Page 27 of Arrogant Arrival

“Fake celebrating our fake engagement?”

Jim strolls up to me with one hand in his dress slacks pockets. The other hand reaches out and rips the towel from my body. He pulls me close to him. I try to wiggle free, “Let go. I’m getting you wet.”

“Hah, ain’t that the truth. Besides, that happened the moment you opened the door in nothing but a towel.”

“Ugh. You’re so immature and gross.”

“Possibly. Yet, here we are. You’re engaged to me, even. What were you thinking?”

“I ask myself that constantly. And, it’s fake. It’s based on a lie, just like this entire trip.”

“Tonight isn’t. Tonight, I’m taking you out to celebrate that I get to spend some of the best days of my life with the most incredible and gorgeous woman. That’s not a lie, Jo. Despite how we got here, let’s just be happy that we are here. Together.”

Well, how the hell do I respond to that?I lick my lips and his nostrils flare. He releases his hold on me and steps back. “Get dressed or we won’t make it.”

Jim takes me to a rooftop restaurant. We’re seated at the edge of the balcony with a clear view of the city of Athens and the Parthenon. We arrive just as the sun is getting ready to set. I smile as I take it all in, the ancient civilization and modern world all blended in the beauty and culture of Greece.

“Do you like it?”

I laugh at his ridiculous question. “How could I not?”

“Why is that so funny? Obviously, this is quite amazing, but so am I. And it’s obvious you don’t like me.”

No, Jim, far worse. I think I’m falling in love with you.

Jimmy

I’m literally smacked awake by a pillow. I open my eyes to find Yia-Yia standing over me with a frown. “It’s time for church. Don’t argue. Weneeda divine intervention in this family.” She shuffles out of the room and I can’t help but smile. Ma and Yia-Yia wasted no time in tearing into me when we got back from Athens last night. They’re convinced that being in a plane all the time with the high altitude has finally destroyed my brain.

I knock on Jolene’s bedroom door. She answers wearing only a towel—another damn towel—and I almost crumble to my knees. Yia-Yia walks by and shakes her head, mumbling in Greek and doing the cross-signing thing again. “Doesn’t she ever wear clothes? I see her naked butt more than I see my own.”

I have no response to that because the visual of my grandma’s naked butt is a total and complete cockblock.

“Um, we leave for church in about an hour.” I try to focus on her eyes before I pitch a tent in my pants.

“Tell her to make sure she wears a dress or skirt!” My yia-yia yells out in Greek as she goes down the stairs. “And it better not be short. We don’t want her embarrassing the family any more than she already has.”

I smile at Jolene. “Women are expected to wear a dress or skirt. Modest length.”

Jolene raises her eyebrows. “Modest length.”

I nod. “Do you want me to sit in here while you try some on? I like to be helpful and available for comment and critique.”

Jolene shakes her head and slams the door in my face.Guess that was a no.I go downstairs to the kitchen where Yia-Yia and Ma are preparing food for lunch. They always prepare too much food, but there’s way more company than usual. Ma notices me staring and smiles. “The priest is coming over for lunch. I told him you were engaged, and he wants to bless the union.”

Yia-Yia mumbles something inaudible, so I don’t comment. The Greek churches have a lot of priests and sometimes we go to different ones. I’m curious to see which one Ma has been talking to.

“Which one?”

“Father Giorgos.”

“Oh, Ma…Father George? Really? Couldn’t you have invited Father Earl or Stanley?”

Ma walks up and pops me in the back of the head. “Don’t speak poorly of the priest. He is a man of God. Father Giorgos is a little old–”

“The man is senile and old as Moses.” I leap out of the way before she can come at me again. Yia-Yia laughs, clearly agreeing with me. She’s practically blind, but even she can see the man has a screw loose.

Yia-Yia starts mumbling something about a tight skirt, and I turn around to find Jolene. She’s wearing a long, fitted navy skirt with a white, long-sleeve button up. Her long, ebony hair is straight and smooth flowing down her back.

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