Painted Blind Part 37

"...received a text from you this afternoon," Eros said. "You apologized for running away and said you'd be home tomorrow."

Much as I missed my dad, I didn't mind avoiding him for another night. The reunion wouldn't be pretty. "He's going to ground me until I die."

t.i.tus shook his head in disbelief. "You can't send her home. Not looking like that."

Instinctively, I touched my face. "What's wrong with me?"

"She's a riot waiting to happen," t.i.tus muttered.

Eros dropped a kiss onto my hair. "Her father will be reasonable, I'm sure."

"I can't go home?" I persisted.

"You can go home, but you probably don't want anyone but your dad to see you." Eros's eyes softened. "It was the only way to save your life. I couldn't lose you again."

I slid my hand into his. "You're burning the steaks."

Chapter 30.

I was so tired my vision blurred, but Eros wouldn't let me sleep. It was almost three in the morning. Aeas had been gone for hours. He bolted out the door the moment Eros said he could return to the kingdom, and he took t.i.tus with him. They crossed into Olympus and were flying home on horseback.

Eros and I sat on the same bed where I awoke earlier. I had taken a long bath and changed clothes. I no longer had to worry about invisible intruders. The ambrosia gave me immortal eyes. I could see Eros even if he was veiled.

"There are things I still don't understand about your world," I said.

"Sit up and look at me, so you don't fall asleep, and I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

I scooted away from the wall, crossed my legs and sat knee to knee with him. "What if I still nod off?"

He ran his hand over my knee. "Then I'll resort to more underhanded methods of keeping you awake."

I shook my head. "Forbidden fruit."

From his pocket he drew out a chain and familiar pendant. "Not anymore."

"Do you still want me for a wife?" I asked.

He fastened the pendant around my head and secured the second chain so that it stayed in place. "More than ever."

I yawned. "Why did Gina choose a mortal life? Aeas wouldn't say anything except that she had no right to send me to Aphrodite. Gina said she misses Aeas every day."

His expression saddened. "Yes, I suppose she does, but he won't visit her. Before he was just too stubborn. Now I think he's afraid. He can't bring himself to see her as an old woman."

"Was he in love with her?" My head sagged wearily to the side, and I could barely keep my eyes on him as he spoke.

Finally relenting, Eros stretched out his legs and pulled me between them, then tucked my head under his chin so I could rest against his chest. "No, it wasn't that kind of love. She's his sister. His twin."

"Why did she leave your world?" All my strength fled. If it weren't for his arms around me, I'd have fallen over.

"Her love was killed, and she wanted to die." He hugged me tighter. "I never understood her choice until today."

"I can't stay awake," I murmured.

"You can sleep now. I'll wake you if you tremble in your dreams."

"One more question," I mumbled, barely coherent. "Where are your wings?"

"On Pixis." He shrugged. "I've never understood why your mythology gave wings to me and no one else. Every immortal with a horse can fly..." His voice slipped away as my eyes fell closed.

I awoke but didn't open my eyes, too afraid the memories surfacing were imagined and I would find myself home in my bedroom, sketchbook in my hands and an imperfect resemblance of Eros on the page. I lay perfectly still and listened for my dad in the kitchen or the neighbor's dog barking. Instead I heard a sleepy groan and felt a body s.h.i.+ft beside me. The seams of our jeans caught as he rolled over. A hand found my belly and rested there. I opened my eyes.

Eros was still there, asleep and glorious in the sunlight, his hair tousled and his T-s.h.i.+rt rumpled. I drew the hair back from his forehead and pressed my lips there. He didn't stir. I didn't know if I would ever get used to looking at him. He would never cease to thrill me. I ran my fingers over the skin on his muscular arm. I still couldn't believe I could see him while I touched his so-familiar skin.

On the floor outside the bathroom was a duffle bag full of Eros's clothes. Handled paper bags next to it held women's clothes with tags printed in Italian. There was a silk camisole, a cashmere sweater and stylish wool slacks, all sized 4 tall. A smaller plastic bag held socks, a modest pair of panties and a bra, which was the right size. I didn't even want to know how he came upon that knowledge. A s...o...b..x at the bottom held a gorgeous pair of leather slip-ons. I knew enough fas.h.i.+on to recognize the designer and the expensive leather. Eros was prepared for everything, it seemed. And he had amazing taste.

