Sirens (Theo Raeken) [1]

Mortem

My grandmother is crying again.

Albeit for a different reason, but still. "This is why earthquakes happen," she sobs, a handkerchief held to her eyes. "He get you pregnant, didn't he? The American boy get you pregnant?"

Theo, now fully clothed, raises his eyebrows at me. I shrug in response. My grandmother continues. "Now how are you going to have pure Greek babies?"

I bite my lip to stop from laughing before cautiously treading around my next words. "Yiayia," I say, using my Greek name for her. "Theo didn't get me pregnant. It was just too hot last night."

My grandfather cuts in. "Did you know the name Theo is from Greece?" he says. "Greeks made everything, I tell you."

"Agh! You were in the same bed with him!" she continues to rant. She points an accusing finger at Theo. "He get you pregnant!"

"I didn't get her pregnant," Theo says with a grin, seeming to have way too much fun with this.

"Now how will Christ get you into heaven?" she demands at me. "The American boy made you have sex before marriage!"

"Yiayia, please," I say levelly. "He was sleeping in a different room."

She clears her throat. "Tell me truth," she says, using her signature broken English. "Did you get my granddaughter pregnant, malaka?"

"What? This innocent thing?" he says, gesturing to me. "Not at all. In fact, I'd never have sex before marriage. I'm a good, Christian boy who has never caused anyone any harm." He looks at me, that devilish grin on his face. "Arden is a good girl, I tell you." He fixes his eyes on mine, smirking his stupid little smirk. "She gets on her knees a lot."

I want to reach over there and smack his pretty little face. "For praying," I add quickly. "You know me. Always gotta keep Jesus with me."

"Oh, thank god," my grandma sighs. "I've raised you well, my sweet baby." She holds a hand to her heart before pinching my cheek thoroughly. I wince as she lets go, my cheek searing with pain. "You get dressed," she says. "But make sure the American boy doesn't see your boobs!"

I smile at the fragile old woman. "Of course not," I say. I look over at Theo. "Come on."

He grins at me before taking my hand and bounding up the stairs. He reaches for the doorknob and twists it open, holding the door open before pushing me inside with a push on the butt. Once we're inside, he opens his mouth to speak but I cut him off. "Please," I say, raising my eyebrows. "Don't say anything about what just happened."

He grins. "In all my years of killing and injuring people," he begins, "I don't think I've ever made anyone cry as much as I did just then."

I sigh, slumping down onto the bed. "I can't believe that just happened."

He laughs, long and boisterously. "Don't worry," he says. "That was fucking hilarious."

I allow myself to smile. "Are you staying the whole time today?"

He nods, tugging his v-neck sweater over his head. "Arden," he says. "I'm not going to leave you alone today. I'll be by your side."

I stood up and smiled as I leaned into the kiss. "Thank you, Theo." My fingers grapple at the undone buttons on his dress shirt and do them up.

I go over to my wardrobe and pull out a black structured dress which sits just below the knees. I slip it on and look in the mirror. "Do I look churchy enough?" I ask, trying to make an attempt at a joke that falls flat.

Theo, who is dressed in a suit and tie — something I've never seen him in before — hugs me from behind. "Are you scared about doing this?" he asks softly.