Hold Me Today

by Maria Luis

  Mina’s relationship with her mother in the past year has been a slow progression. Weeks’ long stretches of silence turned into short chats on the phone, before becoming dinners and “family” nights where she regularly comes over for a movie and some popcorn. It’s not perfect, but it’s been better since her mother asked Yianni Pappas to move out of the house. When he caused a commotion and the neighbors called the cops, Mina and her siblings laid down the law: either their mom dropped her unhealthy marriage or they would drop her.

  The ultimatum worked, even though it’ll be a test of strength for me to avoid beating the man’s face in when I see him today. Mina issued his invitation, but on the strict condition that if he even attempted to talk to his almost-ex-wife, he’d be forcibly removed.

  By me, apparently.

  I can’t say the thought doesn’t leave a giddy smile on my face. After years of him making Mina feel like crap, I’d be more than happy to return the favor. Tenfold.

  The papas, or priest, pops his head into the room. “Time to get in your places. Effie, Ermione is waiting for you in the limo. Dimitri, you too.”

  My sister plants a quick kiss on my cheek, and then she and Mina’s brother hightail it out of the room. My best man—Vince, because the bastard would let no one else have the title—claps me on the back and announces, “Let’s do this thing.”

  The last time I stood at the altar waiting for my bride, I was blindsided. But Brynn wasn’t the girl for me. No, the woman of my dreams had been sitting front and center in the pews. She rescued me that night. And I like to think that even then, I knew Mina Pappas, the girl I’ve known since I was eight years old, would be the one to piece me back together again.

  As I walk down the aisle, my groomsmen at my back, I look at the people in the pews who have come out to see Mina and I get married. Old classmates, including Sophia and her new husband, wave to me. She called us after our engagement, taking responsibility for our relationship in the first place because love was in the air in Maine. Mina and I let her believe it because it made her happy. I spot my mom and dad chatting it up with one of their old friends, but the second they spot me, their faces light up with such joy that I feel a rush of gratitude.

  Their affection for each other showed me the kind of love I wanted more than anything, the kind of love I found with Mina.

  Beside them, Sarah sits with her and Effie’s adopted daughter, Thalia. She’s three-years-old, more adorable than any little girl has the right to be, and has completely stolen the hearts of every single one of us in the family. Seeing Mina hold Thalia does all sorts of things to my heart—namely, I can’t wait to see our own child in her arms someday soon.

  My gaze bounces over the guests until I spot a familiar brunette seated in the third pew from the front. I wondered if she would come, and I’m glad that she did. I stop beside her, dropping low enough to murmur, “Mina’s gonna want to meet you later. She holds you singularly responsible for me coming to my senses and realizing she was the perfect girl for me.”

  Savannah Rose tips her head back to meet my gaze. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  I nod to the dark-haired guy sitting next to her, reaching out a hand. “Good to see you, man. It’s been a while.”

  His smile isn’t as wide as Savannah’s, but I don’t miss the humor in his dark gaze. “Same to you, Stamos. Now get up there and get married so I can stop reading about this shit in Celebrity Tea.”

  I bark out a laugh. “Jealous I’m stealing the limelight away from you?”

  The crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes crinkle, and I slap him on the back before squeezing Savannah Rose’s arm. “See you two later.”

  With sure steps, I move to stand in my spot. Vince falls into place behind me, and the rest of my guys sit in the first pew. Although we could have had them stand up with us, Mina and I decided that we wanted to keep the ceremony small and intimate with Effie by her side and Vince by mine.

  I scrub my hands over my pants, and keep my gaze locked on the doors leading into the ecclesia. Any moment now, my nifi will walk through them. I wait, heart in my throat, as the guests take their seats and the music begins to play. I wait, even as the doors swing open and I spot Mina’s mom walking down the aisle with the flower girls.

  Her smile is hesitant, her shoulders not quite squared off, but she holds her chin up high as she keeps her gaze locked on me and the priest. The guests murmur to themselves as she passes them, and then their murmuring gains momentum when she doesn’t take a seat in the pews but steps up to my side instead.