I stole into the bathroom to change. I was thrilled by the clothes. Savannah would have been so proud-and jealous, of course. I had never bought clothes like this for myself. I had never wanted to turn heads or flatter my figure. Today I was delighted to slip into the outfit and beautiful shoes knowing Eros bought them just for me.

When I came out of the bathroom, he was sitting up in bed rubbing his eyes. "Now there's a sight to wake up to."

I turned a practiced circle. "When were you in Italy?"

"Last week, getting the task from my mother."

I smoothed the wool of the pants with my fingers. "I'm so proud of you."

"...for getting the sizes right," he finished.

"For not buying skimpy underwear," I countered.

He laughed as he rose and stretched. While he showered, I scrambled eggs and cut fruit for breakfast. I had just set two plates on the table when Eros came downstairs wearing slacks and a dress s.h.i.+rt. He laid a wool blazer over the back of a chair.

He b.u.t.toned the cuffs on his s.h.i.+rt. "Do I look fit to meet my future father-in-law?"

"You're going to let him see you?" I should have been flattered that he would allow my dad to see him, and of course, it would prove I didn't invent Erik in the first place, but the thought of introducing my dad to a real boyfriend after having run away for a week didn't seem like a good idea.

Eros took my hands. "He'll be sensible."

"Easy for you to say." I pushed the plates aside, no longer hungry.

Eros sat me at the table and scooted a plate in front of me. He took the other plate and sat beside me. Undaunted, he forked eggs into his mouth and waited until I did the same. "He'll only have to take one look at you to realize I'm right about taking you away."

"What about finis.h.i.+ng high school and going to college?" I asked.

"You were planning to move to a campus full of hungry young men without your dad, and you thought that would make you happy?" His tone was cutting.

"I like learning. I don't want to spend my life being ignorant." I was already at a disadvantage with Eros without being a high school drop-out.

"What were you planning to study?"

I shrugged. "Business, maybe."

He set his fork down. "You wanted to learn about business more than anything else?"

"Well, no, but a business degree is pretty safe when it comes to finding a job."

Eros shook his head. "Learning isn't the same as finding a job. If you could study whatever you wanted without worrying about finding a job later, what would you study?"

I could see where this was going. "Art. I'd learn to draw things as I see them. Learn to paint like the murals in your palace."

"I can offer you more than any university: master artisans and craftsmen, the history of two worlds, every concept of math and science in your world and mine." He nibbled on an orange and smiled playfully. "And later, if you still want a job, I'll send you out to herd sheep."

"Gee, how could I refuse?"

"Plus, I'll be with you every day, and we'll never have to hide." He took my hand. "Tell me that's worth more than a high school diploma."

"I'll have to learn your language first."

"Yes." He leaned over and murmured in my ear a phrase I'd heard him speak before while I lay in his arms. He pressed his lips to my hand and translated, "My heart and soul."

The six-hour flight wasn't nearly long enough. I was so worried about seeing my dad that I was ready to take off to Olympus and avoid the whole thing completely. Eros, however, was dead set on asking for my hand in marriage, so he insisted we go to my father's house as soon as we landed in Montana.

When the anxiety over this meeting threatened to drive me crazy, Eros took me into the stateroom and distracted me. Before I realized it, we were landing.

He drove me home in my own car, which had been sitting inside the jet's hanger. I offered to drive so he could disappear, but he refused. Usually he wore blue contacts if he had to be seen anywhere in the mortal word, but today he left them out, ready to show my dad his face as it really was. Eros's eyes were proof that he was no mere mortal.

The afternoon was growing gray as we left the airport. After so many extraordinary adventures, this short drive together seemed so normal. He reached across the center console and took my hand while he hummed with the radio. I wondered if this was why he had fallen in love with me and no one else. I understood the part of him which so enjoyed this mortal world, its flaws and its wonderful technology.

