He’s always had this uncanny ability to know when something is up. One time our junior year, Alex and I snuck out to hang out with some boys. We covered our tracks. Until we snuck back in and there in the chair was Nikko, ready to negotiate.
Maya must see something on my face because she jumps in. “Dylan, how’s the bar exam prep going?”
Thank God. Normal questions. Safe questions.
“Good,” I lie. “Getting there.”
“When do you take it?”
“July.” Six months away. Six months of studying I’m not doing because I’m investigating a serial killer instead.
“You’ll crush it.” Maya’s confidence is absolute. “Alex says you’re basically a legal genius.”
“Alex exaggerates.”
“I really don’t.” Alex has Eleni on her lap now, the baby playing with her necklace. Evil eye pendant from Sofia.Protection charm. “Dylan’s like Rain Man but for law. She memorizes entire case files.”
“Photographic memory?” Maya asks.
“Eidetic,” I correct. “Just for numbers and dates mostly. Words get fuzzy.”
“Still.” Maya smiles. “That’s incredible.”
Dimitri returns with more food. Lamb. His specialty. The smell makes my stomach growl despite everything.
“Eat, eat.” He’s already refilling my water glass. “You’re too skinny.”
“I’m really not?—”
“Eat.” Not a request. An order given with love.
So I eat. Because you don’t refuse Dimitri’s food. You don’t refuse the love language of this family.
And it really is fucking delicious.
Sofia sits beside my mother. They immediately start their own conversation—half in English, half in Greek. My mom is trying out the phrases Sofia’s been teaching her for fifteen years.
“Kalispéra,” my mom attempts.
“Kalispéra!” Sofia beams like she just taught a toddler to read. “Good, good. Now try?—”
They’re off in their own world. Two mothers, same age, bonded by working together and worrying about their daughters.
Alex catches my eye across the table. Her look says:We have to perform. We have to make it through this.
I nod slightly.
She takes a breath. Puts on her smile—the real one, not the fake one. Because these people know the difference.
“So,” Alex starts, voice bright. “Eleni’s birthday is coming up. What’s the plan?”
And just like that, the table erupts.
Everyone talks at once. Multiple conversations happening simultaneously. Hands gesturing. Voices rising not in anger but in emphasis. Customers laugh, some even chime in.
Sofia begins describing the cake she’s planning.
Dimitri starts arguing about the venue—here at the restaurant versus their house.