  Surprise grounds my feet to the floor.

  “Everything okay?” I ask, my gaze snapping to the front doors of the church. “Is Mina—”

  “She’s fine, Niko. She loves you.” She fumbles with her purse, reaching inside. “I wanted to give you something.”

  Now? I bite back the question. “Of course.”

  I catch a flash of gold that she presses into my palm. Harsh edges cut into my flesh, and then Mina’s mom is talking fast, in Greek. “The cross belonged to Prodromos. I’ve kept it all these years.” She reaches forward and pats my chest, pulling at the lapels of my tux. Her lips slip into a watery smile. “You are everything I wanted for my daughter. Kind, honorable. A good, Greek boy who will cherish her. Thank you, Niko, for loving my Ermione.”

  My jaw tightens as I swallow. Every guest is looking our way, but I give Mina’s mother my full attention when I kiss her cheek, then kiss her other, as is the Greek way. “You don’t need to thank me for loving her, Kyria.”

  She nods succinctly, like she’s on the verge of tears. With another pat of her hand on my chest, she murmurs, “Give her the cross when you give her the ring. So she knows her father is here with her.”

  “I will.”

  I make the promise as Mina steps inside the church, and then there’s nothing on my mind but her. She has Katya on one arm and Dimitri at the other, and Effie behind her. My heart races inside my chest, and I lose all hope of keeping my hands dry when I drag my gaze over Mina’s wedding dress. It’s lace with a low neckline and no straps, and her pink hair—that hue that I remember so damn well—is down and braided, resting on her collarbone.

  The veil shields her face from me but I know, deep in my soul, that she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

  The four of them walk down the aisle, and when they reach me, Katya and Dimitri kiss their sister and sit down together in the first pew with their mother. Effie hangs back, fluffing her best friend’s train, before moving to the left.

  And then it’s me and Mina.

  I don’t wait for the papas to tell me to hold off or wait. Impulse guides my fingers to the gossamer veil, and I lift it up, revealing the jut of her chin, and the full, burgundy-painted lips, and the crooked nose, and those damn honey-rimmed-with-amber eyes that are my undoing. Around her neck is a copper penny hooked on a delicate rose-gold chain—a new lucky penny, given to her by my mother shortly after Jake Rhodan plead guilty in court. Only the love of my life would get more excited about a penny than the hydrotherapy room I finally put in for her a few months back.

  I wouldn’t change a thing, lucky penny or not.

  “Hey, you,” I murmur as I tuck the veil back.

  Her mouth purses to keep from laughing out loud. “You weren’t supposed to do that yet.”

  “I’m not supposed to do this either, but I’m willing to break every single rule—for you.” I hook my arms around her lower back, her father’s cross clasped in one hand, and drop my mouth to hers for a heady kiss. The guests roar with applause, clapping and whistling, and I hear one deep voice holler, “Can’t you do anything right, Stamos?” I know that last one is Vince, the asshole.

  “I love you,” I whisper by Mina’s ear, “and I didn’t want to wait until the end of the ceremony to tell you that.”

  Her smile wobbles, and her cheeks burn with color, and then she pulls me back down for one more lingering kiss. “S’agapo, and anytime yo
u want to stop a wedding for a kiss, I don’t see any point in protesting.”

  We exchange our vows, our crowns perched on our heads, as is Greek tradition, the strip of satin connecting the crowns together as a symbol that we’re now united, and then I turn to my best friend, my lover, and my confidante, and, yes, my sister’s best friend, and press her father’s cross into her palm. At the question in her gaze, I murmur, “A wedding gift from your mother. It was your dad’s.”

  Tears well in her eyes, and she sneaks a glance at the pews, no doubt looking for the woman who birthed her. She mouths something I can’t quite read from my angle, and then she’s glancing back up at me, her heart in her eyes and her dark-painted lips pulled wide.

  “I love you,” she tells me softly. “I love you so damn much.”

  She’s not supposed to curse in the church, but I’ll always be down to break the rules with her. Gently, with purpose, I slip a rose-gold band onto her finger, nestled next to her engagement ring.