My dad's pickup was not at the curb when we arrived. Eros climbed out of the car with a stern order for me to stay where I was, then he came around and opened the door for me. That sort of chivalry made me feel foolish, but I allowed it. We walked hand in hand up the sidewalk.

The neighborhood was deserted. The neighbor's old Jeep was in her driveway, and across the street was an '82 pickup that never moved. I doubted it even ran anymore. My fifteen minutes of fame was over, and even the paparazzi had finally moved on.

Inside we waited. Eros sat calmly on the couch leaning forward with his fingertips pressed together while I paced. He followed me with his eyes, back and forth. At last he sighed, stood and crossed into the kitchen. He came back and offered me the phone. "Call him and tell him you're home."

All I managed to say after the single ring was, "Dad, it's me."

Dad replied, "I'm on my way," and hung up. Seven excruciating minutes later his truck rumbled up the block.

I turned to Eros, terrified. "Maybe you should... disappear."

Before my eyes he turned a little fuzzy. Not understanding what happened, I looked around, but everything else was clear.

Eros rested his hands on my shoulders. "He can't see me."

When the door swung open, I saw a mixture of fury and fear in my dad's face. His eyes narrowed as he slowly closed the door and stepped toward me.

Guilt made me want to hide, but Eros gave me a shove and I stumbled forward, right into my dad's open arms. I couldn't remember the last time he really hugged me, but he squeezed me in his tough arms, the smell of cold weather and sweat on his coat. When he stepped back and looked at my face, really looked, he put his hands on my cheeks and his forehead puckered in confusion. "What happened to you?"

"Dad, there's someone I want you to meet. This is Eros."

He looked over my shoulder and instinctively shoved me to the side, ready to put himself between me and the danger. Then he blinked, more confused. "You?"

"h.e.l.lo, Ron," Eros replied.

"Wait a minute. You guys know each other?" I demanded.

"We met once..." Eros began.

"...a long time ago," Dad finished. He looked at me then back to Eros. "It was you? You're Erik?"

Eros nodded, no trace of shame in his admission.

I nearly burst for fury. "You said you didn't believe me! You were going to s.h.i.+p me off to a mental hospital!"

"He only saw me once, Psyche," Eros explained. "He didn't know about my world or the portal."

"You left her out in the snow." Dad's eyes grew angry.

"About that," Eros replied, "can I say one thing in my defense before you try to kill me?"

Dad folded his arms across his chest.

"Her car was ten feet away. The keys were in the ignition. I had no idea she'd sit out in the cold all night like an imbecile."

"Hey, whose side are you on?" I exclaimed.

"On this one issue," Eros said, "his." He took my hand and made no effort to hide the gesture from my father.

"Where have you been for the past week and a half?" He eyed the two of us warily.

I didn't know how to explain wolves, flying to Nepal, nearly freezing to death on a mountain, and then travelling into the belly of the earth to find the kingdom of Hades. From Eros, I learned some things are better left unsaid. "I've been trying to win his mother's approval."

Dad's eyebrows shot up. "Did you?"

Before I could scoff, Eros said, "Yes, she succeeded. Now it's my turn." He drew something from his pocket and kept it covered in his fist until my dad put out his hand. Eros dropped a velvet pouch into Dad's palm.

Dad opened the pouch and poured out its lone content: a ring. It was a rectangular diamond swirled in an intricate gold setting. To one side was a figure clearly representing Eros with a quill full of arrows slung across his back. He reached across the diamond and touched a gold heart, which was set in the stone's center. On the other side, reaching back, was a maid with flowing hair. Their hands met over the heart. Though the entire setting was no bigger than my thumbnail, the detail of the people was lifelike down to their eyelashes and fingernails. "My mother's husband made it for us."

After studying it, Dad slid it back into the pouch. "She's too young for this." He dropped the pouch into Eros's hand.

"I'll give her all the time she wants, but not here. She isn't safe outside your home. Let me take her to a place where no one will stare at her or make her feel afraid."

I could see the war in my Dad's eyes. "You'll never come back?" he asked.