My Date From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, #2)

Whatever happened to dinner and a movie? (Part 4)

"You know, we don't really know much about each other at all," I said. "I don't even know where you live."

A flash of sadness crossed his face. "I have a place where I like to get away from it all."

"On Earth? Or in some alternate dimension?"

His lips quirked. "Yes, Sophie, on Earth." The way he said my name, in a sexy flow with his slight accent, made me prickle in happy delight. "And you? When you're not at school?"

"I'm mostly at school."

Kai frowned. "You must see your mother at some point."

I gave him a tight smile. "Felicia and I make it a point not to interact unless absolutely necessary."

"That's really sad." I could tell his concern was genuine.

I blinked a few times, willing my eyes not to get wet. I was used to Felicia and it didn't hurt anymore. Okay, it was no longer a sharp constant pain that I felt as panic whenever the holidays rolled around. More like a dull, throbbing sorrow that overwhelmed me on the odd occasion that I thought about it.

"When this first happened? I wished that Demeter ..." I shook my head, sharply. "Nevermind."

Kai took my hand. "I used to be really jealous of what Persephone had with Demeter, too."

I glanced up, startled.

He nodded with a rueful smile.

"Thanks," I said. "For sharing that. It's nice to know."

"That I understand what you're feeling or that we actually have something in common?" He poked me gently in the side.

"Both." It felt really nice to just sit here and talk. I wished I could prolong it, but we still had to find Jack and the clock was ticking. "Where are we going to find Maia? Wait, don't tell me. Atlantis. We have to find a lost city under the sea."

"Please. That's so 1800 B.C. Try again."

I tapped my index finger against my chin. "Florida. She's a snowbird. Has a really purdy trailer with a gnome."

Kai laughed. "A big ole' double-wide. Nope, sorry to disappoint, but she lives in Athens."

"How anticlimactic." I grinned, my body relaxing like melted butter in this new and precious moment of being a normal, flirty teen girl. I liked it. Go figure.

The elevator glided to a smooth stop. The doors opened soundlessly. Kai stood, his hand possessively placed on the small of my back. He guided me into the vast and very busy lobby.

Theo, Hannah, and Festos came barreling in our direction. They grabbed our arms and led us toward the bank of exits.

"Did something happen?" I asked, worried.

"We're your chaperones," Festos said.

Theo wriggled in between me and Kai. "One body width of space at all times as is proper." With a gleam in his eyes, he produced a small plastic ruler from his pocket. "I will smack your hands if hanky panky occurs."

I stuck my free hand behind my back. "Hanky panky? Gee, Mr. Rockman, you gonna bring us to the soda shop for malteds?"

"I'm just here as an observer," Hannah said as we piled through the revolving doors and exited.

The roar of the city hit me. London was so alive. Especially compared to my boring-to-the-point-of-comatose corner of Vancouver Island. Tiny cars zipped in and out between black taxis and double decker buses, while throngs of bright and beautiful people flowed up and down the streets, some with long, black umbrellas tucked under their arms. A wise decision given the heavy grey clouds overhead.

I stood there staring in awe, wishing we had time to sightsee but not wanting to stay exposed. "We shouldn't stay out here." I pointed upwards discreetly. "Could get company at any time."

"Stay against the wall of the Wing building and you'll be fine," Theo said. "No doubt Jack's put his own wards around the place to prevent unwanted attacks."

"Wow," Hannah breathed beside me. "Look at the architecture." It was wild seeing these old weathered stone buildings whose ground floors boasted high end retailers and restaurants. But it all worked, coming together with a crazy charm.

I nudged Hannah and grinned. "Check out the phone booth," I said delightedly. Not only were phone booths virtually nonexistent in our part of the world, this one was fire engine red.

"Aw," Festos said, "look at the little puppies so excited to be out in the big, wide world."

He tugged off my coat, forcing Kai and me to switch hands as he divested me of it entirely. Then he pulled off the turtleneck I'd been wearing, revealing my purple tank top underneath.

I shivered. "Hey, London's not a tropical paradise. I'm freezing here."

Kai tugged me in close, his arm over my shoulder. "Better. I don't feel like I'm hitting on the Pillsbury doughboy anymore."

My hand flew to my sapphire pendant. "This thing is the size of an egg. It must be worth a fortune. I'm gonna get robbed."

"Nah," said Theo, "no one will believe you're wearing a real rock that size."

I swatted at Festos as he fluffed up my hair. "What are you guys? Bad cop, good pimp?"

Festos grinned at Theo. "Pretty much," he said.

"So glad I could bring you two together."

"I'm still undecided," Theo said.

"Yeah, but I'm wearing you down," Festos pointed out happily. He blinked my jacket away.

"Give it!" I protested.

"Shush. It's waiting for you at school. I'm just making sure you spend quality eye candy time together." Festos tried to put my hand on Kai's butt. "Just trying to help the cause."

"Don't even," I warned him, jerking my hand away. Touching that part of Kai's anatomy could be detrimental (dee-tree-mental?) to my well-being. "And show a little decorum. We're going to Athens. The old country and all that."

"Maia," Kai clarified.

Festos and Theo exchanged looks.

Uh-oh.

"Kourambiethes?" Theo asked, cautiously.

"Better be," Kai said.

"What is it?" Hannah asked, her curiosity evident.

Mine too. This could be vital.

"Almond shortbread cookie," Theo said happily.

"Maia makes the best ones ever," Festos added.

"I'm skipping school with my already perilous status so that we can go eat cookies? No. No cookies. Cookies are not on the list."

"You have to eat cookies," Theo said. "Hermes' mom is totally insane. Refuse her cookies at your peril."

"To be fair, they are really good," Festos reiterated.

Theo nodded.

Maia was insane, huh? Maybe I'd get to vine something. That would be good. Release the tension and all, since I was trying hard not to hug Kai like a pillow. Also, hello? Cookies. Why fight it?

I sighed. "Athens, here we come."