"I know.I love cheap chips from fast food chains," I admitted."Especially after I've been drinking."
"That's because you haven't tried my version of their chips.All of the thin, crispy, salty goodness, but with thyme and oregano.Perhaps some feta if I'm in the mood for something cheesy."
"That does sound delicious," I admitted."But you might have to stop talking about food so much, or I'm going to get hungry.Your food was delightful tonight, but the portions were small."
He chuckled."That was all Aine.I think she was hoping people would have a lot more space for wine so that they were a little tipsy and signed up for more of her dating services."
"I'm sure she isn't that devious."
"She's a love goddess, she almost certainlyisthat devious," he responded."But I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about stopping us talking about food, that is what you're trying to interview me about."
"I could move on to some slightly less food-related topics," I responded."Why did you call your restaurantIl Cavalluccio Marino?"I ask.
"It means seahorse in Italian."
"I know, I looked it up.I guess I was just a little confused about why it was an Italian name?"
"I lost a bet."
That wasnotthe answer I expected.
"I lost a bet against Zeus, and my options were to spend a month in an aquarium as one of the attractions, or name my new restaurant in Italian."
"A month in an aquarium is an interesting choice.Surely that wouldn't have been so bad?"What was a month to an immortal being?
He sighed."I should have chosen it, but my pride got in the way."
"All right, so why call it after a seahorse?"
He laughed surprisingly loudly in response."It's a joke."
"I'm not sure I follow."
"I'm a seahorse shifter."
I blinked a few times as his response registered."You're a seahorse shifter?"
"Not what you expected?"
"No, not really," I admitted."I think I was expecting something more like a shark, or a dolphin."
"Neptune's a dolphin shifter," he responded."He used to remind me of that every time the two of us ran into one another.Thankfully, he stopped a while ago."
"Yes, I heard about the animosity between the two pantheons from Cupid," I said without thinking.
He raised an eyebrow."So one of your friends is dating Cupid?I heard he found someone."
"Yes."There was no point denying it now.
"Interesting.And I guess that gives me a way to contact you again."
"Or you could just ask for my phone number like a normal person, rather than trying to use a Roman god as a messenger."
"He'd probably do it," Poseidon said.
I laughed, thinking about the man my friend was dating.He probably would.If not for the chance to meddle in the love affairs of a Greek god, then for his love of Eloise.
"Perhaps asking for your number might be quicker."
