Page 37 of Sweet Rule
“Law, the man of the hour. How are you this evening? I was worried you might not attend Honey’s party when the invitations were issued.”
“No reason not to take the opportunity to get the lay of the land,” I remark. Honey comes to a stumbling stop beside me and I can feel the heat of her glare. She heard me and when she crosses her arms and tosses her hair over shoulder, I’m expecting the venom that comes from her mouth.
“Wanted to make sure you got your money’s worth? You must be thrilled with how this is going your way, aren’t you?”
I look at her while Zeus tuts. “Now, now, Honey. That’s no way to speak to your intended, especially with the night’s itinerary.”
Honey and I look away from one another.
“What itinerary?” I ask.
“I don’t understand. You said it was just a party and that all I had to do was pick one of them.”
“And you did that. But for every wish I grant, Honey, there’s a price. I gave you Law because you asked for Law. You didn’t think you’d get your way without consequences, now did you?” he asks her.
Honey blushes and tucks her hands close to her body. “No…I-I mean, I, yes, I figured there would be something you would want, after the last time.”
Last time.
I want to know what the last time was and why she looks so unsure suddenly. Whatever it was, it has her shaken. Zeus is smiling benignly at her like a doting father. Whatever last time is to him it was a win. I’m going to break his jaw the first chance I get. He isn’t going to smile at her like that while she is barely able to stand under the pressure. The fire she was spitting at me is gone. Zeus has extinguished it instantly and now she is uncertain and leaning into me. I don’t think she realizes she is even doing it, but when it comes to picking between Zeus and me— Honey picks me.
She moves closer to me until there is only an inch of space between us, but I don’t move. I can feel the warmth of her against me and I’m not going to risk losing it by scaring her off. She is choosing me. I can work with this to get us back to where we need to be.
“Last time brought us here,” Zeus says with a flick of his wrist, motioning a server over to us. They have a tray full of champagne flutes and he passes one to each of us before he raises his glass in a toast. “Congratulations are in order to the happy couple, hmm?”
Honey nods numbly but says nothing when Zeus clinks his glass to hers. I meet his glass with mine and throw back the contents. “What itinerary?” I ask the second I finish my glass. “Seeing as I’m part of this family now, I want to know what’s expected of me.”
“Always asking the right questions, Law.” Zeus sips his glass and hums at the taste. “Exquisite,” he sighs, looking down at the glass as he spins it in his fingers. The bubbling alcohol fizzes and catches the light. “There are things that are just worth splurging on. A good champagne,” he says, raising his glass and winking at Honey who is sipping her drink, “my daughter’s comfort and of course, her wedding.”
Honey freezes, the glass still pressed to her lips. “What?”
“Your wedding, Honey. We’ve gone all out tonight to ensure that things are just so, and I see no reason not to continue, especially when you made your choice so quickly. I have to say, I expected for your selection of a suitor to go on for much longer but now that you’ve moved so quickly we have the night to fill and I think I know just the thing.”
She shakes her head, the glass nearly falling from her hands. “You can’t be saying what I think you’re saying.”
He is. We both know it. We don’t have to hear him say it, but he does all the same with a shit eating grin on his face.
“Oh, but I am. You’re getting married tonight.”
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
HONEY
I don’t know how I got here. One second I was watching my mother vanish into the crowd and riding that high and then I’m knocked on my ass by Zeus’ demand that I find a fiancé. I thought I had found a loophole by picking Law.
But now?
Now I’m getting fucking married.
Everything around me keeps going from bad to worse, every second turning into a fiery mess more fantastic than the last and I don’t know what to do to stop it. I swallow hard and lean forward, pressing my palms to the counter in front of me. There’s a dress behind me. It’s white and I’m thankful it’s not frilly, but there is the fact that it’s a wedding dress.
I stare at it in the mirror and swallow hard. It’s floor length and modest in it’s neckline, but there’s a slit up the side that hits my thigh. As far as wedding dresses go it could be worse. Doesn’t change the fact that I'm going to have to put it on and walk outside in less than ten minutes to get married to Law.
“Fuck,” I whisper to the empty room. What am I supposed to do now? I had agreed to this whole thing and picked Law to buy me time. I thought if I had just a little more time to think that I could get out of this, but every minute has Zeus tightening the noose around my neck that much tighter until I can hardly remember what it feels like to breathe without its weight on me.
There’s a knock at the door and my eyes pull away from the dress. I’m in a dressing room, or at least I think it is. There’s no windows or doors to other rooms. I know because I checked the second I was brought here. The thought of running, as irrational and ill-fated as it might be, crossed my mind instantly and if there was a window I might have done it. It’s not a suite but there is a dressing table, an ensuite bathroom and a small couch along with the clothing rack that holds my dress. I swallow hard and go to the door. I don’t know who it is. I fucking hope it isn’t Zeus, I’m scared of what else he’s going to want from me.
When I open the door I almost weep in relief. It’s Connie. “Hey,” I greet her with a shaky smile. I haven’t seen her much since I’ve been here. Only here and there and she never stays for long. I know she’s been watching me because every time I’ve felt nervous around the entourage that fills Zeus’ world, she’s right there with a sharp remark or cutting glare that has them falling back. She never lets them get too close, which is a comfort in itself to know.