  Nifi. Wife.

  Sýzygos. Husband.

  My hands are clammy and my heart is racing and there’s no use denying it: call me a romantic, a pussy, a believer in the unicorn of all emotions—true love—but I found the real deal in a woman with pink hair and a big heart and an even bigger smile, and I’m holding on with both hands.

  I lean down to brush my lips with hers. “I love you, too, koukla. Now and forever.”

  The End.

  Do you want to know a secret? The Put A Ring On It series isn’t over! Kiss Me Tonight, Book 2, will be releasing in Spring 2019, and it features a certain former NFL player…

  And before you go! Are you curious to know what happens at Nick & Mina’s big, fat Greek Wedding? Visit this link to download your exclusive bonus content!

  Glossary of Greek Terms

  Gamóto: (Gah-moh-toh). Translates to: “fuck.”

  Óxi: (Och-i). Translates to: “no.”

  Kyria: (Ke-re-a). Translates to: “Mrs.”

  Kyrie: (Ke-re-eh). Translates to: “Mr.”

  Maláka: (Ma-la-ka). Translates to: “idiot.”

  Koukla mou: (Ku-kla moo). Translates to: “my doll.” Koukla, used alone, is only “doll.”

  Éla edó: (Eh-la e-do). Translates to: “come here.”

  Naí: (Neh). Translates to: “yes.”

  Filakia: (Fe-la-kia). Translates to: “kisses.”

  Naí boreís: (Neh bo-rees). Translates to: “you can do this.”

  Gynaíka: (Gee-ne-ka). Translates to: “woman.”

  Tsutsuli: (Tsu-tsu-le). Translates to: “penis.”

  Ellenitha: (El-le-ne-tha). Translates to: “a Greek.” Similar to “American.”

  Ómorfi: (O-mor-fe). Translates to: “beautiful.”

  Koritsi mou: (Ko-ri-tsi mou). Translates to: “my daughter.”

  Pandofla: (Pan-do-fla). Translates to: “slipper.”

  Sýzygos: (See-zee-gos). Translates to: “husband.”

  Nifi: (Nee-fee). Translates to: “wife.”

  S’agapo: (Sa-ga-po). Translates to: “I love you.”

  Adelphé: (A-del-fe). Translates to: “brother.”

  Filinída: (Fe-le-ne-da). Translates to: “friend.”

  Mipos theloume: (Me-pos The-lu-me). Translates to: “we only want.”

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  Dear Fabulous Reader

  Hi there! I so hope you enjoyed Hold Me Today, and if you are new to my books, welcome to the family!

  In the back of all my books, I love to include a Dear Fabulous Reader section that talks about what locations from the book can be visited in real life or what sparked my inspiration for a particular plot point. (I like to think of it as the Extras on DVD’s, LOL).

  As always, we’ll hit it up bullet-point style—enjoy!

  It seems only appropriate to first answer the question . . . why Put A Ring On It? I’ve been obsessed with The Bachelor franchise and its many spin-offs for years. Many amazing authors before me have centered their romances during the filming of the show, and I knew I wanted to focus on the “after.” What happens when the contestants go home? What happens when footage gets leaked or someone falls in love while all of the world is watching—and expecting them to stay true to the “bachelor/bachelorette”? That’s where all the juicy material really seemed to be, and naturally, I gravitated right to it! Expect many more shenanigans and Celebrity Tea reports ahead!

  Do you recall Mina’s opening scene in the bathroom with Toula? Well, I’m here to disclose . . . that is from real life! When my god-sister got married, I was the one responsible for the dress holding, and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life. There are pictures, but to protect the innocent (and to avoid her coming after me), it’s best to keep those hidden. Even so, it was too funny to keep out of a book—so in it went!

