Underrhelm

Chapter 14

RAYNA

While I was shoveling ice cream into my face, and binge watching The Real House Wives of Olympus, someone started pounding on my door. I answered to Valentine who looked hell bent on speaking to me. He had sweat on his brow and a sexy brooding look on his face. I was pretty sure there was no getting rid of him.

"Let him say what he needs to say and then tell him to get out." I instructed myself.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked while flinging the door open and walking back to the couch.

He slammed his body weight down next to me and hung his head.

"I need to know why." he prompted.

"Why what?" I replied.

"Why you chose Kiva over me." he stated flatly. My heart stopped for a moment.

"Did I fail to protect you, did I do something that made you think I was no longer good enough?" he snapped.

"Of course not! Is this why you've been a grump ass lately?" I shouted. "V, I know you can do your job. I have my reasons for choosing Kiva and they are mine. I am sorry if I made you feel like I lost faith in you. I haven't at all."

"We were close once ya know. You trusted me." he said sullenly.

"Remember how we met?" he asked.

"I kicked down the door at Morte, that bar you always used to hang out at." I chuckled.

"You shouted to the whole room, 'Which one of you dillweeds wants a good paying job!' and I thought this b***h is crazy and bound to have tough enemies." he recalled.

"I thought you were too scrawny to protect me." I chortled. V scoffed and pulled my hood over my face and we laughed together. It was so easy to fall for him. Effortless to let him see the surface. It was another thing entirely to let him see below that.

"I should get going, let you get ready for the party." he said smiling. I walked him to the door and replied, "Thank you for coming to me with this."

"Don't tell anyone I was insecure. I'll deny it." he warned before exiting. I close the door and leaned my forehead against it. A crushing pain wrapping itself around my stomach.

___________________________________________

VALENTINE

As I sat at the bar, I was impressed by how quickly Ray got someone to fix this place. Osiris poured me a drink and placed his hand on my cheek.

"Baby you look tired. Do you need help getting to sleep?" he winked.

"Unfortunately it's not you I want to fall asleep with." I responded, looking into his radiant eyes.

"I know, but she is incapable of giving herself to anyone. She gives all of herself to protecting this place and everyone in it. There isn't anything left." he replied.

His eyes grew wider somehow and I turned to see what he was ogling. It was Rayna entering the party. She never failed to take my breath away. She was wearing a tight dress with long sleeves off the shoulders and white platform boots.

"Though I could see why you would want to try." he whispered in my ear.

"I got it bad. Damn." I sighed in head.

I made my way over to Nyx and nudged her with my elbow. She was wearing a tool explosion of a dress and beaming with happiness.

"We are going to miss you peach." I smiled. I gave her that nick name after hearing 3 different women describe her as such.

"You chose alright for yourself." I said pointing my glass in Vikki's direction. She was the same height at Nyx but slender and she had mocha colored skin. Oddly enough she had a accents of pink that matched her partner, like they were made for each other. If you believe in that sort of thing. She was wearing a nice 3 piece suit and it occurred to me that they looked like they were at a wedding.

"Are you guys going to get married right after this?" I asked.

"No," she laughed, "After this we are going to sit with each other and take it all in. It took a long time to get to this happiness. Sometimes you just need someone to hold your hand while you process it." My gaze locked onto Rayna and without thinking I responded, "That sounds nice." She kissed me on the cheek and whispered,

"You know, I think if anyone has a chance, it's you." I smiled at her and took off for a cigarette.

"There has got to be something I am missing. Something Ray doesn't trust me with." I pondered alone. "Maybe she has someone or a lot of someones." Like I thought about her too much and it summoned her, Ray popped her head out of the front door startling me.

"Hey big guy, I'm giving a toast and the girls are taking off. You comin?" she asked. I shook my head yes and followed her in.

"Oh gods, don't call me that. It makes my insides want to explode." the voice in my head shouted.

Rayna stood on a chair and lifted her glass, "Everyone I'd like to make a toast! To Nyx and Vikki, may you always be friends as well as lovers. May you never stop laughing even when the jokes aren't funny. And lastly may you never regret this decision as you both will be alive forever!" she cheered. The crowed joined in cheering and clinking glasses. We all watched as the two took off into the night.

"Alright everyone before I take off I want to let you all know the themes that won the poll." she began addressing the remaining crowd. "We have princes and princesses, maids and butlers, pirates and pirate wenches and somehow, angels. You guys can decide what days you want to do what and I would also like to add one of my own. Beach night, micro bikinis and speedos for everyone." she grinned. "Rest up, we've all had a very stupid week. Goodnight." she ended and hopped off the chair. She was within ear shot as she spoke to Kiva. They made plans to drink wine and eat food after this. I left in a hurry too jealous to stay any longer.