Chapter 16 #2
“No problem…Hope,” Nikos said as he tested the name on his tongue, and surprisingly, it did fit her.
It had never occurred to him to wonder what her real name was because, though the name Honey had implications to it, it matched her.
But Hope fit her even more. It fit the side of her that he saw outside the club when she took off her blond wig.
“Uh un,” Honey said as she stood up from the couch. “Only the people who love me can call me that.”
“I love you. Can I call you Hope too?” Kai asked as he followed his mother into the kitchen.
“Only the people who aren’t my children and who love me can call me that,” Honey said, correcting herself as she pinched her son’s cheek.
“What about the people who want you?” Nikos asked. “Any exceptions for that?”
Honey glared at him as she dug around her fridge, pulling out food.
That was when Nikos noticed Honey’s sister watching him like she was looking at a species she had never seen before.
Nikos didn’t mind. He was handsome enough to be under that kind of stare most of the time, but there was a curiosity in her gaze that made him intrigued.
“How do you know Hope?” she asked curiously. “Are you her boyfriend?”
“Olivia,” Honey said in a warning tone from the kitchen.
“I’m speaking to Nikos, not you,” Olivia called back.
“Uh, no, we just work together,” Nikos said.
“Y’all just work together…but she invited you here to her home?” Olivia questioned.
“Nikos’s been here before!” Kai said. “This is his second time here.”
“Kai, what have I told you about being in grown folk’s business?” Honey admonished her son lightly. “And stop playing 21 questions, Olivia.”
“And this isn’t your first time here, but y’all aren’t dating,” Olivia said in a tone that implied that she didn’t believe them at all.
“Just because of the circumstances, kind of like tonight,” Nikos said as he gestured to his arm, not wanting to go into details about why he was here the last time.
Honey had been pretty cool about it and didn’t ask any questions, but he didn’t know if her sister would be the same way, and it wasn’t an appropriate conversation.
“You work at the club?”
“Yeah.”
“What, are you a bouncer there?” she asked as she looked at his build. “Bartender? Are men performing there now?”
“Can he get a chance to answer one question first?” Honey asked sarcastically.
“Not talking to you.”
“I’m not a bouncer, or a bartender, or a dancer, though I could be,” Nikos said, grinning. “You could say I’m there for entertainment. That’s all.”
Honey snorted before she mumbled under her breath.
He didn’t feel that it was appropriate to explain what his job was at the club, especially since he didn’t work directly there.
He worked for his uncle, so in turn, he hung out at the club at times.
He used to tell people that he was a pilot, but now he couldn’t say that anymore.
Now, he was an enforcer for his uncle, making sure that people paid Antonis, and if they didn’t, he visited them along with Christos and Jackson.
It was clear that Olivia didn’t believe him, but she didn’t question it anymore either, which Nikos was grateful for because he didn’t want a curious kid like Kai to know. He wasn’t exactly proud of the things that he did.
“Well, Mr. Entertainer,” Olivia said as she grabbed her purse. “It was nice meeting you, but I’m beat for the night, and I have a bed at home waiting for me.”
“It was nice meeting you too,” Nikos said as he stood. He guessed he should get going too. He hadn’t exactly planned on staying long. He could walk Olivia to her car before he went home.
“You’re leaving already?” Honey asked her sister. “You’re not even going to eat?”
“I already ate, and everything I want to ask you can’t be asked right now,” Olivia said as she glanced at him pointedly. Honey rolled her eyes.
“Bye, Kai,” Olivia said. “You be good tonight.”
“Okay,” Kai said as he gave his aunt a hug and accepted her kiss. Olivia waved as she stepped out the front door.
“I guess I’ll be going then too,” Nikos said.
“Aww, do you have to? I wanted to play the game together,” Kai complained. “Can you stay? Please!”
Nikos was at a loss for words. He didn’t know how to say no to Kai since the kid was looking at him with pleading eyes, the same kind of eyes Nikos had given his own mother whenever he wanted something as a child, and now he realized why his mother had always given in to him despite his father always getting upset, saying that she was spoiling him.
He looked at Honey, hoping she would be the bad guy because he already knew Honey wouldn’t want him to intrude on her private time. But what she said next surprised him.
