Forever E-Book

L.J. Diva

• Herausgeber: Royal Star Publishing
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: The Porn Star Brothers Series
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 762

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

This series is dedicated to…

Jackie Collins is the biggest inspiration in my life when it comes to writing, if not the only inspiration. She had the passion; the brains, the ballsy rollicking attitude, and the kind of life that made me want to be her.

And to the three Stefanovic brothers, Carlos, Pedro, and Tomas, without whom I would not have had names for my porn stars.

In the tradition of the bonkbustingly good Jackie Collins comes L.J. Diva’s Porn Star Brothers series.

They became the biggest stars in the history of ’70s porn. Now the Porn Star Brothers, Carlo, Pedro, and Tomas Stefan, are trying to get back to living normal lives out of the spotlight and away from the high drama that plagued them for so many months. The kidnappers are dead, they’ve been cleared of all charges, and their porn careers are over. It’s time for the next big step in their lives…

Love, Marriage, and Babies!

For Carlos and Pedro that is…

Since gay men can’t get married in the ’70s, Tomas struggles after his life-altering experiences to find his way to a new life with soulmate and porn star partner, Roger Dencott. But true love can only get them so far in the gay-hating real world away from the cameras…

Can true love conquer the world for all three Porn Star Brothers and will it be their Forever…?

Forever is the second novel in the Porn Star Brothers contemporary romance series featuring three sizzlingly sexy Greek Australian bad boy brothers. If you like family sagas, heartfelt romances and dancing to ’70s disco, then you’ll love the latest instalment in L.J. Diva’s page-turning series.

Unlock The Porn Star Brothers Series to start the romance today!

***These books contain swearing, lots of sex, and a plotline. They’re for the over 18s only, but we all know those younger ones will sneak a peek.

 **** In order of reading – Carlos, Pedro, Tomas, Retribution (or the Porn Star Brothers box set or collector’s edition paperback novel), Forever, Love Never Dies, Stefan: The New Generation, DeLuca, Spiros & Jenny, And Always.

Leseprobe

FOREVER

L.J. Diva

TIMELINE

October 1977

November 1977

December 1977

January 1978

February 1978

March 1978

April 1978

May 1978

June 1978

July 1978

August 1978

October 1978

November 1978

December 1978

February 1979

About the Author

Other Titles

Dedications

Copyright

October 1977

Jenny Stephanopoulos fluttered around her beautiful suite in the Elegance Hotel in Athens, Greece. She had so much to do before heading home to Mykonos for the weddings of her children. Helping her future daughters-in-law find dresses, and helping her sons find rings. There were arrangements to get to, and she had started with a phone call to Father Bowen of the Greek Orthodox Church to see if they could have the ceremonies the following weekend. They could, and so dates were set.

She looked up as Spiros, her husband, opened the door and let in Carlos, their eldest, and his future wife, Vivian, the gorgeous woman her son had chosen for his bride. Vivian Villiers was forty, a world-famous model with rolling brown curls down to her pert backside. She had a body men could only dream about holding, and women could only dream about having.

Jenny glanced from Vivian’s gorgeous peach-coloured dress, the latest style no less, to her own demure blue woollen frock and cardigan. It was almost November, the chill was in the air, and the dress was all Jenny had that was on the fancier side. Not that she didn’t have nice clothes, she had what she needed for their lifestyle, and Spiros had provided her with a nice life. But now that things had changed, maybe she could update her style and bring it into 1977, for a fresh start to 1978.

It had only been a week since Spiros’s grandfather, Giorgio Stephanopoulos, had finally dealt with the man behind her sons’ troubles. Stefano Papadopoulos, at one time Spiros’s uncle, had kidnapped her boys in the vain hope of killing them himself so he would inherit Giorgio’s estate. His plans had been thwarted, and now he was dead. And, as his only relatives, the Stephanopouloses had inherited his estate. Within weeks they would have money to burn, and Jenny planned on burning it to her heart’s content.

She sat at the table by the large floor-to-ceiling window to go over her notes. They had decided to stay in Athens for another week after dealing with Stefano and wrapping things up with the FBI who had become involved, using the time to acquaint themselves with the future in-laws, and letting Angie and Tomas recover from their health issues. She and Spiros had their suite, while the boys and their partners had suites of their own. She glanced from her list to the view to her son. Carlos Spiros Stephanopoulos, twenty-four, and a world-famous porn star. Oh, how I hate that the boys have fallen into that, she thought, watching Carlos with his father.

Vivian glanced up from Carlos’s side and moved over to join Jenny at the table. “So, we’re still on for shopping?” She still wasn’t used to the idea of having in-laws as Carlos had only proposed a week earlier, plus she was suffering the effects of morning sickness. As much as she loved shopping, she wasn’t sure she could tolerate being out all day.

Jenny eyed her up and down. “We are unless you and Angelina aren’t well enough. How are you dealing with the morning sickness?”

Viv smiled softly. “It’s not too bad. The ginger tablets help, so it doesn’t last long.” She shifted in her chair. “Um, are you okay with this?” she asked quietly, her emerald cat-shaped eyes glancing at Carlos talking to his father. “None of us have done things in a traditional way.” Delicately licking her lips, she looked Jenny boldly in the eyes. “Having your eldest and youngest getting their partners pregnant and then marrying them isn’t exactly the right way in the eyes of God.”

Jenny thought about it before speaking. “True. But while we go to church once a week it doesn’t mean we don’t understand things don’t always go to plan. God knows you love each other and that’s all that matters. Well…” a pause, “that and abiding by your vows. I hope you plan on taking them seriously.” She studied Viv closely for a moment before continuing. “I’d hate for my sons to get divorced in a few years. I want this to be forever for them.” While she waited for Viv’s reply, she watched Spiros answer the door again.

“I don’t plan on divorcing him, Mrs Stephanopoulos.” With another glance at Carlos, who was slapping Tomas on the back in a hug before he and Roger sat beside him on the couch, she continued with a smile. “This is it, for both of us.” She turned back to Jenny. “Forever.”

Jenny smiled. As much as she felt slightly uncomfortable with Vivian’s age, only nine years younger than herself, she saw the love that Carlos had for her, and that was all that mattered. She hoped.

Tomas popped up from the couch and walked over to his mother to kiss her cheek. “Hey, Mama. Having fun making plans?” He glanced at his future sister-in-law. “Viv.”

“Tomas,” Viv greeted warmly with a smile.

