Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
My smile faded some. “My mother invited you?”
“Yes! Just out of the blue.” Anger quickly swept over my body as I searched for her. “I mean when I ran into your Yiayia the other day and she told me you were still single I was so surprised. You’re even more handsome now than you were in high school.”
I was stunned to the point where I was speechless. Yiayia I understood, but my mother? She claimed to like Kilyn so much.
“So are you still in marketing? At least if I remember right, the last time I saw you that’s what you did.”
With a quick nod of my head, I looked back over to Kilyn. My mother was talking to her.
What the fuck is going on?
Turning back to Nikoletta, I tilted my head. “Did my mother happen to tell you I was dating someone?”
Her face dropped. “No. She didn’t tell me at all.”
She laced her hand around my neck and gave her lips a quick lick. “Maybe we should go somewhere more private so we can talk.”
Reaching up with my hand, I pushed her hand away.
“I don’t think so, Nik.”
“Oh, come on, Athanasios, for old times’ sake. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t. You remember the time in the auditorium at school. Row 7 seat 7. The way my voice echoed through the room as you gave me my first orgasm.”
Swallowing hard, the memory hit me like a brick wall. Nikoletta was the first girl I ever gave an orgasm to.
“Yeah, Nik. I remember, but please can you keep your voice down, my parents don’t need to know I fingered you in high school.”
“Thano?”
I closed my eyes when I heard Kilyn’s voice.
She was standing to my left. I wasn’t sure how long she had been standing there. Nikoletta didn’t bother to keep her voice down at all.
Smiling, I leaned over to kiss her cheek, but she pulled away. My stomach dropped and it felt like a weight was on my chest.
“I’m not feeling well and heading home.”
“Um . . . are you sure?”
Kilyn let her eyes roam over Nikoletta before looking at me. “I’m very sure. I don’t belong here.”
She spun on her heels and started making her way to the front door. Starting to go after her, Nikoletta grabbed my arm. “Let her go if she isn’t feeling good. Let’s catch up.”
My mother walked up with a huge grin. “Nikoletta! What are you doing here?”
Glaring at my mother, I shook my head. How could she pretend to not have anything to do with this? And what in the hell did she say to Kilyn?
“Mama, why would you try to hurt Kilyn like this?”
Her face fell. “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Athanasios. I’d never hurt Kilyn.”
Nikoletta placed her hand on my arm, “Athanasios, let’s step outside for some fresh air before you say something you’ll regret.”
My mother looked between the two of us as I pushed my hand through my hair in a frustrated manner. “I thought you liked her.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “I do like her! Why would you think I didn’t?”
I pointed to Nikoletta. “This is why! You invited an old girlfriend of mine to the family dinner knowing Kilyn would be here. And clearly, whatever you said to Kilyn a few moments ago upset her and caused her to leave.”
My mother turned to Nikoletta. “No! I invited her over tomorrow night!”
Pulling my head back, I looked at Nikoletta with a confused expression. She smiled weakly. “Was it tomorrow?”
My mother nodded. “Yes! I specifically said tonight was a family dinner and tomorrow I would love to catch up and talk about your parents and how they were liking Greece.”
That’s when it clicked. Nikoletta showing up tonight . . . she knew I’d be here.
Placing her hands on her hips, my mother turned to me and glared at me. “And you. How could you think I’d pull something so dishonest and low? How could you think I’d ever hurt that sweet girl? I love Kilyn.”
My heart stopped. “What?”
“I saw her standing in the corner and I knew she was feeling out of place. I simply went up to her and told her to join the other women in the kitchen. She was on her way there but said she had something to ask you. So you tell me, Athanasios, was it me who sent her leaving, or you?”
“Mama . . . I’m sorry, I just assumed.”
Shaking her head, she gave me a look that actually made my body shudder. “I should smack you on the head and rinse your mouth out with Joy soap!”
She stormed off, leaving me with Nikoletta again.
“I believe you know where the door is, Nik. And please don’t bother coming back tomorrow.”
The stunned look on her face was priceless as I took her by the arm and helped show her to the door.