  You may have noticed that this book is—ahem—very Greek. Many of my own experiences as a first-generation Greek-American bled into Mina’s personality. Analyzing self-identity via a cultural lens has always fascinated me. My parents immigrated to the United States from Greece (my mom) and Portugal (my dad). Growing up, I may as well have been the poster-child for My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I learned Greek before I learned English, but I still remained out the “outside” with my peers, as I was, for a lack of a better term, a “mutt.” Among the Greeks, I was the one with the Portuguese surname. Among the Portuguese (my dad did not enforce my brother and I learning the mother tongue), I was the one who couldn’t speak the language. And among the Americans, I was that “other” one. You can quickly see how confusing, and impactful, this could all be to a kid’s psyche! When writing Hold Me Today, I wanted to bring this cultural dissonance to light—but it’s equally important to note that Mina’s background is not an experience isolated to Greeks. My hope was, and is, that we will all be able to see a little bit of ourselves in Ermione “Mina” Pappas, no matter your lineage or culture or upbringing. And hopefully you’ve learned a handful of Greek words to use, as well! (If someone asks how you know so many curse words, I plead innocent, LOL).

  Mina’s dyslexia was inspired by a friend of mine who has dealt with it his entire life. Dyslexia comes in many levels and severities, but I chose to use his particular symptoms (strengths and weaknesses alike) as the foundation for Mina’s. For me, her struggle with dyslexia is very much a physical manifestation/metaphor for the cultural clash she experiences within herself!

  Greek dating camp, anyone? Yes . . . this is real, at least it is where I grew up in Boston! My own lovely yiayia (grandmother) attempted to send me to it the summer before college. Was I still dating my high school (non-Greek) boyfriend at the time? Yes. Did I beg my mom to nip this plan in the bud? Oh, you better believe it! LOL. While my grandmother wanted me to find my very own “nice Greek boy” to marry, I put up the protest of my life and managed to escape a month-long summer camp guaranteed to find me a Greek spouse. When it came to writing Hold Me Today, there wasn’t a chance in hell that I was leaving it out. Of course, I did put a fictional spin on it but I think Sophia approves. As for my grandmother, well, she’s just holding out for grandbabies nowadays!

  If you visit Boston, you must take a small detour to the North End! This historical, Italian, neighborhood is one of my favorite places in the city. The streets are narrow and winding, many lined with cobblestones. Copp’s Hill (the stop on Effie’s ghost tour) is an absolute must, as well! If you’re in t
he mood for some Italian food, a ghost sighting or two, or just a jaunt around a beautiful area of town, then look no further!

  Oh, Bethel, Maine, how I adore you so. Like the North End, Bethel is another must-see place if you find yourself near the White Mountains in Maine. I visited over the fall of 2018 for my cousin’s wedding, and many of the places there have been added to this book. It’s as quaint, as New England, and as charming as portrayed in Hold Me Today. I loved it so much that (hint, hint) a future Put A Ring On It book will take place in Maine, as well. Can you guess who it might be? (Spoiler: he’s an ex-football player!).

  Someone spending five-thousand dollars on French toast? While I was “researching” (I use this term loosely) for the craziest things people have ever spent their money on, you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon the treasure of all money-wasting treasures. You betcha—that mention of someone purchasing Justin Timberlake’s eaten French toast off eBay? It’s true! Naturally, I exaggerated the sum just a little (it’s fiction, I had to!) and instead of a known celebrity I went with one of my Blades hockey boys. Either way, it’s crazy, it’s bonkers, and for that 19-year-old’s sake, I sure hope the syrup was packaged on the side.

  As always, there are many more but here is just a sampling! If you’re thinking . . . that seems rather fascinating and I want to know more, you are always so welcome to reach out! Pretty much, nothing makes me happier =)

  Much love,

  Maria

  Sneak Peek of Tempt Me With Forever

  Curious to know where it all began? The Put A Ring On It crew first was spotted in Tempt Me With Forever, the fourth book in my NOLA Heart series. All books can be read as standalones—and a certain twin of one “Owen” from Hold Me Today is the hero of this book! Keep reading for a sneak peek, where Beauty Influencer Lizzie Danvers is determined to prove that bad boys can’t be tamed, and she’s found the perfect man for the job . . .