I poke them both in the ribs, rolling my eyes again before I walk over to the edge of the stage to jump off it and into the house. Just before I do, huge hands swoop out of the darkness. My pulse jumps as Kratos gently lifts me by the hips, easing me off the stage and down to the ground as if I weigh nothing.
Then, without another word, he takes my hand and walks me up the aisle and into the foyer.
Once outside, he opens the door to a matte black Mercedes G-wagon. It’s funny, in my stalking of Kratos via his siblings’ social media, I’ve seen how he, like his brother Hades, is into cars. But I’m starting to realize that his taste in vehicles probably leans more toward big SUVs, like this G-wagon or the Defender I…cringe…burned. It’s not like someone his size is going to be cramming himself into a two-seater sports car.
We drive in silence for a few blocks before I clear my throat.
“Sorry about my friends. They’re…weird.”
He doesn’t say anything. But when I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, I see him grinning to himself.
“Why does your grandmother want to see us?”
I’ve met Dimitra twice now: once at a sit-down meeting involving the Drakos family and mine, and then again briefly at the engagement party. Both times, she’s been fairly cool to me.
Honestly? I’m not sure she likes me much. Which is fair, given my reckless actions made it so her grandson has to marry me.
“Not us. Just you.”
I stiffen, whipping my gaze to him.
“Wait, what?”
Kratos keeps his eyes on the road. “The Lord, and Dimitra Drakos, work in mysterious ways. You don’t have to worry, though. She’s harmless.” He turns to smirk at me. “Unless you make an enemy of her.”
I sink into my seat, apprehension washing over me as we make our way down Central Park West.
“Are we going to my place so I can change clothes?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Ya-ya is expecting us.”
My eyes widen. “Like, right now?” I glance down helplessly at my attire: I mean, I’m in leggings and a long-sleeved warmup top.
“Don’t worry. She really won’t care what you’re wearing.” He lifts a shoulder, his eyes still on the road. “Besides, you look good.”
I can feel my cheeks simmer. My phone buzzes, and I open it to see some new texts on my “Ballet Bitches” chain with Naomi and Milena.
Naomi
You neglected to mention that he’s a freaking GIANT! :o
Milena
Seriously
Milena
Is he…“proportional”?
My face burns as I scrunch down lower in my seat, twisting the phone away in case Kratos looks over.
Naomi
OMG MILENA
Milena
Fuck you! We’re both thinking it! ANSWERS, B! We need answers!
Milena
8================D
Naomi
LMAOOOOO
Me
They’re called BOUNDARIES
Naomi
lol
Milena sends a gif of a baby hamster nibbling on the end of a banana. My face explodes with heat.
Oh my fucking God…
