Page 120 of Hold Me Today

Epilogue

One Month Later

Celebrity Tea Presents:

Is that an ENGAGEMENT RING on Mina Pappas’ finger?

Dear Reader, it should come as no surprise that thePut A Ring On Itfranchise is in meltdown mode. With the show about to begin airing on TV late next month (ahead of schedule by THREE months, mind you), it only makes sense that they want their contestants on lockdown. There are a few problems with this, the first being that runner-up and resident Adonis, Nick Stamos, has flashed the network the middle finger by not only proposing to his girlfriend, Mina Pappas, but by broadcasting it on social media.

We’ve seen the ring, and I’ll be the first one to say . . . it’s pretty but not as glittery and obnoxious as I’d hoped? Set in rose gold, the marquis stone is made of amethyst. Small diamonds decorate the intricate band.

The gem’s creator, a man who would like to remain anonymous, but who can be found in Bethel, Maine, of all places, told Celebrity Tea, “I think I remember them coming in! But, honestly, the shop is so busy in February, that I can’t be too sure. As for the price of the gem, I can’t specify but I can tell you that nothing goes for more than $200 in my shop. I like to keep our prices low for the guests.”

So, there you have it. Not only has Stamos put a ring on Mina Pappas, but second runner-up Dominic DaSilva has issued a restraining order on a certain member of the press—notI, dear reader—and Savannah Rose, America’s darling, has retreated from the limelight completely.

The tea has been spilled, Dear Reader, and I know that I’m just dying to know what will happen next.

Epilogue

Nick

One Year and Four Days Later . . .

“She’s here, right?”

“Jesus Christ, Stamos, ask me that one more time and I’m going to introduce your pretty boy face to my meaty fist.”

I don’t bother to look up at Vince from where I’m studying my reflection in the floor-length mirror. My clammy hands make it difficult to pin the damn boutonniere to the lapel of my wedding tux, forcing my best friend to swat my hands aside so he can do the honors himself.

“You’re sweating like a whore in church,” he grumbles.

“Technically wearein a church.” It’s the same Greek Orthodox church as the one Brynn stood me up in. I wanted to go for another one, but Mina put her foot down. It’s within this building’s walls that we attended Greek school together for years. We danced yearly at the festivals and reeked ofgyrosandsouvlakiwhen it was our turn to serve the food. It’s the church we attended every Sunday for mass, our families sitting beside each other, while Effie sandwiched herself between me and Mina so we wouldn’t kill each other. It’s our heritage, and our community, and I’ll be honest—I’m not one to tell my fiancée no.

In about thirty minutes, she’ll be your wife.

I swallow past the nerves and avert my chin so Vince can work without poking me with the pin.

“Stamos, man,” Billy says, “do you need some water or something?”

The group of them hover like mama birds: Bill, Mark, Vince, and Dominic DaSilva.

But it’s my sister’s voice that pulls me out of the funk. “Yournifilooks beautiful, Nick.”

Nifi. Wife.

I turn to my sister and clear my throat before I make an utter fool of myself. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Mina right now? You didn’t leave her alone, did you?”

Effie laughs, punching me in the shoulder before pulling me into a hug. “Lord, you’re a nervous wreck. She’s with Ma and Katya right now.KyriaPappas—am I still supposed to call her that, now that she’s getting divorced?” Her nose scrunches. “Anyway, she’s gathering up the flower girls and putting everyone in their place. She keeps popping in to check on Mina, though, and I’m pretty sure I saw her stuffing a box of tissues into that big ol’ purse of hers.”

Mina’s relationship with her mother in the past year has been a slow progression. Weeks’ long stretches of silence turned into short chats on the phone, before becoming dinners and “family” nights where she regularly comes over for a movie and some popcorn. It’s not perfect, but it’s been better since her mother asked Yianni Pappas to move out of the house. When he caused a commotion and the neighbors called the cops, Mina and her siblings laid down the law: either their mom dropped her unhealthy marriage or they would drop her.

The ultimatum worked, even though it’ll be a test of strength for me to avoid beating the man’s face in when I see him today. Mina issued his invitation, but on the strict condition that if he even attempted to talk to his almost-ex-wife, he’d be forcibly removed.

By me, apparently.

I can’t say the thought doesn’t leave a giddy smile on my face. After years of him making Mina feel like crap, I’d be more than happy to return the favor. Tenfold.

Thepapas, or priest, pops his head into the room. “Time to get in your places. Effie, Ermione is waiting for you in the limo. Dimitri, you too.”

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