Tomas stood behind Jenny with his hands on her shoulders. She had been his biggest supporter in coming out to the family, and he would forever be grateful. He was also grateful that she had persuaded Spiros to be okay with it too. He looked back at his father and watched him closely as he conversed with Roger. Roger Dencott, the Australian working in Miami porn, was the love of his life. They had met the day he arrived in Miami and had quickly gotten to know each other before falling into bed. While Spiros seemed to accept Roger, and had been warm and cordial this last week, Tomas still had reservations. Carlos had definitely taken to Roger, and they sat chatting like lifelong friends. Pedro had no problem with him either.

Spiros noticed Tomas watching and gave his son a soft smile. It had been hard for him to see his middle child go through the fear of abandonment by his father, and Spiros knew that feeling well. He vowed to never do that to his own children and accepted that Tomas was different from his brothers. While they loved women, Tomas loved men; one man in particular who was sitting on the couch beside Carlos.

His eyes went back to Roger, and he saw how comfortable he was with his eldest. Roger had been accepted smoothly, and while it was not the way he, Spiros Giorgio Stephanopoulos, had been raised, or the way he had raised his sons, he knew it was important to Jenny, the love of his life, and Tomas, the spitting identical twin to himself. So he had let all past issues go and accepted Tomas for the man he was, and accepted the man he loved. Spiros glanced warmly from Roger to Tomas and smiled his approval.

Jenny squeezed Tomas’s hand. She felt the tenseness as he gripped her shoulders and watched him watch his father and brother with his lover. It had been a week since the introductions, and things had gone well. Spiros had some grumbles the first few days, but after spending time with Roger and Tomas, seeing how in love they were, he had softened and now seemed to accept Roger as another son.

Tomas finally looked into his mother’s blue eyes.

“Nervous?” she asked. “Or still getting over your illness?” She had been absolutely mortified to find out that Tomas’s first sexual encounter could result in a stalker who could poison her son and frame his lover. Luiz Manning had been Andros Poulos’s illegitimate child, making him Angelina’s half-brother, and he’d become obsessed with Tomas after being dumped in Mykonos, not only by his new male lover, but his fiancée Bertha St John. More so after he killed four men and framed Roger for it just to get Roger out of Tomas’s life. When Tomas was hospitalised after falling ill, Luiz kidnapped and absconded with him only to be shot dead by one of Stefano Papadopoulos’s henchmen. She had taken Tomas to a top doctor in poisons for a full blood work and made sure he ate three healthy meals a day to get his strength back. And he seemed to be doing well, except when he became nervous about Roger being around his father.

Tomas smiled down at the warm face of his loving mother. “Why would I be nervous?”

“Because you’re digging your fingers into my shoulders, and you always go a little green around the gills when you watch your father with Roger.” She watched his expression soften. “There’s no need to be, you know.”

His smile broadened. “Not with you here.” Leaning down, he wrapped his arms around her, his face beside hers. “I love you, Mama. And I’m fine. The doctors you took me to saw to that.”

Gently rubbing her face against his, she thought back over the five traumatic months they had just come through. “Good. I wasn’t about to let my baby be any sicker than what that bastard made you. I’m just glad he’s dead. That they’re all dead. All of the bastards that made my babies’ lives a misery are dead. But it’s over now, and you’re okay and safe and healthy. All of my babies are safe and healthy.” She kissed his cheek as the door was banged upon.

“I’ll get it,” he called out and all but skipped across the room to reveal Pedro and Angelina, who was fresh out of her sling, standing there.

“Hey, bro,” Pedro said as they walked in and hugged each other. He loped over to his father and planted a kiss on both cheeks before heading for his mother to do the same.

“My baby,” she said as he bent down to hug her. “Do you have everything you need? We’re heading home the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes, Mama. I’m ready to go.” He helped Angie into a seat at the table, kissed her head, and bounded over to the menfolk where he jumped onto the other single chair. “Hey, all. What are we doing today?”

“How are you today, dear?” Jenny asked Angie, watching as she rubbed her shoulder. “How’s the arm and the morning sickness?”

“The arm’s still a little achy, but good,” Angelina replied. “But the morning sickness is a bitch. That’s why we’re late.”

“We’re on no timetable, so the both of you take all the time you need in the mornings,” Jenny told her. “I certainly had to, especially with Carlos. I was so sick with him, being my first, and, of course, having never been pregnant before my body was out of control. I couldn’t stop it, and it had me out of commission for three months.”

“Ugh,” Angelina groaned while Viv pulled a face. “I don’t want it to last for three months.”

“Well, you may not suffer the way I did.” Jenny patted her hand. “It wasn’t as bad with Tomas, and with Pedro, I barely had any.”

“I’m not sure if I can get through three children just to not have morning sickness,” Viv told her. “I’m not even sure if I’ll be having any more after this one.”

Jenny looked at her sharply. “Why wouldn’t you be having more?”

Viv blushed. “Well…my age for a start…I’m surprised I became pregnant now.”

“Yes…” Jenny softened. “I suppose that is a factor.” Turning back to Angelina she said, “Are the ginger pills not working?”

“They help,” Angelina replied. “But they don’t stop it completely, and I don’t want to vomit on my father’s lawyer when I see him tomorrow.”

Jenny laughed softly. “I’m sure you won’t. Have you decided what you’re going to do about his estate?”

Angie shrugged. “I know what he did and that part I’m not interested in. I don’t want our home, so I’ll have to clear that out, and as for the club, Pedro suggested keeping it as an investment.”

“Do you really want to deal with running a club while you’re finishing Juilliard?” Jenny asked, shuffling through some papers. Because Angelina was closer to her son’s age at eighteen, she felt more like a daughter than Viv. Not that Viv wasn’t nice, she was just too old. And besides, Angelina was of Greek heritage.

“Yeah,” Angie muttered. “I don’t really want to deal with it, but I’m not that fussed either way. Not even sure if I want to go back to Santorini.”

“Then don’t. Tell your father’s lawyer to deal with it all,” Viv told her. “Who said you had to go back there?” She quite liked Angelina, the wee slip of a girl who was going to be her sister-in-law. Since Viv was an only child like Angie, she was looking forward to having a sister and brothers.

“Exactly,” Jenny agreed. “If you don’t want to go back, don’t. Get the lawyer to sell everything off and then set the money up for your futures and your children’s futures. Surely you won’t be having one child as well?” While she had hoped to contain her excitement over the upcoming grandchildren, she also hoped that there would be more down the road, but didn’t want to push either of the girls. With Angie still so young, more children would more than likely be a definite. But with Viv, not so much.