“You can stay for dinner,” Honey said, and when his eyes widened, she quickly explained herself. “Think of it as a thank you for helping me tonight. I really appreciated it.”
“Yeah!” Kai cheered. “You’re staying, right? Please! Mom says it’s okay.”
“Okay,” Nikos said to Kai before adding, “You know you don’t have to thank me like this.”
Honey arched a brow, seemingly surprised by his chivalry, and Nikos grinned in turn.
“You can thank me with a date, maybe a movie, a little lunch— hah!” Nikos couldn’t continue any longer as he started to laugh when Honey made a killing gesture with her knife at her throat.
Kai dragged him over to the couch, and while they played the game, Honey cooked in the kitchen.
Nikos’s stomach growled at attention when the delicious aroma of the food hit his nostrils.
He hadn’t even realized he was hungry until now, and now he was really grateful that Honey had invited him to stay for dinner.
He would save her every time if it meant that.
It was over forty minutes later when everything was ready, and Nikos now sat at a small dining table in the corner of the room with Honey and Kai across from him.
On his plate was juicy roast, homemade mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and asparagus.
The sight of it made his mouth water. After saying a quick prayer, Kai was already digging into his food, messing up the nicely plated food.
Nikos almost felt bad for messing it up, but he was too hungry to care, and soon, he took a bite himself too.
He nearly moaned. That was how good it was.
“I know I’ve told you this before, but you’re really a great cook,” Nikos praised. The burst of flavors on his tongue was perfect, and it was one of the best meals he had since being in New York.
“Thank you,” Honey said in a nonchalant manner, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her.
“It reminds me of home,” he said. Honey arched a brow in confusion, and Nikos chuckled.
“It’s just that since I’ve been to New York, I haven’t really had the chance to have any home-cooked meals. I’ve mostly been ordering takeout and things like that.”
It had been over a month since he had his mother’s cooking and since he had tasted Ira’s great meals.
At times, he wanted to get on a flight back home solely for that, just to eat the food from his country.
The food in New York was okay. He enjoyed a few slices of pizza and a hoagie, but nothing matched the taste of Greek cuisine.
And at times, he missed it. Sitting here with Kai and Honey reminded him of the meals he had with his family back home.
Eating at the table and reminiscing on old childhood memories with his brothers, teasing Aris with the help of his sister-in-law Mia, and sweet talking his mother until her frown melted.
He missed it.
“You probably miss home,” Honey said.
“Dearly,” Nikos admitted. “I even miss my brother Pierce, and that’s saying a lot because I never miss him.”
“Where are you from, Nikos?” Kai asked.
“Greece,” Nikos said. “Do you know where Greece is?”
“Greece...” Kai dragged out as he seemed to ponder where the country was. “Oh yeah, that’s in Europe, right?”
“Wow, you’re right,” Nikos said as he gave Kai a high-five.
Kai smiled smugly. “Ms. Hughes says I’m the best in my geography class.”
“Now, all you have to do is be better at math,” Honey said, and Kai frowned as he slumped in his seat.
Nikos laughed, taking pity on him. “I wasn’t that great at math either. It’ll get easier.”
“If you miss home so bad, why did you come here? You don’t seem like the type to be sold by the American Dream,” Honey asked.
Sometimes, Nikos wondered why he was here too when he should be back home, hanging out with his flying buddies, helping test out new equipment and planes, and relaxing in his home on the beach.
Just a few years ago, he had a life of peace, one surrounded by the love of his family and friends, and the only bad thing was dealing with his father constantly pestering him about joining the family business.
But all of that changed the moment his family and the Petrakis family decided to end the war with a pact by marriage.
Nikos had thought his life would be simple.
He thought he wouldn’t have to worry about the stupid war that had been happening between their families long before he had even drawn breath on this Earth.
He thought he would no longer have to hear his father pressure him to join the family business because one of his brothers would be guaranteed to take over their father’s position instead after marrying one of Theodoros’s daughters.
But all of that changed after Tatiana Petraki’s death, igniting the war all over again, and he was dragged into it.
“I’m running,” Nikos admitted.
“Running from what?” Kai asked over a mouth full of food.
“Kai,” Honey chided as she helped her son wipe the food from his mouth. “What have I told you about eating with your mouth full? Swallow your food first.”