“Soyou’rethe girl who has managed to convince my brother to give monogamy a try.”
It doesn’t sound like an accusation, more like she’s shocked, amused, and trying to figure out what my magic is.
Apollo has already picked up one of the scones from our table and is slathering a thick smear of butter onto it. I roll my lips. Ares was right, they are some hungry boys those athletes, and I guess mi casa es su casa when it comes to siblings sharing food.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Athena picks up her drink and takes a sip. She leans toward me. “Blink twice if you’re being held against your will and need to be rescued from my asshole little brother.”
Her accent is warm and rich, her tone light and playful, and I’m finding it hard not to crush on my boyfriend’s sister right now. She’s… wow. She’s a real life goddess.
Ares grunts. I laugh and shake my head. He reaches across the table and tucks the hair on my good side behind my ear. He really doesn’t like when I hide, and right now his signals are all telling me that I don’t have to. He wants them to see me, which injects a little more courage into my next words.
“I’m here of my own free will. Though,” I gesture at the table. “He bribed me with hot cocoa and snacks.” I shrug. “I’m a sucker for snacks.”
She nods. “I understand. I, too, answer the snack sirens’ call regularly.”
That makes me laugh. I like her already. She’s not at all as cold and standoffish as the internet has led me to believe she is. She falls silent as she regards me, then turns her attention to Ares, who is rod stiff in his seat as though he’s preparing for an onslaught of ribbing from his big sister.
He’s still stroking my leg with his foot under the table, and I start stacking the plates so I can make space to hold his hand without smashing something if he needs me. I’ve never seen him off kilter like this. He’s always poised, composed, confident. Right now, however, he’s almost like a little boy.
Apollo points the corner of his scone at me. “So, how’d you two meet?” He swings it to Ares before taking a bite.
My face heats, and Ares grins at me, a sparkle in his eye. I didn’t really see him at the salon the first time he saw me, and the first time we really met, I tripped over my tongue, then he was buried inside another guy.
His grin stretches wider. He must know I’m reliving the moment in my head. “I saw her when I was getting my nails done, but she didn’t give me the time of day.”
I eye roll. “You mean I didn’t even notice you were there.” I turn to Apollo. “He gets prickly when people don’t take notice of him.”
Artemis snorts but doesn’t say anything. Athena’s smirk says she’s enjoying the exchange.
Ares’s smile is still on his face, and it’s genuine, so I know he doesn’t mind me poking fun at him. “Then I saw her again at the restaurant.”
He arches a brow, tipping his head. It’s as though he’s challenging me to spill the beans. Do I tell them the truth, or do I nod and smile?
“The night we made the wager with the Snow Pirates.”
Apollo’s eyebrows twitch. He meets my eye over the last bite of his scone and smirks. “Wasn’t that the night you…?”
Ares licks his bottom lip, catching it between his teeth and nods. I don’t know if I’m mortified, or hot as heck under the hood, but either way, I shift in my seat. A movement not lost on Athena, who regards me with a curious, probing stare.
“I bumped into him outside the restaurant.”
Apollo’s body starts shaking with quiet laughter.“¡Ay, dios mío!”
Athena bumps me with her elbow. “What am I missing?” Her stern glare flits between her brothers.
“Ares was…” I clear my throat, my skin sizzling from the gaze of four siblings. “Somewhat preoccupied outside the restaurant.”
Athena shakes her head before covering her face with her palm. “Of course, he was.”
The twins are laughing out loud at this point, and Ares is picking at a slice of quiche looking awfully proud of himself. “I invited her to join me and Séb, but she didn’t want anything to do with me.”
“I don’t blame her.” Athena leans over the table and flicks his forehead. “Sucio.”
“He wooed me, though. Won me over.”
“Eventually,” Ares offers, eating the last of his quiche.
Athena picks up the other slice and pulls off a corner. “There’s a fine line between wooing and stalking.”
