“Promise us you’re not using her to get back at Katalina,” Theia Irida interjected. “Because if you’re using her—”
“I’m not,” I cut in firmly, ignoring the twist of guilt in my gut. Over the past week, everything had changed. The man who’d orchestrated this relationship as revenge against Katalina had disappeared, replaced by someone who couldn’t imagine his life without Tia. “Katalina has nothing to do with what’s happening between Tia and me.”
They exchanged glances, silently communicating in that mysterious way of theirs.
“We like her,” Theia Irida finally said. “She’s intelligent. Disciplined. A woman with focus.”
“And kind,” Yiayia added. “She has a pure heart.”
“She does,” I agreed. “She is all of those things.”
Yiayia’s expression grew serious again. “Then treat her accordingly, Santo. No games.”
“I know what I’m doing.” I brushed flour from my sleeves.
Yiayia snorted. “That’s what worries us,” she murmured, brushing a bit of flour from my jaw with motherly affection. “Be careful with her heart, agápi mou. And with your own.”
The arrival of a maid ended our conversation. I stood, brushing more flour from my clothes.
“And clean this mess up,” Theia Irida instructed, a twinkle returning to her eyes. “And don’t forget the backsplash. You always miss the backsplash.”
I laughed. “Yes, Kyria Christakis.”
After tidying the kitchen, I headed upstairs to find Tia. The flour fight had been just what we needed after yesterday’s blog disaster, but I knew we still had more to talk about. Her door was partially open, and I could hear her moving around inside.
I knocked softly before pushing the door wider. Tia was sitting on the edge of the bed in a towel with Zeus’ head on her lap. The dog looked satisfied as she stroked his fur. Her skin was still damp from her shower and her hair somehow seemed shorter while wet.
“Hey,” I said.
She looked up, startled. “Hey yourself.”
I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me. “Zeus seems to have chosen his favorite person, and it’s not me anymore.”
A small smile touched her lips. “He knows I need the company.”
In three strides I crossed the room, sitting beside her on the bed. Zeus gave me an annoyed huff before jumping down and padding to his bed—which he’d moved to Tia’s room.
“Are you okay?” I asked, studying her face.
Tia sighed. “I’m better than yesterday. Still processing.”
Without another word, I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her deeply, pouring everything I couldn’t articulate into the contact. Her hands slid up my chest to rest on my shoulders.
When we separated, breathless, I stroked her cheek. “Katalina won’t be a problem anymore.”
Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve handled it. She’s out of our lives for good.” The irony wasn’t lost on me. I’d started this to hurt Katalina through Tia, and now I was protecting Tia from Katalina’s hurt.
“How?” Uncertainty clouded her features.
I shrugged, not wanting to dive into the details of everything I’d been up to. “Let’s just say she’s received some powerful setbacks. Trust me, aggelé mou. She won’t be an issue again.”
Tia looked skeptical but nodded slowly. “If you say so.”
“I do.” I rubbed her thigh, my throat suddenly tight. The words I needed to say had been building all day, perhaps longer than I’d realized.
“I love you, Tia.” The confession escaped my lips before I could second-guess myself.
