Chapter 17
seventeen
JAY
Java Monkey on a Saturday afternoon is chaos incarnate. The small coffee shop buzzes like a beehive, all energy and noise. The scent of espresso and sugar is thick in the air.
Calla’s sisters sit in a corner with their heads together. Their expressions teeter between concern and curiosity. I take a deep breath and jog to catch up with Calla, who’s trying her best to slip past them unnoticed. “Calla, wait up!” I call out.
She turns, crossing her arms in that defensive stance she takes when she’s bracing for battle.
“You’re not going to ditch me, are you?” I ask. I try to keep my tone casual.
“I can handle my sisters.” Her voice is firm. “You don’t have to chaperone us.”
“I want to.” I cut her mood off with the grin I know she finds irritatingly charming. “Besides, I’ve got to make a good impression on the in-laws.”
Her sigh tells me she knows she lost this round. “Fine. But if Cora kills you, it’s on you. ”
We continues to weave through the crowded shop. I can feel the tension radiating off her. She’s nervous about this. I don’t blame her. Meeting the family is never easy, but especially not under these circumstances.
The accidental marriage. The fake smiles. The pretense.
Yeah, it’s a mess. But I’ve learned that messes can be managed. You just have to lean into the chaos. That’s what I’m here to do.
Lean in.
“Calla! Jay!” The one with cotton-candy hair, who I assume is Calla’s younger sister, waves us over. Her enthusiasm is palpable. It cuts through the noise like a spotlight. “Oh my gosh, you brought him!”
The other sister is dark-haired, slim, and dressed like she’s ready to dominate a courtroom. This must be Cora, the attorney. She is staring a hole through the center of my chest.
That’s probably not a good sign.
Calla’s muttered “kill me now” makes me chuckle as we approach the table. She isn’t happy either, it seems, but exchanges hugs with her sisters.
Iris dives right in to hug me next, but Cora merely offers me a cool smile. “You came along. How… nice.”
“Cora, chill out.” Iris beams. “Sit down! Tell us everything! How did this even happen?”
Before Calla can answer, the owner, Azi, swoops in like a caffeinated hawk. His wild silver hair and twitchy energy make him seem like he’s fueled entirely by espresso shots.
“Congratulations!” he declares. He waves a handful of pink tissue paper. “Are you moving out from the apartment above your shop? ”
I jump in before Calla can say anything. “Thank you, Azi. We’re still figuring that out.”
She snaps her head to me. Her eyes are wide.
I give her a reassuring smile. Then I turn back to Azi, who’s already stuffing tissue paper into a vase like it’s the most important task of his life. “There’s plenty of time. I’ve never met two people who were crazier about each other. It was a pleasure to be your wedding officiant.”
Cora leans forward. “Azi, this is our first time meeting Jay. Can you believe it?”
“No?” He stills, looking between Calla and me. “I think you should have some space.”
“You’re a darling,” Cora purrs. “I love your Valentine’s Day decorations.”
Azi sets down a plate of heart-shaped sugar cookies before us and beams. “Thank you! I’ll just be behind the bar if you need anything.”
“Actually.” Cora sits back with a sigh, eyeing the pieces of pink tissue paper. “They don’t look great, but they do look like Azi put a lot of thought into them.”
“So, about you two,” Iris prompts, still beaming.
“Yes, let’s talk about that. What exactly is your plan?” Cora certainly has a way of cutting through the bullshit.
“Well—” I start.
Calla immediately cuts me off with a hand to my arm. “Cora, cool your jets. You’re not facing off with Jay in family court. You’re meeting your brother-in-law.”
Cora’s eyes flash and her nostrils flare. “I am just trying to protect you, Calla. That’s all I’m ever doing.”
Calla looks at her sister for a moment, then smiles and slides her hand across the table. Cora looks pinched as she squeezes her hand. “You’re the best big sister anyone could ask for. But I think I’ve got the situation handled. ”
I do a moment’s math. “Am I the situation?”
“That’s right.” Calla leans into me, letting go of Cora. “A very cute situation.”
“Cute? Can’t I at least be handsome?”
Iris speaks up. “I think you’re dreamy, if it helps.”
Everyone but Cora laughs at that. I nod my head. “Thanks, Iris.”
Iris blushes and looks pleased. Cora continues to seem bewildered. Calla squeezes my hand. “Show them what you’ve been working on, husband .”
