Chapter 22 – Dancing Next to Death
After napping for a couple of peaceful hours, Dante stirred first. The late-afternoon sun filtered through the half-open blinds, painting golden stripes across the bed. Jasmine's blonde hair spilled over his chest; Amber's darker curls tickled his arm. He smiled at the sight and whispered softly,
"Alright, girls… time to wake up."
Jasmine stretched like a cat, arms high above her head, letting out a satisfied little moan.
"After that horror show at the park, I really needed a beauty sleep," she said, voice still husky.
Amber, eyes stubbornly closed, grabbed the nearest pillow and lobbed it straight into her sister's face.
"Will you shut up? I'm still sleeping!"
Dante laughed quietly, rolled over, and pulled Amber into his arms. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Lazy girl… we've got dinner plans. Come on, let's get ready."
While the three of them showered (separately this time) and changed into fresh clothes, Lenny was in the next room finishing buttoning his shirt. He glanced at Roxane, who was carefully slipping on a loose dress so it wouldn't rub her bandaged foot.
"Honey, if you don't feel up to going out, it's totally fine," he said gently. "Everyone will understand."
Roxane shook her head with a stubborn little smile.
"Nonsense. It's just a tiny cut. That's nothing compared to Dante's wound. I bet he's going anyway."
Lenny raised an eyebrow, half-amused, half-worried.
"Sweetheart, you can't compare your delicate self to a kid who looks like he just walked off a Rambo set. Even Rambo would be jealous."
Roxane rolled her eyes, but her cheeks warmed at the memory of being carried in those ridiculously strong arms—and how she'd conveniently "needed" mouth-to-mouth after the pool.
"Don't exaggerate, Lenny. He's just a normal teenager… except for certain things."
Lenny bit back a grin, remembering Dante casually slaughtering giant piranhas like they were goldfish.
"Yeah, normal like our son fighting the nanny because the chocolate wasn't the right brand."
Roxane was still lost in thought when Lenny's voice brought her back.
"Earth to Roxane… everything okay?"
She blinked, face red. "Yes! Just… a very exciting day, in several ways."
Lenny smirked. "Giant killer piranhas will do that to a person."
A little while later, the whole group piled into the cars and arrived at the restaurant—a cozy wooden lodge with fairy lights strung along the porch and only a handful of other patrons. Dante looked around and nodded approvingly.
"Nice and quiet. I like it."
Bella immediately zeroed in on him.
"How's the wound? Did it open?"
"I'm fine, sis."
"We're changing that bandage before bed so it doesn't get infected," she insisted.
"I don't need—"
Jasmine cut him off, arms crossed. "Listen to your sister."
Dante looked at the three women staring him down—Bella, Jasmine, Amber—and raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine, fine, you win."
The three exchanged triumphant little nods.
Inside, Dante flagged down the waiter with the confidence of a man who knew exactly what he wanted.
"My friend, three steaks—medium rare—two large fries, and an ice-cold Coke."
The waiter turned to the girls. Bella ordered a burger, Amber and Jasmine both went for tacos.
Then Dante's eyes lit up.
"Do you guys have desserts?"
"Yes, sir."
"Perfect. Bring me a whole chocolate pie. The entire pie. Not a slice."
Bella stared at her brother in pure disbelief.
"How are you not three hundred pounds with the way you eat?"
Everyone at the long table leaned in, curious. Dante just shrugged like it was obvious.
"Pure genetics, sorry. I was born with way higher muscle density than normal. Gives me extra strength and stamina, but the downside is I have to eat a ton more calories than regular people just to function."
Kurt's jaw dropped. "So you're basically Superman and your only weakness is… eating too much?"
Lenny burst out laughing. "When someone tells me the universe doesn't play favorites, I'm punching them."
Becky's eyes went wide. "So big brother is a superhero?"
Dante ruffled her hair. "Nah, just a regular guy… who's a little stronger."
Charlie and Sera nearly choked on their beers.
Later, around the crackling campfire, everyone roasted marshmallows under a sky full of stars. Only Dante was still happily working through his entire chocolate pie, fork in one hand, grin on his face like a kid on Christmas morning.
Jasmine and Amber sat on either side of Sera, watching him with soft smiles.
"Mom-in-law, does he always get like this with sweets?" Jasmine whispered.
Sera sighed fondly. "Only with sweets. He's had zero self-control since he was five."
Mental note for both girls: Learn to bake candy.
Roxane, sitting a little farther off, heard and nodded to herself too.
Marcus tried to rally the troops. "Come on, people, let's drink!"
Lenny shook his head. "Sorry, man. Kids now. Can't."
Erik, Kurt, and the wives all passed too.
Dante looked genuinely confused. "What's so fun about drinking? I never got it."
Marcus shrugged. "You're too young. When you're older you'll love beer."
Dante laughed. "With my body, beer is just bad-tasting water. Zero effect."
(Dante In his head: I'd need mythical Greek or Norse wine to even feel a buzz…)
Charlie patted Marcus's back. "One day you'll meet someone nice, buddy."
Glória added helpfully, "Want me to introduce you to my older sister?"
Marcus grimaced. "Thanks, but I'd prefer someone without a century age gap."
Dante, completely missing the irony, nodded seriously. "Single life is the best. No responsibilities, do whatever you want whenever—"
Marcus grinned huge. "Exactly! This kid gets it!"
He spun around triumphantly… and the grin died. There was Dante with Jasmine and Amber cuddled against his shoulders, feeding him bites of pie.
Dante kept talking, oblivious. "See? They're even stopping me from eating my pie in peace…"
Marcus glared. "Go to hell, Dante."
The entire table erupted in laughter.
Diane changed the subject fast. "Roxane, how did you and Lenny meet?"
Roxane smiled at the memory. "He came into the department store where I worked and asked for a skirt 'as a gift.' I helped him pick it out."
Diane cackled. "Classic clothing trick!"
Lenny just shrugged, happy-faced.
Then the music started—slow, romantic, impossible to ignore. Dante felt ice run down his spine. It was exactly like Final Destination: the moment the protagonist realizes death is coming.
He knew the sacred rule: a man with multiple girlfriends NEVER steps onto a dance floor with all of them at once. It's suicide.
He tried to stand up quietly and escape. Too late.
Bob, wearing the most innocent smile in human history, announced loudly:
"Everybody take your girls to the dance floor! I'm taking mine."
Dante froze. Two pairs of eyes locked onto him like heat-seeking missiles.
Charlie looked at his son and whispered, "You wanted the crown, kid. Now wear it."
Bob, happier than ever to screw with his son-in-law, kept going:
"Sweethearts, why don't you go dance with Dante?"
Kurt whispered, "Damn… the gnome went lethal."
Dante shot Bob a look that clearly said I should've let the piranhas have you.
Jasmine and Amber just smiled sweetly, each grabbed one of his arms, and dragged him onto the dance floor.
Bob watched, thinking to himself:
"Why are my daughters so crazy about him? Just because he's handsome, kind, polite, rich, strong, and saved their lives from giant killer piranhas without letting a single scratch touch them? Aside from that, what's good about it?
Thank God the other women couldn't hear Bob's thoughts.
After dinner and the (surprisingly non-fatal) dance, everyone finally headed home, tired but happy