Yiayiá’s gaze shifts to Matt, lethal and purposeful, like a blade finding its target. She speaks slowly, carefully enunciatingeach word, her tone laced with malice. “When the devil tempts you, you don’t give in.”
Howdareshe blame Matt?
Words are falling out of my mouth before I can stop them. Before I can even think about the consequences. “Yiayiá, don’t be ridiculous. You know I’m not a virgin. Matt and I slept together in high school. I lived with Richard. I’m not—God.”
My voice falters. I stop myself.
Holy shit.
Yiayiá’s face has gone pale.
“Jordan Maria Demetriou,” she says sharply. “You shame yourself speaking like this.”
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, quietly. “I didn’t mean to?—”
Yiayiá opens her mouth, but Matt is already standing.
“We’re done here,” he says calmly. Firm. Controlled. Authority without a raised voice. Power you don’t have to explain. “Say what you want about me. But you don’t get to speak to my wife like that.”
He holds out his hand. My trembling fingers take it, letting him pull me to my feet, grounding me at his side.
“Ever,” he adds, before turning and walking us both out of the room with unshakeable confidence.
I follow, heart pounding, afraid to slow down or look back. I can’t believe I just disrespected my yiayiá. Said the unthinkable out loud.
Someone calls after us, but there’s a disconnect between my body and mind. I can’t place who it is.
It doesn’t matter. I don’t care.
Matt grabs our jackets from the foyer, not bothering to help me into mine or put his on. He swings the door open and slams it shut behind us.
The elevator ride upto Matt’s is silent.
So was the car ride.
My mind raced, and Matt let me stay in my thoughts. He kept his hand on my knee and his gaze on my face the whole ride home, while Istared out the window, thinking about my looming future. About what happens when my family decides to disown me.
I’m not mad.
I’m overwhelmed. Conflicted.
Part of me wants to believe that if this were real—if Matt were truly mine—that as long as I had him, I wouldn’t need them. That I’d be just fine without them.
But this isn’t real.
Idoneed them. They’re my family. I love them, despite it all.
ButGod, what Matt did back there…
The way he stood up for me.
The way he commanded the room by just being him.
It was sexy as hell.
I can feel him watching me, so I dare a quick glance. His jaw is set tight, arms crossed, but aside from that, he seems calm.
He’s just quietly assessing me.