Angie smiled. She hadn’t felt the love and support of a mother in a long time. And Jenny Stephanopoulos was offering it in spades. I’m lucky to be marrying into such an awesome family, she thought, because the one I come from sure as hell wasn’t. “I think the reason Pedro suggested keeping it was because we met there.”

“It’s also where Andros drugged him, assaulted him, and you hit him over the head,” Jenny reminded her. “Is it really a place you want those memories of?” Her child’s welfare was all that mattered, not some stupid nightclub.

“That’s why I also suggested we move from our apartment in New York,” Angie replied. “Too many bad memories. Pedro’s looking into apartments in the same neighbourhood, so it’s still close to school and 69.”

“Will you still go back, with the baby due in June?” Viv jumped in. “I know modelling’s not a nine to five job, but I can take time off. Can you?”

Angie shrugged. “School won’t start until September, so we’ll have some time to settle in with a new baby by then.”

“It will still be a big workload, a baby and school. Will you be able to do it part-time, or will you get a nanny?” Secretly, Jenny hoped to be asked to help and hell, even if she wasn’t, she’d still be there for her son and grandchild.

“I hope so,” Angie told her. “If not, we’ll have to figure it out when the time comes.”

“So, what are you boys planning for today while the girls are off shopping?” Spiros asked his three strapping sons and Roger. While he still wasn’t sure of the whole homosexual thing, he vowed to love Tomas no matter what. And if that happened to be his son falling in love with a man, then so be it.

“Going and getting Viv’s ring.” Carlos kept his voice low. “She said to surprise her, so I plan on it. And since Mama insisted on us getting married in Mykonos as soon as possible, I gotta get a suit as well.”

“Same here.” Pedro put his feet up on the coffee table and his hands behind his head. “We may as well get that done today since none of us brought suits with us.”

“Looks like we’d better hit the jewellery store and the tux shop then,” Tomas said from his spot between Carlos and Roger on the couch. “We go home the day after tomorrow, and we’ve gotten nothing done all week.”

“That’s ’cause we had so much to catch up on,” Carlos said. “And we gave you and Angie time to get better. Speaking of,” he glanced at Pedro, “Has she sorted out her father’s affairs yet?”

“Sees the lawyer tomorrow,” Pedro replied. “We’ve been talking about it, and she’s still unsure of what to do. Get rid of everything most likely.”

Angie turned around in her seat. “We were just talking about that.”

Pedro turned his head.

She continued, “As much as you said to keep the nightclub because it’s where we met, I’m not sure I want the responsibility.”

Pedro kneeled on the chair to lean on the back and face her. “Even though I’d like you to keep it, I’m not fussed either way. If it would be too much for you to take on then sell it.” He flashed his goofy Stephanopoulos grin. “Whatever you want I’ll support.”

She smiled back. “With everything else we’ll be doing I don’t want to have to worry about a nightclub on the other side of the world. So…I think we’ll sell it.”

“Speaking of everything else we have to worry about,” Jenny added to the conversation. “Have you invited all your friends to the weddings?”

“There are only a few school friends from Santorini and Maggie from New York,” Angie said.

“Will she be coming with Mike?” Pedro asked her.

“She told me she was when I rang to invite them,” Angie said. “She’ll only be allowed to take a few days off, so won’t stay for the whole weekend.”

“When will they be coming in?” Jenny checked the guest lists. “We leave for Mykonos the day after tomorrow which is Wednesday, and then the first wedding is on Friday.”

“She said she’d fly in Friday night or Saturday morning, and then fly back out Sunday,” Angie told her.

“Right, so she’ll be staying one night then. We’d better make sure there are enough rooms so she and what’s his name…?” she glanced at Angie, “Mike, can have a room each.”

“There should be enough room since Giorgio rented the entire hotel for a week,” Spiros said, comfortable in his lounge chair.

“Yes,” Jenny replied. “That was very kind of him to do so.”

“He wanted to contribute to the weddings without interfering,” Spiros said. “But even that was too much.”

“Nonsense.” Jenny waved a hand. “It’s only the Windmill Hotel. It has lovely rooms and a nice view. Plus, it’s close to the church and reception venue, since the reception venue is on the hotel grounds. I thought it was most appropriate for the guests and very kind of him. Do you know if he’s coming to the weddings?”

Spiros sighed. He hadn’t been on good terms with his grandfather for nearly three decades, but after involving him in their troubles with Stefano, Giorgio made it clear he didn’t want to be where he wasn’t welcome. If the family wanted him, he would be there, but he would not force himself on his grandson and great-grandsons and their future. “You know I called him and invited him after that conversation we all had the other day. It was up to the boys whether they wanted him in their lives or not, and it was decided to invite him to the weddings, so he at least had something. That’s how come he booked out the hotel for a week, so we had a reception venue as well, and we didn’t have to go to the trouble of finding it all ourselves. That’s his gift to the boys.”

“Yes, but is he coming?” Jenny asked impatiently. “We’ve nearly filled up the hotel with guests, most of which are family.”

“Well, they’re certainly not my family,” Spiros said. “My brothers refused to come, and my sisters didn’t even get to talk to me. Their husbands answered for them.”

“Angry about Giorgio giving his belongings away, or that you chose to leave Greece nearly thirty years ago?” Jenny asked, scanning the guest list for her in-laws.

“The latter,” Spiros replied. “You know none of us have talked since we came back. They were angry at me inheriting the meat shop, so why would they talk to me?”

“What about our cousins?” Carlos’s interest was piqued. They had never met any of their cousins personally, but had been in the same space at the funeral for their grandfather. He remembered his cousins being ushered away from them by frowning adults he was told were his uncles.

“They’re not interested,” Spiros said. “I was shunned, so you were shunned. It’s not an ideal situation, but it was what it was. They were invited; they told me where to go. It’s unfortunate, but the way it is.”

“So, what about Stefano’s fortune? Are they annoyed about that?” Jenny crossed her in-laws’ names from the maybe list.

“I don’t think they’ve been told.” Spiros chuckled. “I also don’t think Giorgio’s told them what he’s done with his own estate.”

“That’s not going to end well.” Jenny moved on to the list of bridal shops in the city. “But will Giorgio turn up?”

A sigh left Spiros once more. “I don’t know. It will be up to him.”

“He doesn’t have much time left. And he more than likely won’t see his great-great-grandchildren be born,” Jenny added.

“I know, but as I said, it’s up to him,” Spiros repeated.

