Fates' Folly (35 page)

"You make it sound like your boss is looking
out for me."

"And if he was?"

"How is that possible? I believe in the Greek
gods. They're my belief."

"Yet, in your time of need, who, exactly, did
you call on?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I
said, trying to tug my hand out of his.

He held my hand tighter. "Would you believe,
I get that a lot?"

"And that statement helps me, how?"

"Just remember, spiritual beliefs can
encompass many ideas and theologies, don't close yourself off to
the possibilities, or those who care."

"But I'm one of Hades' Assassins. I'm
immortal. It's kind of a done deal."

Peter smiled. Taking a second to glance over
at Riley and Barty, he said, "Nothing is a done deal. Often, things
are not as they first seem." He lightly kissed the top of my hand,
finally letting go. "Until we meet again," he said and walked away,
toward Carrie's office door.

I stared at the empty doorway until Carrie
herself came through, walking a straight line to me. "Myra," she
said, hugging me tight. "Are you alright, honey? I am so sorry it
took me so long, this skirt is such a bitch to get off. I thought
I'd never be able to wiggle out of it."

"Oh, Carrie," I cried, hugging her. "How can
I ever thank you? You saved me."

"Honey, what are you ruining your complexion
for? Like I told you, we girls have got to stick together."

"But you went furry for me, and I know you
don't like to."

"Myra, don't be silly. It's true I do not
like to go canine, but every once in a while, you've just got to
let your inner bitch out, you know what I mean?" She winked.

I nodded.

She pulled out her gold hanky, wiping the
tears from my face. "I'll be right back. I've got to go give Zeus a
hug. He thinks I'm his, gets upset if I don't say hello."

I watched her strut toward Zeus, who was
still speaking with Hades, Riley and Barty.

Sebastian tapped my shoulder. I jumped.

"Sorry," he said.

"It's okay, I'm a little jumpy." Sebastian
just stared, so I continued babbling. "I heard what Peter said,
sounds like Joshua's in good hands."

"Yes. I was able to explain everything to
Peter. He seemed to understand."

"That's good."

Sebastian leaned closer. "Hades just told me
he's making me his personal assistant. He says he was never going
to go through with sending me to Tartarus. He said it was all a
show for Peter."

I looked at the nasty burned skin on
Sebastian's chest. "Hades sure knows how to put on a show," I
said.

Sebastian looked down at his chest. “It
doesn’t hurt much."

He leaned forward, and I jumped back.

He gave me a small smile. "Thank you,
Myra."

I tried to smile back. "You're welcome."

"I'm going to be okay," he said. "I'll make
it up to you, you'll see," he added, just before he walked back to
Hades' side.

I didn't want to chance another run-in with
Hades, so I followed the path of rubble back to Carrie's office. It
didn't take long before Carrie joined me. We drank espressos and
ate honey buns until Riley and Barty interrupted our discussion on
laser hair removal. Carrie was wondering if I thought the hair
removal would carry over into transformation. What we disagreed on
was whether a giant three headed dog was any less scary because it
was hairless.

Barty and Riley helped me practice breathing
before we shifted home, but it didn't matter, my body had already
been through so much I didn't even have a muscle spasm.

Barty left shortly after stealing the rest of
my newspaper stash, saying he'd see me Friday, allowing me one
day's rest for committing an act of colossal stupidity.

I waved goodbye to him with my middle finger
and headed for the shower. After letting all the hot water run out
and getting an angry phone call from Mrs. Crowell about it -she did
not remember a thing, no rental discount for me-I put on a pair of
cotton pajamas and headed for the kitchen.

I stood frozen. Riley was sitting at my
kitchen table with his bedding and duffel bag piled on the table in
front of him.

"So, I guess you'll be leaving now that
Sebastian is no longer a concern," I said, sounding bitchy because
I was scared.

"I have no reason to stay," he said.

My chest began to hurt. He had said he loved
me. "I guess it will be a relief not to have to sleep on the floor
anymore."

"I like sleeping on the floor. It is good for
my back."

The tightness in my chest eased a little.

"Oh. Do you sleep on the floor at your
place?"

"I don't have a place. I make a pallet in
Hades' hall."

"The lounge/family room? Yeah, that place
looked pretty comfy." I held my breath, trying to keep the hurt
away.

"I've always thought it too soft. And the air
is dry, bad for my sinuses."

I took a deep breath of relief and smiled. My
heart ached, for an entirely different reason. "Georgia is never
dry."

Riley smiled back at me. "You would never get
soft, luxurious fabrics and pillows, would you?"

"Goodwill does not do luxurious
anything."

"Can I stay, Myra?"

"Please."

Riley stood up, opening his arms, and I
stepped inside, letting his warmth wrap around me.

"I was really scared,” I said.

