A haughty look crosses Defne’s face, then she shrugs. She looks like what she is: a lonely seventeen-year-old in a thousand-pound dress. ‘Imma get a drink. You want something?’
‘Mineral water,’ Oxana says.
Defne looks at her askance. ‘Girl, please.’
‘I mean it. That’s what I want.’
At the bar, Defne orders Oxana’s mineral water and a large Belvedere martini.
‘How can you drink that?’ Oxana watches the barman at work. ‘It’s basically neat vodka.’
‘I open my mouth, and pour it in. Works every time.’ She hesitates. ‘And you’re not gonna stop me?’
‘Why would I want to stop you, Defne?’
‘Because you’re working for my dad?’
‘It’s not like that. I’m not here to police you.’
Defne takes delivery of her drink and holds it up to the light. The icily clear vodka trembles in its glass. ‘Serefe!’ she says quietly.
‘Vashe zdorov’ye.’
She takes a deep swallow of her martini. ‘I think it’s cool that you’re Russian.’
‘I think it’s cool that you’re Turkish.’
‘I’m super-Turkish. My family’s from Trabzon. We’re very traditional. Very proud.’
‘I believe you.’
Defne frowns. ‘Can we go outside? I can’t hear myself speak.’
‘Sure.’ Oxana searches the dance floor with her eyes. A slow track is playing, and Buse and the DJ are dancing. Without breaking step he moves behind her and she leans back into him, her hips circling gently. She takes his hands and guides them to her waist.
‘She’s got this whole routine,’ Defne says. ‘The guys think they’re making the running.’
‘Mmm.’ Oxana smiles faintly. ‘I doubt it’s his first rodeo.’
Outside they sit on the seawall, and Defne places her martini carefully by her side. From below them comes the soft hiss and drag of the tide. Along the coast, to east and west, the lights of Lissae are reflected in the bay. Defne lights a cigarette. ‘Am I weird-looking?’ she asks abruptly.
‘No. Why do you say that?’
‘I just wonder. Do you think I’ll ever have a boyfriend?’
‘Of course you will, Defne. As many as you want. You’re amazing.’
‘Buse just has to look at a guy and he’s all over her. I could do cartwheels stark naked and no one would notice.’
Oxana grins. ‘Have you ever actually tried?’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘Give me that martini.’ Oxana gulps. ‘You’re not Buse. You’re nothing like her. A certain kind of guy will always go for a girl like her, but that’s not necessarily the kind of guy you want. I mean you, personally.’
‘I hate my fucking body.’
‘What do you hate about it?’ Oxana winces. ‘God, this vodka is disgusting.’