Jenny picked up a list that was very special indeed. Everyone had a job on that list, and she was hoping to pull it off without a hitch. “Well, it looks like we’d better get some more things crossed off. Boys, you have your tuxes to get today. Don’t forget to buy them and not rent them. And we girls have gown shopping to do. Plus, getting shoes and bags and all the other things you’ll need. And then my family are flying in tomorrow or the day after, and they’ll be helping.”

“Are all our cousins coming?” Pedro piped up excitedly. “We haven’t seen them since we left Australia.”

“Yes. Your grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, all of them are coming because it’s probably going to be the only time we’re all in the same room again.” Jenny Stephanopoulos, née Marsh, came from a huge Australian family. With six brothers and five sisters, they had over fifty children between them. And some of them were also getting married or having children of their own. The hundred room hotel was going to be packed to the rafters. “It’s going to be very rowdy and full. Prepare yourselves for nearly a hundred people.”

“Jesus, Mama.” Carlos leant forward so he could look past Tomas and Roger. “They’re all coming? Was there anyone you didn’t invite?”

Jenny smiled. “Of course not. Everyone was invited. It was up to them if they refused or not.” She glanced back at the list and saw Roger’s family crossed off. They had disowned their son after finding out he was gay, and even though she had called and invited them, they had refused to have anything to do with their son. Which is a pity, she thought. That people can’t be more open-minded. It is the ’70s after all. Free love, good times, and all that.

“So, Grandma and Grandpa, six uncles and aunts, five aunts and uncles, and all of the kids are coming?” Pedro was still kneeling in his seat. “Everyone?” He remembered the huge family barbeques back in Australia and running around their backyard with his cousins. “Every one of them?”

“Every one of them is coming.” Jenny gathered the papers into their folder and walked over to her son. Laughing at his excited puppy dog expression, she laid her hand on his cheek. “You’ll get to see your grandparents, your aunts and uncles and all the cousins again. Just like when you were kids.”

“Do they know about Tomas…?” Roger asked. “And me?” He slid his fingers through Tomas’s, wondering what the answer would be.

Jenny sat on the arm of Pedro’s chair and saw Viv join Carlos, and Angie sit next to Pedro on the other side of the chair. “I did tell them. I also told them that if they had a problem with it to not bother coming. I wasn’t going to put up with their vitriol if they didn’t agree with the way we do things. But, considering there were a few gay uncles in the family, I don’t think anyone minded.”

“There were what!” Carlos exclaimed. “I never knew that.”

Jenny laughed lightly. “Neither did most of us. But we guessed they were queer as we called it then, and it didn’t worry us all that much. Mum didn’t worry about it either. She liked her brothers and that was all that mattered.”

“Whoa!” Pedro breathed and glanced at his brothers in amazement. “The things you learn from being in this family.”

November 1977

Tomas put the finishing touches to his brother’s tux; a pocket kerchief, and a set of gold initialled cufflinks that were his and Pedro’s present to Carlos on his wedding day. The big day had finally come, and for Carlos and Vivian, it was about to get bigger.

“I can’t believe you guys bought me a pair of cufflinks for a wedding present,” Carlos said as Tomas spun him around. They were facing the full-length mirror in Carlos’s bedroom in the family home. He glanced down at the left one as Pedro walked in, resplendent in his tux.

“Why shouldn’t we give our big bro a present on his wedding day?” Pedro grinned and shoved his hands into his pockets before standing beside Tomas, so all three Stephanopoulos brothers were in the frame. “It’s a hell of a weekend and besides,” Pedro’s grin grew larger, “let’s hope it’s the only time you get married.”

Tomas smiled in agreement as he brushed down Carlos’s tux then put his arms around his brothers. “It’s a big weekend for all of us. Do you have the rings?”

Carlos stepped over to the bedside cupboard and withdrew a small velvet box. Opening it, he showed off the two gold wedding bands with inset diamonds for his and hers.

“Matches the engagement ring you bought her.” Pedro eyed the rings nestled in the small cushion.

“Didn’t you see them the other day?” Carlos asked.

“No, I was busy buying my own,” he replied, staring at the box.

Carlos handed the box to Tomas. “Now, don’t lose them, little brother, it’s your job to hang onto them until the ceremony.”

Tomas gazed at them for a moment, feeling a twinge in his heart before gently closing the box and placing it in his jacket pocket. “I won’t.” Glancing up he saw Roger standing next to his father in the doorway and caught the look in his lover’s eyes; the same look he knew he had in his own. A need and want and desire to get married like everyone else. Yet that was not an option if you were gay.

Spiros enjoyed the moment of his three sons standing in their tuxedos preparing for the big day. Although this was Carlos’s day, Tomas and Pedro were dressed to the nines as well, and he knew it was time to be their father. Stepping over to Carlos he took him by the arms and kissed both cheeks. “I know that because your mother is Australian, the weddings this weekend will be slightly tamer than most Greek weddings, but we still need to uphold some traditions. So, while all of the guests will be Australian or American, you boys are still Greek and are expected to maintain that heritage since there will be no one else there to do so.”

He gazed into his son’s eyes. So much like his beautiful Jenny’s. “You are my eldest, Carlos, I expect you to be a man now you are getting married and have a child on the way. The time for messing around with women is over. The time for whoring yourself out on the big screen is over.” A frown came to his face at the thought of what his sons had done. “The time for you to man up is upon you because from tonight, you will be a married man.”

Carlos blinked slowly. Even though he loved Viv and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, the realisation of the situation was just now sinking in. Sinking in now he had his tux on, sinking in now he had his father giving him a pre-wedding lecture, and his brothers were beside him in tuxes to match his own. “Papa,” he started then stopped.

“No, Carlos,” Spiros went on. “You need to be a man and provide for your wife and child now. You need a job that will provide what your family needs, and not what your own desires want. Stability and not pornography.”

“Papa.” Carlos licked his lips. “It’s not something I’m going to be in forever. As Viv said, I may choose to be a stay-at-home dad. I don’t know yet. We have the next few months to think about things and put a plan into action, so there’s no rush. Okay?” He took his father’s hands and kissed each one before kissing both of his cheeks. “I love you, Papa, but leave it. This weekend is all about celebrating. Your sons are getting married. Then we have Christmas and New Year’s, and then Viv and I will start making plans. But until then, can you just leave talk of jobs and work and plans until the new year? Please, Papa?”