“Oh, right.” I clear my throat. My tone shifts to dramatic. “Kalimera... uh... sas?”
Iris bursts into laughter. “That means ‘Good morning, you all,’ but close enough!” She giggles. “You’re adorable.”
Cora raises an eyebrow at me and her expression softens slightly. “You’re brave. I’ll give you that.”
“Some say brave. Some say stupid.” I lean back with a grin. “I guess the jury is still out.”
Calla’s thrilled expression makes my stomach do flip-flops. She makes me feel like a hero. First, she gave me everything I could have asked for and more in bed last night. Then I score major points just by repeating a phrase in Greek.
I’m already too comfortable with her. So comfortable, that I’m not quite sure when the lie ends and the truth begins. I feel like every day, the line blurs a little more.
“So, Jay,” Iris says, going into full interrogation mode. She leans forward like she’s interviewing me for a reality show, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “What’s it like being married to our Calla? She’s a bit of a control freak, isn’t she?”
“Iris!” Calla hisses. Her cheeks flush. She looks like she wants to melt into the floor.
I laugh. The sound comes easily. “I haven’t really come up against that, yet. I imagine it’s right around the corner, though.”
Iris laughs so hard she snorts. Calla pinches the bridge of her nose, trying not to join in. Even Cora, who seems like a tough nut to crack, allows a small, reluctant smile to creep across her face.
Victory.
“So, what are your intentions, Jay?” Cora asks, once she’s schooled her rogue smile back into a courtroom ready frown.
I meet her gaze head-on. Cora doesn’t blink. I respect that. She’s the gatekeeper. The enforcer. I get it.
“Well.” I keep a straight face. “I figured marrying your sister was the fastest way to get the secret family baklava recipe.”
Calla snorts, trying to stifle her laughter. The tension around the table cracks like an egg. For a brief moment, we’re all just people sharing a joke.
But Cora isn’t done. “I’m serious here. Calla’s not some... some project for you to take on in order to boost your brand, or whatever it is you do.”
I nod and shift in my seat to face her fully. “I understand where you’re coming from. You’re protective of your sisters. You should be. But I promise you, Cora, this isn’t a game to me. Calla’s important. I’ll do everything I can to take care of her.”
The sincerity in my voice surprises even me. It’s not a line or an act and Cora seems to sense that. Though her eyes remain skeptical, she doesn’t press further.
Iris, ever the peacemaker, claps her hands. “Okay, okay. No more grilling. Let’s just be happy for them.”
The conversation lightens up after that. We share the ridiculous details of the “proposal.” Even Cora seems less worried, despite herself.
Outside, Iris gives Calla a big hug, whispering something to her that I can’t hear, but that makes her smile.
Cora approaches, then pauses, looking between us like she’s weighing her next words. “Take care of her.” Her voice softens as she speaks directly to me. “That girl deserves the world. If you aren’t prepared to give it to her, you should let her down easy. And do it sooner rather than later.”
Whoa. How much does Cora know?
Unsure, I nod. “Thanks. I plan to.”
As they walk away, I glance at Calla. She’s watching them. Her expression is unreadable.
“Well.” She exhales a long breath once they round the corner. “That could have been worse.”
“Your sisters are great.” I keep my tone light. “I especially liked the part where Cora basically threatened to murder me.”
Calla laughs. A real one this time. Her shoulders relax for the first time all day. “She knows that our marriage is fake. She’s just protective. Besides, you’ll live.”
“Hope so.” I step closer, letting my tone drop a notch. “Because I’m starting to really enjoy this whole ‘pretend marriage’ thing.”
Her eyes flick to mine. The air between us shifts. Tension. Heat. Whatever you want to call it, it’s there. Undeniable.
“Jay...” she starts. Her voice is uncertain.
But I’m already leaning in. My hand brushes her waist as I close the distance. When our lips meet, it’s soft at first. Tentative, like we’re both testing the waters. Then it deepens. It’s a rush of something neither of us can deny anymore .
When we finally pull back, she looks at me. Her cheeks are flushed. Her breathing is shallow. “This is a bad idea.” Her whisper cuts through the tension. “It’s dangerous.”
I smile. I brush a strand of hair from her face. “Life’s more fun when it’s a little dangerous.”