My face fell, arms dropping back to my sides. “You knew I was there?”
“The entire time. I have to say I was impressed you didn’t pass out again.” He brushed past me, eyeing the flyer.
I couldn’t form words. He was Hades. Hades.
He flicked a finger at the paper. “Are you entering this?”
I took a step away from him, worried he’d randomly light something on fire again. “Thinking about it.”
“I’ll enter with you.”
I laughed. “You?”
“Why not?” He narrowed his eyes.
“You’re—” I referenced him from head to toe. “You.”
“Who else would you enter with? Keith?” The corners of his jaw popped.
Did I sense jealousy in his tone? “Hades, did you…have anything to do with Keith’s food poisoning?”
“Did he die from it?”
I shifted my eyes. “No.”
“Then I’d say no. Look—”
He’d say no?
He stepped forward, and I grabbed the dangling pen again. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You’d be giving me another opportunity to be human.”
“No. Absolutely not. I can’t enter a contest with the—” I looked around for anyone else within earshot. “—god of the Underworld,” I whispered.
He leaned in. “Why not?”
“Because you’re the god of the Underworld!” I clapped my hands over my mouth.
“You’ve already danced with me once. How is this any different?”
“It just is.”
He glared. “You think I can’t handle filthy dancing?”
“It’s dirty dancing,” I mumbled, undoing my braid, and re-doing it. “Fine.”
On the inside, I was jumping up and down like a twelve-year-old me at a Backstreet Boys concert. I’ve wanted to try the dance since I was a little girl. Especially the lift.
He cupped a hand over his ear. “What was that?”
“I said fine. I’ll enter with you.”
He picked up the pen and scrolled our names with the flourish of ancient calligraphy. “I’ll make sure we win.”
“Wait—what do you mean? You don’t plan on setting people on fire or trapping them in Tartarus if we’re losing or something, are you?”
He cocked one eyebrow. “No. I was going to suggest we practice.” His arms bulged as he folded them over his chest, glowering down at me. “Seriously, what kind of person do you think I am?”
Did I risk the possibility of spontaneously combusting by telling him the truth? “I don’t know. I always pictured Hades to be like the one in the Hercules cartoon. Ruthless. Erratic.” And therefore, this guy couldn’t have been him.
He stared at me. “The Disney cartoon?”
“Yes.”
He dragged his hands through his hair. “I can assure you my true form doesn’t have flamin’ blue hair.”
A true form. Now all I could do was think about what that might look like. Horns? Pointy teeth?
I undid my braid and did it over again. “You never said anything about not being ruthless.”
His gaze dropped to the floor, narrowing. “Because I am when I need to be. I don’t take pleasure in punishing people, but those who deserve it…I don’t go lightly.” He lifted his eyes, locking with mine.
I gulped. “I thought I knew you, but now feel like I don’t know you at all.”
“I’m willing to tell ya anything you wish to know.”
I lifted my chin. “I went somewhere with you yesterday. Tomorrow, will you go somewhere with me? And Sara?”
He squinted. “Sure. But where are we goin’?”
“You’ll see.” I raised to the balls of my feet and flopped back onto my heels. “I should get going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Stephanie,” he beckoned. “I noticed the flyer said couples only.”
I cocked an eyebrow.
He nodded once. “How…interesting.”
“Why is that interesting?”
“They take Valentine’s Day pretty seriously around here.”
I’m sorry, what?
Before I had a chance to voice the thought out loud, he vanished.
“Did you tell Hades what time to meet us out here?” Sara asked, glancing at the clock hanging in the lobby.
“Did we decide on an actual time? I told him to meet us in the lobby in the morning.”
She crossed her arms. “Oh, great. Considering his love of all things dark, he’s probably a night owl and won’t show up until eleven.”
“Who won’t show up until eleven?” Hades asked after rounding the corner.
He had his same black ensemble on with the tank top and a flowy, undone button-up short-sleeved shirt. The sight of him made my heart race.
“There you are. That’s what you’re wearing? You might regret that choice. Let me get them to hail us a taxi,” Sara said, trotting over to the attendant desk.
I started to follow her, but Hades caught me by the crook of my elbow. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“It might be…” I bit my lip. “Too many clothes for where we’re going?”
He cocked an eyebrow before narrowing his eyes. “And you call me cryptic.”
“Come on, you two. Taxi’s here. Steph, you’re in the middle,” Sara beckoned.
Hades held his hand out for me to walk in front of him.
“Why do I always get the middle?” I grumbled.
Sara and Hades stood beside each other.
She motioned between the two of them. “You see how tall we both are, right?”
“Good point,” I responded, blowing out a breath.
We all slid into the back seat. I pressed my knees together and kept my elbows at my sides.
“You can lean on me, ya know? I promise I won’t break,” Hades whispered.
No. But I might. Something told me Sara wouldn’t appreciate us making out in the seat right next to her.
“Sidari Beach, please,” Sara told the driver.
Hades’ eyes narrowed. “Interesting beach choice, Sara. Any particular reason?” He leaned past me to look at her.
“The Canal d’amour, of course,” she responded with a grin.
Hades smirked. “I had a feelin’. You know those legends are a bunch of hogwash, right?”
“Wouldn’t be so sure about that,” our driver piped in, smiling at us in the rearview mirror.
“What’s the legend?” I asked, trying to ignore the feel of Hades’ leg brushing against mine.
“When a couple swims the canal they’re destined an eternity together,” the driver said, raising his eyebrows.
“And for singles, if you hop in when the canal is in the shade, you’ll always be lucky in love,” Sara added with a grin.
Hades rolled his eyes. “Like I said, hogwash.”
“Bit of a pessimist, are you?” The driver asked.
“I’m just someone who knows.”
I eyed Hades sidelong.
“Have an in with Aphrodite? If so, please give her my number,” the driver said, bursting into a fit of husky laughter.