"I was scared. You were very brave- very dumb
and careless and lucky, but very brave."

"Would you like to order dinner out and watch
a movie?"

"With you, always.”

Two weeks, one day later…

Knock, knock, knock. I delicately rapped my
knuckles on Mrs. Crowell's door.

She swung it open with a scowl. "What are you
doing home so early? Did you get fired?"

I smiled. "No, it's my last post planning
day, and I finished up early. Here," I said, taking a box of snack
cake rolls out of my bag and shoving it into her arms. "You're
skinny ass is offensive, eat something."

I enjoyed her open-mouthed expression of
shock for a few seconds before I turned on my heels and, pretending
I had an ass like Carrie's, walked away, sashaying myself all the
way up the stairs.

I truly felt good. Not only was I officially
on summer break, but Barty had some big waxing emergency and gave
me the evening off. I had a copy of Clash of the Titans, the
original, in my bag for movie night and… Darn, Bo was leaning
against my front door. And… Damn it, even with his arm in a sling
he looked sexy as hell.

"How did you beat me home?"

Bo smiled. "Fast car."

"Why are you here?"

"You've been avoiding me."

Yep, and with great success too. Not that it
was all that difficult with graduation ceremonies, sport awards
dinners and teacher of the year assemblies. Bo was such a
successful guy, everyone wanted his attention- except, apparently
me.

"I'm glad you noticed," I said. "Listen, I've
had some time to think, and I just don't think we should pursue
this thing between us. You could do so much better than me, and
face it, I'm really screwed up when it comes to men. I just found
my uncle, and he brings with him a whole family of complications.
I'll end up hurting you, and then you'll hate me. You need someone
more like you, someone slimmer, who doesn't have a potty mouth.
Someone who doesn't dislike people in general would probably be
good."

"Are you finished?" he asked, moving away
from my door, pulling his arm out of the sling and walking towards
me.

I nodded. "Yeah."

He stepped closer, pulling me into a hug. It
was hard not to notice the difference in the way my body reacted to
Bo’s hugs compared to Riley’s. Riley’s hugs made me feel warm and
safe. Bo's hugs made me want to rip his clothes off and grab the
squeeze bottle of chocolate syrup that was in the grocery bag I had
just dropped at my feet.

"Bo?"

He loosened his hold on me and bent down a
little, looking into my eyes. "First off, I desire you- round curvy
Myra, who is socially inept," he kissed my cheek, "dislikes
people," kissed my other cheek, "and cusses like a sailor," he
finished, before kissing me on my mouth.

"But I'm messed up." Bo kissed my neck. "I
hate men." He put his hands in my hair, ye gods, I love it when he
puts his hands in my hair and kissed up my neck to my ear, where he
nibbled. "I'm fat, getting fatter every day." He sucked on my
bottom lip, and then kissed me on the mouth again.

When he pulled away, he still had one hand in
my hair, his other hand,-wrapped in a cast- nudged my chin up so I
was looking into his blue eyes.

"I love you," he whispered.

He loved me?

"I..I…"

Bo grinned. "You don't have to say anything.
I don't want you to, not yet. Not until you feel it so much you
have to give it words. I needed to tell you, and you needed to
know. I'm not going anywhere, Myra. Crazy family, fat ass, or that
ugly orange chair of yours- it doesn't matter. I'm not going
anywhere," he said.

Okay, what the hell was I supposed to say to
that?

"Do you want to come in?" I squeaked.

"No, I've got a coach’s meeting. I'll see you
on Monday."

"Monday? What about tomorrow, and
Sunday?"

"Softball game, tomorrow. Visiting with my
mom and sister on Sunday," he said, giving me a peck on the cheek
and skipping down the stairs.

Dazed, I stepped into my apartment. As I
turned to close the door, I felt the weight of Bo's words hit me. I
leaned against the door and gently began banging my forehead in
frustration. "What the hell?" I asked the door.

“Ahem.” Someone- male, definitely male-
cleared his throat from somewhere behind me.

I wondered if I could sneak back out the
front door.

“Ahem.” He cleared his throat louder.

I turned around. A very large, way too
attractive man was grinning as he enthusiastically rocked back and
forth in my favorite orange chair.

Damn.

“I really like this chair. Did you realize it
rocks and swivels?” he asked.

“Of course I did. Why do you think I bought
it? What pain in the ass god are you, anyway?” He was too perfect
looking to be mortal.

He smiled a toothy grin. “I heard you were
feisty, Myra Jane Collier. I’m Ares, God of War.”

“What do you want?” I asked, not really
wanting to know.

“You’re going to help me.”

I sighed. “Would you like a cake roll?”

###

I hope you enjoyed Myra's first adventure. If
you would like to learn more about Myra please visit my website
www.ellanorris.com

Happy Readiing!

Ella