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Odin

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“Are you having fun?”

She took some time to let loose, but a smile has been fixed on her beautiful face for a while now.

However, since we've been together, I've learned that Elina has conditioned herself to hide her true feelings. I don't want her to have to pretend with me.

I visit this ranch often. It belongs to local farmer friends.

Many years ago, when my companies were not yet spread across the country, I came to visit a factory in Helena, the capital of Montana, and the owner advised me to extend the trip and spend another two days in Whitefish .

Like Elina, as soon as I arrived, I fell in love with the region. At that moment, I promised myself I would buy one of the farms here. After all, sometimes I need a break from the hustle and bustle of New York.

The neighbor who owns the property we are on has now become a friend, though I resisted his overtures as long as I could.

He and his wife and children form what in my head would be a perfect family. You look at them and perceive love.

I’ve planned something similar for myself for after I finish with my revenge, though I don't have any hope of falling in love. Still, I could try to build new memories. Ones that don't keep me from sleeping at night. Just having some peace inside my tormented head would be a big deal.

“Are you kidding? I don't think I've ever had so much fun in my life. I mean it: I don't want to go back to Manha . . . home ...”Her expression drops and I don't understand why.

Is it because she really doesn't like living in New York?

We're sitting by a fire, I have Elina on my lap, and we’re hugging each other.

“So you like it here better than where we live?”

She shrugs. “They're different places. New York is new, but sometimes I get scared with so many people on the streets. I'm used to our island, so I feel a little lost when I go to lunch with Cassandra. There are people everywhere. It can be suffocating.” She smiles awkwardly, as if apologizing. “Although my family has always had money, I like simplicity, especially nature. Why did you buy a farm here? So you would be able to breed horses?”

“Yes, but mostly because I wanted to have a quiet place to get away from it all. To be at peace.”

“And did you?”

“What?”

“Find peace.”

“Not yet, but I have hope.”

“I like you a lot, Odin, and I just wanted you to know that no matter what happens between us in the future, I'll always be around as a friend if you need me. I'm not very experienced with this friendship thing, but I've been practicing with Zoe and I think I'll get better as time goes on.”

She gives me a kiss on the cheek, and at that exact moment, as if a curtain has been opened, the certainty that I don't want to lose her hits me.

“Zoe says they live on a country estate in North Carolina. She’s invited me to spend a few days there.”Elina continues to speak, seeming totally oblivious to the plans starting to develop in my mind.

“You guys get along great, don't you?”

“Yes, she's wonderful.”

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “ You are wonderful.”

“Stop that. You don't have to work to win me over anymore—I'm already your girlfriend.”

“You're not my girlfriend,” I say, and as I say it out loud, I realize how wrong I've been all this time.

She pulls away and turns pale. “I thought we . . . I...”

“Look at me.” I take her chin and make our eyes meet, even though she doesn't seem to want to face me right now. “We're much more than that and we both know it.”

“I don’t know anything. Things between us always seem to keep switching labels. I've had a lot of different titles since I came to the States.”

“Maybe we need to settle permanently on one of those titles.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” She tries again to get up. “Are we breaking up?”

I pull her back into my arms. “No, I'm proposing that you live with me as my partner.”

“Another title?” Her chest rises and falls in quick breaths, and I can tell how anxious she is.

“You can call it that if you like. I know you said you don't want to get married, but what if we experiment with moving in together?”

“We're already living together.”

“Yes, but I always get the feeling you want to run away.”

“I don't want to run away, but I also don't want to get used to being with you. At some point I’ll have to be alone, move on with my life. You said yourself that you weren't looking for someone to . . . Anyway, I don't want you to feel obligated to stay with me just because you brought me here from Greece.”

“I don't feel obligated. It was never out of obligation that we’ve stayed together. I could have helped you without bringing you to live with me.”

“Moving in with you was an accident. It just happened because Naim?—”

I raise an eyebrow, and she stops talking.

We both know that excuse is beyond lame. I have enough money and resources to keep her safe even out of my sight .

“I don't want you to leave. Why can't we continue what we have but from now on with the future in mind?”

“You mean...building a life together, is that it?”Suddenly, she manages to clarify what I've been trying to say.

“Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Don’t leave me. Not tomorrow and not a year from now.”

“How can you ask this of me? Have you forgotten whose daughter I am?”

“No, I haven't.”

We are facing each other, both standing.

“Theo told me my father was responsible for Orien's death. Do you still want me by your side for the long-term?”

“You are not Leandros.”

“No, I'm not, but I'm ashamed of the things he's done.” She looks up, but I can't read her expression. “I think I understand what you meant when you said you weren't going to stop. You want my father to go to jail, don't you? Does this have anything to do with Orien or with your parents dying?”

Before I can respond, two teenagers, the children of our hosts, surround us.

“You can't go without dancing first,” says one.

Elina stares at me, looking panicked. If we hadn't just been dealing with something so heavy seconds ago, I would be able to smile when she spontaneously comes into my arms, hiding her face in my chest.

“What do you think of that invitation?”

“I don't know how to dance to this kind of music.”

“Me neither, but we can try if you want.”

“Okay. Let's try it,” she says, and I wonder if she's referring to the dance or giving our relationship a real chance.