Page 48 of Arrogant Arrival

“That’s just me, baby, rocking your world.”

He would think that.

Downstairs, someone calls up, “Earthquake.”

Jimmy looks at me, “Should we stop and go downstairs?”

I’m so close…and this feels sooo good. If I have to die, this is as good a way to go as any. Jimmy keeps moving in and out of me, and I moan. His movements turn slower and harder. “Well? Want me to stop and we go outside?”

There’s another rattle but it’s smaller. “It’s just a little one, right?”

Jimmy frowns and goes in deeper. “What’s a little one?”

“Jimmy? Seriously? I think you’re insecure. Don’t be so defensive. I meant the earthquake.”

“Let’s see who can do more shaking.” And with that, he goes all in.

Jimmy

Jolene insists on getting dressed before we go downstairs. She said she is not going to let everyone see her nakedagain. So the earthquake is over by the time we…and, well, she got dressed. Dex comes walking over to us outside. “Did you guys feel the earthquake?”

“That was just us. Sorry about the scare, everybody. Ow!” Jolene smacks the shit out of my chest. I lean into her ear and whisper, “Sweetheart, that shit is fine in the bedroom, but not otherwise. I only enjoy my pain as long as it’s accompanied by pleasure.”

She smacks the shit out of me again as everyone laughs.

We go back inside and hang out in the living room. Dex and Bianca bring Georgina over. They sit cuddled together on the couch while Jolene and I play with Georgina on the floor. I make one of her little stuffed puppies bark and Jolene takes another stuffed puppy and has it pretending to lick Georgina’s face. Both of their sweet giggles melt my heart. I feel as though I’m being watched, and turn to find Yia-Yia’s appraising eyes. She’s almost blind, but she doesn’t miss anything. Sensing the wheels turning in her head, I stand and go sit next to her.

In Greek I ask her, “What is it?”

“You should marry the American.”

“What?”

“Marry that girl.”

“Wait, we’ll swing back around to that. You knew she wasn’t Greek?”

“Dimitrios, you are such a bright boy. Where do you think that came from? Your mother and father? No. You get it from me. I’m not stupid. The first time that girl ever even tasted anything Greek was when you stuck your tongue down her throat.”

“Yia-Yia.”

She shrugs as though to sayit’s true.“Marry her.”

“Why?”

“Because she is the one for you. She would not clip your wings, but instead fly with you. When you two are together, your love soars. That’s happiness, Dimitri mou. My dying wish is for you to find someone with your spirit and love. Birds do build nests, Dimitri mou, but they still fly.”

“Are you saying we’re birds of a feather, Yia-Yia?”

“What I’m saying is don’t let her fly away from you. Let her flywithyou.”

I swallow the lump in my throat at her words. They ring more true than she knows, or maybe she does know. Little old Greek ladies have some mystical powers. That’s why everything that they cook tastes better.

Jolene stands and smiles. “I think I’m going to take one more stroll down the beach. I’m going to miss…all of it.” She hurries out and I watch after her. I turn to Yia-Yia who raises a single white eyebrow at me. I scowl and then hurry after Jolene.

“Wait up. I’ll join you.” I fall into step next to her.

“What did your grandma have to say? You looked pretty tense.”

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