Spiros relented. “Okay. But you know I had to give you that speech for your mother’s sake. Otherwise, she would have hounded me about why I didn’t.”

The boys grinned. “Yes, Papa,” Carlos said with a knowing wink at his brothers. “It was all for Mama’s sake.”

*****

Jenny walked around Vivian’s room at the Windmill Hotel. It was a gorgeous suite overlooking the back terrace, reception hall on the right, cascading gardens down to the seaside, and dotted windmills on the left. She took a moment to smell the aromas wafting through the French doors before shutting them. Deep ocean, succulent flowers, and all kinds of food floated along and made her mouth water. Turning from the closed doors, she saw Vivian emerge from the bathroom in a light pearl-grey silk pantsuit with matching heels, and a white lace ruffled blouse. When they’d gone shopping, Vivian had thought it more appropriate, not only for her age, but since she was far from virginal.

Compared with her future daughter-in-law, Jenny was feeling a little matronly in her own silk calf-length blue dress with its long sleeves and pearl buttons. Skin-coloured stockings and blue silk pumps finished off the outfit. She smoothed it down and watched Viv place a delicate antique watch on her left wrist. “All done?”

Viv looked up. The baby’s breath and miniature roses wound through her stylishly rolled, but loose up-do had a halo effect, making her look even more breathtakingly gorgeous than she already was. “All done,” she breathed and gave herself the once over in the mirror. “How do I look? It’s appropriate for a wedding, right? Even a Greek one?” She spun around, distress on her face. “What if I’m not Greek enough?”

Jenny went from a frown to a laugh. “Well, I’m not either. The wedding takes into account some Greek traditions, but not all of them.” She moved to Viv’s side. “Don’t worry. I’ve planned it perfectly. Hell, I’ve had twenty-five years to do it.”

With a knock at the door, Angelina walked in.

Viv sighed and glanced her way then back at Jenny. “I just hope there won’t be any problems with the priest about me not being Greek and all.”

Jenny shrugged. “Neither am I, but they eventually accepted me. Although in part, I think it was because of who I was related to. But I also think I’ve proven myself in the community. Besides,” she grasped Viv’s hands, “there will be more Australians than Greeks, so don’t worry.” Turning to Angelina, she added, “Feeling better?”

Angelina smiled wanly. “A little.” She was looking a little washed-out in the off-white dress she’d chosen. “Don’t worry Viv, how do you think I feel? I am Greek, but my father tried to kill my husband-to-be and ended up dead. And my ex-step-grandfather killed my illegitimate half-brother, so I have no family coming either.”

Jenny held out her arms for Angelina to come into the circle. “We’re your family now, believe that.” Looking from Angie to Viv to include her she continued, “Whenever you need anything, whenever you want anything, we’re your family, we’re here. We pull together in times of need, and after everything we’ve all been through, we need to pull together now more than ever. If you need help with the babies, just ask, and I’ll be there.” She hugged Angelina close. “Especially with you still being so young and wanting to continue studying. It’s going to be hard, and you’ll need lots of help, so don’t hesitate to ask.” She turned her attention to Viv and held out her hand again, waiting while Viv took hers. “That goes for you too. Babies can be a lot to deal with at any age.”

Viv smiled, feeling warmth flow through her at Jenny’s love and support. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt that from a parent and hadn’t been sure if she’d get it from Jenny. She was feeling the ice melt. Even though she hadn’t detected hatred or resentment, she hadn’t detected an overdose of love either. Probably my age, she thought. After all, who doesn’t love me?

There was another knock on the door and Sarah Marsh, Jenny’s mother, walked in. “It’s nearly five. Are you ready yet? Don’t we have to be at the church for a five-thirty start?” She gave Viv the once over. “My, what a lovely pantsuit, Vivian. It’s very becoming.”

“Thank you, Mrs Marsh,” Viv murmured. “I thought it was appropriate.” Not only did Viv have Jenny to contend with, but at least seventy other family members. Oh, good grief, she thought, how am I going to deal with all of them?

“I’ll call Spiros and let him know we’re leaving.” Jenny went over to the phone and dialled home, waiting for the connection.

“Hello.”

“Spiros, we’re ready and will be leaving for the church shortly. How are the boys?”

Spiros glanced behind him and saw all three still regaling themselves in Carlos’s mirror. He couldn’t stop a smile from forming on his lips. “They’re our boys,” he said. “Exactly how they always are. Fighting over a mirror to see which one looks best.”

Jenny laughed lightly. “Oh, they’re definitely our boys. I’ll see you soon.” Replacing the phone in its cradle, she turned to the others. “Grab your coats, it’s time to go.” After gathering their things they left and entered the melee that was the Marsh family in the hotel lobby. “Okay everyone, time to leave. It’s about a ten-minute walk, so it will warm you up. Let’s go.” Sliding on her coat, she took Viv by the arm and led the way down the cobblestone street to the island’s Greek Orthodox Church where she, Viv and Angelina entered by the back door, and Sarah led the rest of the family around to the front.

While Viv gave herself the once over in the mirror, Jenny went in search of Spiros and the boys, finding them in the nave near the door, greeting everyone as they came in and seated themselves. “Oh, look at you boys!” Jenny exclaimed, feeling her heart explode with pride at how devastatingly handsome and tall they looked in their tuxedos.

“Mama,” all three answered, but grinned at their mother’s affection.

Jenny took Carlos into her arms. “Oh, my baby’s getting married,” she murmured. Leaning back, she ran a hand through his hair. “My firstborn is getting married, my baby’s getting married.”

“Mama,” Carlos admonished, his grin growing bigger. “Pedro’s the baby of the family. I’m the man.”

“Better not let Papa hear you say that,” Tomas quietly told him. “You’d never hear the end of it.”

“And I’m not a baby,” Pedro admonished right back.

“But you’re not yet an adult. Not until February,” Jenny reminded him. “Until then, you are all my babies.” She kissed Carlos on each cheek, then Tomas and Pedro, and waved at Roger as she walked up to Spiros. “We’re ready on this end.”

Spiros slid an arm around her waist. “Just a few more minutes and we’ll be ready to go.” They saw the altar boys close the doors.

Father Bowen stepped forward. “Are we both ready?”

“Once everyone is seated we’ll start,” Jenny told him and watched as he nodded and wandered down the aisle to the altar.

“Does he know about Tomas?” Spiros asked as they faced the front.

“Probably, but not from me,” Jenny replied.

“Will he have a problem with it?” Spiros went on as they walked past everyone, making sure they all had their places.

