doing something about it are two completely different things.”
“He’s trying to be a better man and even I can see that he’s much more relaxed around you.”
“We don’t always get along.”
“Maybe you do.”
I grin at her. “Maybe you suck.”
“Maybe I like you even more now.”