Truths and Lies Duet

Her family is pissed. In fact, I’d say her brother and stepfather would love to take turns pummeling my ass. And Aris looks jealous as fuck. Good. But my mother?

Hot tears roll down her cheeks as she shakes her head at me. Her bottom lip trembles. What the fuck? Is she ill? What have I done to upset her? And then her gaze darts over to Melody, confirming my suspicions. Meddling bitch. I’ll have to remind her she has a reason to keep her mouth shut. I know she doesn’t want her daughter to pay for her sins. Poor girl is already in a life sentence from her father.

“The toast?” Father urges, from the head of table looking regal as a king. “We’re all waiting.”

I clench my jaw and motion for Niles and Phoenix to join the table. Phoenix sits beside his mother in Talia’s vacated seat with his father beside him. The weak Nikolaides all sitting in a row are fucking pathetic.

You’re marrying one, asshole.

And she’ll become a Demetriou.

Demetrious are not fucking pathetic.

“Tomorrow, Talia and I will become one,” I say with a smile. “I’m sure the wedding will be a beautiful, extravagant affair because my mother has the magical touch when it comes to these things.” I implore my mother to look at me, but she remains staring at her lap. Unease coils in my gut, but I continue. “I’m looking forward to marrying the most exquisite prize in all of Greece.”

That jab is for Niles.

A jab that makes my mother flinch.

Fuck.

Talia grips my bicep and shoots me a stern look. As though she disapproves of my speech. But I can’t help and agree with her. My mother is disgusted with me.

“I…” I trail off, unable to find the right words. Nothing is genuine because this entire thing is a fraud. Sure, I’m getting the good end of the deal, wrangling a hot-ass wife, but it’s not real. And my mother knows it. Either she heard it from Melody or she can sense it. Either way she knows. This isn’t some business that gets taken care of in a dank cellar with a sharp knife—business my mother never has to see. No, this business is infiltrating our personal lives. Her life.

“We just want to thank you all for coming,” Talia says, saving me from utter humiliation. “Nora and I have tirelessly planned a gorgeous wedding. I’m thrilled to wear the loveliest gown to ever be created. Marrying Kostas will be quite the adventure, I am sure. Here’s to adventures and new memories.”

Everyone but my mother raises their glass. Since Talia’s glass is empty, I hand her mine before stalking over to Mamá. I grip my mother’s shoulder and lean down.

“Everything okay?” I demand, shooting Aris a worried look.

She reaches up to grab my hand and then takes my brother’s hand with her other. “Just feeling a little emotional. I love you boys very much. Not a second of regret when it comes to my love for you both.”

O-fucking-kay.

“We love you too, Mamá,” Aris and I both say in unison.

“Good,” she chokes out. “Make sure you keep on loving those who deserve it, so you don’t end up like your father.”

Talia’s eyes meet mine from across the table where she must choose to sit beside her father or mine. In the end, her hatred over what her father has done to her wins out because she sits directly across from my mother, at my father’s side. Weirded out by the whole thing, I walk back over to her and take my seat between the slimy Nikolaides and the beautiful one who’ll shed that last name soon. The servers begin bringing out food. My stomach is in knots. I busy myself with a Mediterranean salad, stirring it up to coat each piece of lettuce with the dressing. Everyone is talking loudly and the restaurant buzzes with voices and laughter.

Glancing up at my mother, I realize she’s left the table to stand directly behind my father. She rests a hand on his shoulder.

“Everyone,” Mamá calls out. “I’d like to say something.”

A polite hush falls across the table. I meet Aris’s stare and he’s getting the same weird-ass vibe from our mother because he’s tense as fuck. Father stares directly ahead, the amusement gone from his face.

“I have something to say, and it will be in everyone’s best interest to let me say it. Understood?” Mamá’s eyes are slightly wild. She’s normally serene and calm. Currently, she’s in a manic state. Her body trembles and her face is red. Sweat beads at her temples and above her upper lip.

“Mamá,” I start, but she cuts me off with a sharp look I remember from my childhood.

“Especially you, my son. You need to hear what I have to say the most.”

I stiffen and slide my gaze to my father. His nostrils flare, but he remains tightlipped. Since when does my father not put my mother in her place if it means she’ll embarrass him. Since he’s not coming to my aid, I simply nod at her.