“Who knows,” Jenny muttered, waving at family members. “But if he does he’ll have me to answer to.”

“And what about Sunday?”

“As far as I’m concerned that’s all set.” She smiled brightly at the boys. “Take your places; we’re almost ready.” With one last look at the whole Marsh family that had filled both sides of the church, Jenny dashed back to the waiting room to Angelina and Viv. “Ready to go?”

Viv froze. Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God, sped through her mind. I’m about to get married. Oh, my God, I’m about to get married. Oh, my God, can I say oh, my God in a church, wait, I’m not saying oh, my God, I’m thinking oh, my God. Oh, my God, can I think oh, my God in a church?

“Viv?”

She turned to see Jenny and Angelina waiting for her.

“Viv?” Jenny stepped over to her. “Are you all right?” Taking her by the arms, she peered closely. “You’re not going to be sick, are you?”

“No,” Viv said slowly. “I’m just…” a breath, “I’m just…” another breath, “oh, my God I’ve never been married before, and it’s really hitting me now.”

Jenny smiled. “It is a big step. But you love Carlos, don’t you?”

Viv stared into her future mother-in-law’s eyes. “Yes. God yes, I love him. I love him so much.”

“And this is the next step in that love,” Jenny said, giving her arm a quick squeeze. “Don’t worry, don’t fear, just love.”

Viv nodded slowly and regained her composure.

“Now,” Jenny told her, “let’s go.” She led Viv and Angelina down the hallway at the side of the church that led around to the front doors. The priest, Carlos, Spiros, Tomas and Pedro were there waiting.

Carlos’s eyes grew wide at the sight of his betrothed as she walked forward. “Oh, Viv.” His eyes roamed up and down, his heart beat in double, no, triple time, and he took a deep breath.

A shy smile spread across Viv’s face as she stood before him clutching her small bouquet of white roses. “Look at you. Incredibly gorgeous as always,” she said lightly.

Tomas took his position by Carlos’s side, and Pedro stood by his.

Spiros stepped around to Jenny’s side with Angelina on her left. The betrothal service was about to start.

“Do you, Carlos Spiros Stephanopoulos come of your own free will?” Father Bowen asked.

Carlos licked his lips nervously, tore his gaze from Viv to look at the Father. “I do.”

Father Bowen gazed upon Vivian’s beauty. “And do you, Vivian Marcella Villiers come of your own free will?”

She smiled brightly as she gazed upon Carlos’s freshly shaven face. “I do.”

“Then we shall continue.” Father Bowen turned and walked slowly down the aisle with Vivian and Carlos behind him. Tomas followed Carlos with Pedro following him as best men. Jenny and Angelina followed Vivian. Spiros trailed behind, closed the doors, and took his seat as they stopped at the altar.

“Do you, koumbaro, have the rings?” the priest asked Tomas.

“I do.” Tomas removed the box from his pocket, opened it, and handed the rings to the priest.

Father Bowen picked up each one, blessed them, and placed them upon the right ring finger of Carlos and Vivian before exchanging them three times. This symbolised that their lives would be entwined forever. He started chanting a prayer and placed his vestment over Viv and Carlos’s crossed hands. Once he was finished, he lit two candles and handed one each to the bride and groom to hold throughout the rest of the ceremony. Then he gathered two crowns, known as stefanas, held them up in front of the couple, and made three cross signs above them before holding them in front so they could kiss the crowns before he placed them on their heads. The stefanas were made of evergreen leaves to symbolise fertility, with orange blossoms to signify purity. There were small olive branches and herbs, all tied together with a white ribbon.

Tomas was beckoned forward to perform his duty, switching the stefanas back and forth three times before stepping back to Carlos’s side.

Father Bowen continued with Bible readings before presenting a cup of red wine for the bride and groom to drink from, then a spoon of honey nuts from which they ate.

Jenny glanced at her son and future daughter-in-law, tears welling in her eyes as she saw the joy and love in their eyes as the priest led them around the altar table three times in the dance of Isaiah. It symbolised that the couple would follow the word of God as they started their new life together. Once they circled, they stood before the altar, and the priest lifted the crowns and used the Bible to uncouple the joining of hands, representing that only God was able to divide them.

Jenny’s eyes wandered over to Spiros and saw him look her way. He smiled, and she remembered that day twenty-five years earlier in the little Greek Orthodox Church in Armidale, New South Wales. They had married in May, and she’d had Carlos nine months later. She wiped her tears away and remembered the overwhelming love that had taken hold of her that day; threatened to overload and overtake her, threatening to send her into a flood of tears as she gave herself to the man she loved. Glancing back at the happy couple, she saw the priest finish up and move on to the westernised Bible passages before Viv and Carlos said their vows. Jenny had made sure that not all of the ceremony was traditional Greek.

“Do you, Carlos Spiros Stephanopoulos, take Vivian Marcella Villiers, to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”

Carlos gazed lovingly at Viv. “I do.”

“And do you, Vivian Marcella Villiers, take Carlos Spiros Stephanopoulos, to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”

Viv gazed back at her betrothed. “I do.”

“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Carlos turned to his new wife and stared into her eyes. “Hello, wife.”

Sliding her arms around his neck, Viv replied, “Hello, husband.”

Their lips met as arms entwined and the church broke into applause. Viv’s mouth broke loose, and her head flew back in laughter as Carlos spun her around.

Jenny jumped forward to embrace Carlos. “Oh, my baby.” She hugged him fiercely. “I can’t believe you’re married.” She held an arm out for Viv and pulled her into the hug. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you,” Viv murmured as Tomas, Pedro and Spiros joined the hug.

Amongst hugs and kisses, the bride and groom made their way down the aisle, through the family, and into the night as husband and wife.

*****

“Here’s to Carlos and Vivian, long may they live,” Spiros declared, his drink held high.

“To Carlos and Vivian,” everyone murmured and threw back their shot glasses of ouzo.

“Let the festivities begin,” Spiros told the group and a traditional Greek band burst into life.

“Oh, my God, that was horrible.” Roger shook his head as he swallowed the ouzo.

Tomas agreed, putting his glass down and refusing a refill. “That’s why we don’t drink it.” He watched his father lead his in-laws in a circle dance, and as they passed their table waved for Carlos and Viv to join in.

Viv laughingly allowed Carlos to pull her into the circle, and she held hands with Spiros on her right.

Tomas watched the celebration from his seat at the head table for a few moments more before turning back to Roger on his right. “I wish we could do this.” His fingers wound through Roger’s, and he leant in closer to talk.

