Nina's POV
I waited five minutes before going back inside.
The party was still going strong. Marcus was playing cards with his law school friends. Mom was showing someone pictures on her phone—probably wedding photos. Dad was telling a story that had everyone laughing.
Normal. Everything looked so normal.
But I'd just made a deal with my brother's best friend to lie to everyone in this room.
There you are! Priya appeared out of nowhere, grabbing my arm. Where have you been? Your mom introduced me to two different guys who apparently want to date you.
I was outside. Needed air.
With Theo?
My heart stopped. What?
I saw you two heading to the garden. Priya's eyes narrowed. What were you talking about?
This was it. The first test of whether I could actually pull off this lie.
Nothing important, I said. Just catching up.
Nina Kallas, I've known you for six years. You don't 'catch up' with Theo. You barely talk to him.
Well, maybe that's changing.
Priya's eyes went wide. Oh my God. Did you ask him to be your fake boyfriend for Santorini?
No!
You did! You totally did! She grabbed my shoulders. What did he say?
I should have told her the truth. Should have admitted the whole crazy arrangement.
Instead, I heard myself say: He's not fake, Priya.
She blinked. What?
Theo and I... we're actually dating. For real.
The words hung in the air between us. The first lie. And it had come out so easily.
You're WHAT? Priya's voice was too loud. Several people looked over.
Keep your voice down!
How long has this been going on?
A few weeks. We've been keeping it quiet because of Marcus. We didn't want to make it weird.
I was getting better at lying by the second. That should have scared me.
A few weeks? Priya looked stunned. And you didn't tell me?
I'm telling you now.
Nina, this is—wow. Theo Alexandris. Your brother's best friend. Does Marcus know?
We're telling the family tomorrow at Sunday dinner.
This is insane. This is—wait. Priya's expression shifted. Is this why you were freaking out about the Santorini wedding? Because you're bringing Theo?
Yeah.
And Dylan's going to lose his mind when he sees you with someone that successful.
That's kind of the point.
Priya squealed and hugged me. This is perfect! Nina, this is actually perfect! Theo's gorgeous and successful and he's going to make Dylan regret ever breathing.
Guilt twisted in my stomach. Priya was genuinely happy for me. And I was lying to her face.
We're keeping it low-key, I said. Don't make a big deal about it.
Are you kidding? This is the biggest deal! My best friend is dating a corporate lawyer who looks like a Greek god!
Priya
Does he have any single friends? Because if his friends are anything like him, I need to meet them immediately.
Someone cleared their throat behind us.
I turned.
Theo stood there, his expression carefully neutral. But his eyes were locked on mine, and I knew he'd heard everything.
Nina, he said smoothly. Can I talk to you for a second?
Priya grinned. I'll leave you two alone. But we're having a full debriefing session tomorrow about how this actually happened.
She disappeared into the crowd.
Theo stepped closer, his voice low. You told her.
I didn't have a choice. She saw us in the garden. She was asking questions. My heart was pounding. I told her we're really dating. That we've been keeping it quiet.
Good.
Good?
That's exactly what you should have said. His hand settled on the small of my back—light, barely there, but enough to send electricity through me. See? You're already better at this than you think.
I looked up at him. We were standing too close for just friends. Close enough that Marcus could probably see us from across the room.
This is really happening, I whispered. Tomorrow night, we walk into my parents' house as a couple.
Having second thoughts?
Are you?
Theo's hand pressed slightly firmer against my back. No.
Even though we're lying to Marcus?
Especially because we're lying to Marcus. His eyes flicked across the room to where my brother was watching us with a frown. If he finds out the truth, he'll kill me. So we make sure he never finds out.
And how do we do that?
We make this so convincing that no one—not Marcus, not your family, not anyone—questions whether it's real. Theo's thumb brushed against my spine through my sweater. Which means starting now, we act like a couple who's falling for each other.
Starting now?
Marcus is watching. Your mom is watching. Half the party is watching. His voice dropped lower. So I'm going to touch you like I have the right to. And you're going to look at me like you want me to.
My breath caught. Theo
Trust me.
His other hand came up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was casual. Intimate. Exactly what a real boyfriend would do.
What are you doing? I breathed.
Selling it. His fingers lingered against my jaw. Smile, Nina. Like I just said something that made your heart race.
I didn't have to fake it. My heart was already racing.
I smiled.
Theo's expression softened. For a second—just a second—something real flickered in his eyes.
Then it was gone, replaced by that controlled lawyer mask.
Perfect, he murmured. Keep looking at me like that, and everyone will believe this is real.
It's not real.
I know. But his hand was still against my face, his thumb brushing my cheekbone. But they don't need to know that.
Across the room, I saw Marcus stand up. He was heading toward us.
Marcus is coming over, I warned.
Then let's give him something to see.
Theo's hand slid from my face down to my hand, threading our fingers together. The touch was electric. Natural. Like we'd done this a hundred times before.
Hey, Marcus said, reaching us. His eyes dropped to our joined hands. What's going on?
I opened my mouth, but Theo squeezed my hand. A warning. Or encouragement. I couldn't tell.
We need to talk to you, Theo said calmly. Tomorrow. At Sunday dinner. There's something Nina and I need to tell you and your family.
Marcus looked between us. His expression was unreadable.
Something you need to tell us? he repeated slowly.
Tomorrow, Theo said. We'll explain everything tomorrow.
For a long, terrible moment, Marcus just stared at our joined hands.
Then he looked at Theo with an expression I'd never seen before.
Tell me you didn't, Marcus said quietly. Dangerously.
Tell you I didn't what? Theo's voice was steady. But I felt his hand tighten around mine.
You know exactly what.
The air between them was electric. Tense. Like one wrong word would make everything explode.
Tomorrow, Theo said again. Sunday dinner. We'll explain everything then.
Marcus's jaw clenched. You better.
He walked away without another word.
I looked up at Theo. He knows.
He suspects. There's a difference.
What if he confronts you before tomorrow?
Then I'll tell him the truth. Theo's expression was grim. That I care about his sister. That I'm not using her. That he needs to trust me.
None of those things were actually true. But they would be tomorrow when we told that lie to my entire family.
We should go, I said. Before someone else asks questions.
You're right. Theo released my hand slowly, and I felt cold where his touch had been. Get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be intense.
Theo?
He stopped at the door, looking back.
Are you sure about this? I asked. Once we start tomorrow, there's no going back.
For the first time all night, his mask slipped. And what I saw underneath was something I couldn't name.
I've never been more sure of anything, he said quietly.
Then he was gone.
I stood there in my parents' living room, surrounded by people who loved me, about to lie to all of them.
My phone buzzed.
A text from Theo.
Sunday. 5:30 PM. Don't back out on me, Nina.
I typed back: I won't if you won't.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
I'm already in too deep to back out now.
I stared at the message, my heart pounding.
What did that mean?
Before I could ask, another text came through.
From an unknown number.
Congratulations on the new boyfriend. Interesting choice. Let's catch up soon. We have a lot to talk about. - Dylan
My blood went cold.
How did Dylan know about Theo already? The party just ended. We hadn't even told my family yet.
Unless someone had already told him.
I looked around the room, suddenly paranoid. Who would have called Dylan? Who even had his number anymore?
My phone buzzed again. Another text from the same unknown number.
By the way, Becca says hi. She's very curious about your new relationship. See you in Santorini.
The message felt like a threat.
And suddenly, I realized: this fake relationship wasn't just about impressing my family and Theo's law firm.
It was about to become a war.
And Dylan had just fired the first shot.