“Have a wedding reception?” Roger asked, wrapping an arm around his lover and gazing into his deep brown eyes.

Tomas smiled shyly. “Not just a reception, but a wedding.”

“A wedding, huh?” Roger mused. “Are you proposing, Mr Stephanopoulos?”

Tomas blushed and gazed down at his hand entwined with Roger’s. “I was kind of hoping you would.”

“Oh, really,” Roger teased. “Not up to doing what your brothers did and whipping out an engagement ring?”

The blush deepened. “Well,” Tomas said, “I was hoping since you were older and wiser…”

“And sexier,” Roger cut in.

That made Tomas laugh. “Oh, definitely sexier than my brothers.”

“Ew, not what I was talking about,” Roger told him, glancing over at Carlos and Pedro in the middle of the circle dance. “But now that you mention it…”

“Ew, Roger, stop kidding.” Tomas punched him lightly on the arm. “I’m being serious.”

“Well, in all seriousness, you know we can’t get married,” Roger said, taking a swig of the champagne the waiter had dropped off. It annihilated the taste of the ouzo.

A deep sigh left Tomas, and his eyes found his brother and Viv dancing with each other in the circle. Pedro and Angelina, his mother and father were around them, and the Marsh family around them. “I know.” His eyes welled, his lips quivered, and he quickly walked out of the reception room and stood on the terrace overlooking the ocean.

Roger followed and put his arms around Tomas. “Would it mean that much to you if we could get married, or be married?”

Tomas choked on a sob. “Yes. After everything I went through with Luiz, and being poisoned and kidnapped, all I thought of was you and getting back to you and being with you. I love you, Roger. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, but I can’t be…legally.” He sobbed. “And Pedro proposed to Angie, and Carlos to Viv, and the girls are pregnant, and now they’re getting married and what about us? What about me?” He looked over his left shoulder and into Roger’s eyes. “What about me? Doesn’t this Stephanopoulos brother get to be happy and married? Don’t I matter? Don’t I count?” Tears flowed down his face; hot rolling tears of pain and loneliness.

“Oh, my love,” Roger crooned, nuzzling Tomas with his cheek as he leant over his shoulder. Gazing across the ocean, he tried to soothe Tomas’s tears. “I love you, too, and I wish to God we could be married, but it doesn’t work that way. Gays aren’t allowed to be unless it’s to a member of the opposite sex. We can’t, no matter how much we want it.”

Tomas’s sobs deepened. “It’s not fair. It’s not fair.”

“I know, my love, I know.”

Jenny stood watching her son sob his heart out in his lover’s arms and felt her heart shatter into a million itty bitty pieces. Oh, how she ached for him. Just when he had found the love of his life and settled into who he was meant to be as a man, and an adult, his emotions threaten to overload and leave him behind. Society was threatening to leave him behind. But if it was the last thing she did, and she knew it wouldn’t be, Jenny Stephanopoulos was going to do something about it. She was not going to leave her son behind! With a swipe at her tears, she re-entered the reception hall and left them to their moment.

“Mama,” Pedro called, running over to her as she reached the table. “Come join.”

With a teary laugh, she let him sweep her back into the circle dance that was still going, and joined with Spiros and her mother until the music stopped a few minutes later for dinner.

After everyone was seated, and with Tomas and Roger back from their alone time, Spiros led the celebratory meal with a mention of himself. “We have lamb of all kinds for these celebrations. Lambs from my butcher shop, Stephanopoulos Meats no less, so you know that it will be the best in Greece. There is pig and fresh fish, alcohol for everyone’s tastes, and desserts to make your mouth water. So, dig in, and then tell me what you think of the lamb.”

“Spiros,” Jenny chastised. “This isn’t about you.” She pulled him down into his seat, and everyone dug in to the succulent Lamb Yuovetsi. A savoury meal of lamb, braised and marinated with ouzo and tomato, topped with Kefalotyri cheese, and side dishes of vegetables and spiced beans. Everyone talked among themselves while they ate.

“So…what do you think of Roger?” Matthew Marsh, Jenny’s father, asked his wife as he sliced into the lamb on his plate. “Did we even guess Tomas was that way?”

“Hush,” Sarah whispered, looking from Tomas to her husband. “I always wondered why he didn’t have a girlfriend, but he just didn’t seem interested either way. I should have realised considering my brothers were that way, even though no one told us they were gay, of course.” She took a sip of champagne. “But we all knew they were strange. The clothes they wore for a start. Tight pants and shirts, or shorts and t-shirts. Plus, they walked weirdly, and you never saw them with women.”

She watched those at the head table. Spiros and Jenny at the end, followed by Pedro and Angelina, Vivian and Carlos, then Tomas and Roger. Her gaze lingered on Tomas and Roger. They look like normal young men growing up in the ’70s, and Roger is Australian, she thought. They don’t look queer at all.

When Jenny had rung to invite them to the weddings, she had told her all about the future in-laws, and that one of them was a man. Jenny had warned her and the rest of the family that if they weren’t happy with them being gay, then not to come. She didn’t have an issue with it personally, having gay brothers and all, but had found out on the flight over what the rest of the family had thought. She turned back to Matthew. “Do you have a problem with him being gay?” She saw two of her daughters look her way. They were sitting opposite them at table two. There were twelve in all, with table one belonging to the bride and groom.

“Well, I guess it is the ’70s,” Matthew replied, watching Jenny continually glance down the table at Tomas and Roger with a secret smile on her face. “She’s up to something. Do you know what it is?”

Sarah glanced over at Jenny. “No, but then it might be a surprise.”

“Oh, I really don’t think I could eat this.” Angelina moaned softly and pushed her lamb aside. “The smell is turning me off.”

“Same here,” Viv told her quietly, finishing off the vegetables and spiced beans. “The vegetables I can handle, the lamb I cannot.”

“Is morning sickness all day sickness now?” Carlos asked them, finishing his meal off with favourite beer, as Jenny had seen to it that their favourite food and beverages were served.

Viv groaned delicately and dabbed her mouth before putting her napkin on her plate. “It must be. The smell of the lamb is just…ugh.”

“Or is it the smell of meat in general?” Angie asked, pushing her plate away. “I smelt the pork and fish before, it was the same. It made me sick.”

“Then just have vegetables tomorrow night.” Pedro leant toward her. “Coz we get to do this all again tomorrow.”

Viv and Angelina both looked at him. “Ugh,” they groaned in unison.

“Who’d have thunk it,” Antonio DeLuca, Carlos’s old bartending mate told a couple called Beth and David, who were relatives of Carlos. “That Carlos could pull a chick like Vivian Villiers.” He took a swig of beer. “She’s sixteen years older than him, you know.”

David laughed. He was the boys’ cousin and knew even when they were younger, running around the streets of Armidale, that Carlos was a stud with girls. “Oh, man, where have you been? He’s been like that all his life. He could pull any chick he wanted and had them waiting in a line around the block when he did a kissing booth for the school fate one year. He was fourteen, and it wasn’t long before they left to come here. Pedro was a bit too young for it, as were the girls in his class, but while they all had a crush on Pedro coz he’s so adorable, they had a bigger crush on Carlos. And of course, Tomas was never interested in girls, or boys for that matter. But look how he’s turned out.” He shrugged. “Aunt Jenny doesn’t have a problem with how her sons have turned out, or who they’re with, so why should we?” He picked up his own beer and took a long swallow.

“Yeah, but dude,” Antonio went on, watching the delicious Viv get nuzzled by Carlos. “She’s hot and older. What I wouldn’t give to get a real woman like her. An older woman. I wonder if she has sisters.”

David laughed again and shook his head. “From the way Carlos went on about her when he was fourteen, I don’t think so.”

“That’s a pity, but Jesus, Vivian Villiers.” Antonio’s jealousy burned through his body and out of his eyes. “Bloody lucky bastard.”

“Cheers to that.” David held up his beer bottle and clinked it with Antonio’s.

After a delicious dessert of baklava and strong Greek coffee, Carlos stood and dinged his champagne glass with his knife. “Everyone, can I have your attention.” He waited while the noise died down. “I want to thank you all for coming tonight. I know it was alast-minute thing and Mama made all the calls and probably threatened you all with bodily harm if you didn’t come.” The crowd tittered as Jenny blushed a deep red. “But it’s been a long time since we saw you all and believe me, memories have come flooding back for all of us.” He moved to wave at his brothers to include them. “Now, a lot of you know what we do, and a lot of you know Viv is a supermodel.” She blushed. “But tonight is all about our love and us coming together in this union called marriage. Because for me, there will never be anyone else I will ever want more, or love more, or need more, than this amazingly beautiful woman beside me tonight.”

He gazed down at her smiling face as the family clapped. “Viv, you are my everything.” He took her face in his left hand, and she nuzzled it. “You are my life, my wife, the mother of my future children, and I love you. I would risk my life for you. I will and would do anything and everything to protect you.” She kissed his hand. “And I am so glad that you accepted my proposal. I am so glad that you are my wife.” He picked up his champagne glass and faced the crowd. “And I am so glad that all of my family is here to enjoy it.” He spied his great-grandfather in the back of the reception room. “Especially my father’s grandfather, Giorgio Stephanopoulos, who is not long for this world.” He raised his glass to Giorgio who nodded his gratitude in return as everyone glanced to the back of the room. “Thank you, everyone, for coming and sharing our special day.” The room cheered.

“Okay.” Carlos put down his glass. “Now it’s time for the best man’s speech.” He looked at Tomas and slapped him on the shoulder. “Take it away, little brother.”

“What!” Tomas looked up in shock. “I haven’t…I didn’t…I can’t…”

“Who cares if you don’t have anything prepared, just say what you think,” Carlos told him as he sat down.

Tomas glanced wildly at Roger who encouraged him to stand up. “Ah.” Tomas looked down the table to see encouraging nods. “Ah…I…” He stood. “Didn’t know I’d need to do a speech, so haven’t prepared anything,” he told the crowd.

“Tell us about Carlos’s porn star career,” someone yelled out from the back of the room. Quiet laughter filled the space.

“Ah,” Tomas said and then had an idea. “I can’t tell you about that because if you’ve already seen it, you’d know all about it.” More laughter. “But I can tell you all about how he had a poster of the gorgeous Vivian Villiers on his wall when he was fourteen and what he did with it when he was alone.”

“Don’t you dare,” Carlos threatened darkly.

“We already know,” a man yelled out. He was Chris Marsh and had gone to school with his cousins as he was the same age as Carlos.

Carlos flew into a standing position. “Don’t you dare,” he told Chris, “or I will kill you both!” The other cousins laughed, for they all knew how Carlos had masturbated over that poster night after night because he’d been walked in on by Chris, Tomas, Pedro, and other cousins.

“That’s what you get for not locking the door when you’re doing it,” Cousin Dean called out. He was Tomas’s age and had also gone to the same school and had been one of the group to walk in on Carlos. “Next time you do it, lock your damn door.”

Raucous laughter followed, and Carlos went a deep red. Even Viv was blushing as she knew all about it. They looked at each other in embarrassment.

“Okay, okay.” Tomas put his hands up to calm the room. “Who knew, that when the great sex machine, Carlos Stephanopoulos, was fourteen, with a poster of the amazingly gorgeous supermodel Vivian Villiers on his wall,” Carlos threw him another threatening look, “that ten years later, after moving to Mykonos, that he would meet that gorgeous woman herself, the great Vivian Villiers, and capture her heart.”

“Aw,” went through the room as Viv and Carlos gazed into each other’s eyes.

Tomas went on. “That the gorgeous Vivian Villiers would be taken with the half Greek island stud of Carlos Stephanopoulos.”

“Must have been his ten-inch cock,” Chris called out. “It was used to seeing her after all.” Wild applause went around the room, and Tomas tried to contain his laughter and remain serious, but one look at a laughing Pedro and he joined in.

Carlos stood. “Not funny people!” he admonished and pointed to Chris. “I’m gonna get you for this.”

“Yeah! What with? Your ten-inch cock,” Chris replied and all the male cousins joined in with jibes and jeers.

“Well, that cock got Vivian Villiers, and it also got Berry Wilder, the first girl you liked and wanted to date,” Carlos told him.

The laughter died down to oohs and aahs.

“What!” Redness swept over Chris’s face as his cousin’s words sank in. “You what?”

Berry Wilder, named Berry for the colour of her hair but whose real name was Bethany, was a girl in their grade at school. She’d always had a massive crush on Carlos, but Chris had a massive crush on her.

“What?” Carlos repeated. “You don’t remember Berry?” Teasing his cousin, he went in for the kill. “Did you ever get Berry after I left?” Seeing Chris’s blank face, he went on. “What’s that? No? No, that’s because she had a taste of the great Carlos before I left.”