I let out a frustrated groan. "Why is this so complicated?"
"A few thousand years of living will do that for you," she said with a shrug. "It isn't like dating anyone younger would be any less complicated, just in a different way."
"Mmm. True. I wouldn't want to have the immortality conversation with someone I'm dating."
Menhit laughed. "And that's why I don't date anyone under the age of five hundred. If they're older, they're likely already immortal."
I nodded in agreement, though in all honesty, I'd never really considered dating anyone seriously enough to have that conversation, other than Ptah, but it wasn't an issue because he was already immortal himself.
But Menhit was right. We should talk about the reasons we ended things before we gave this another go, even if it was hard to think about that when it felt so good for the two of us to be together.
Chapter 12
Ptah
I checked my watch and tried not to feel too impatient about the fact that no one has shown me into Hermes' office yet. If he kept me waiting much longer, I was going to be late for my date with Bastet, and I really didn't want that. Even if it hadn't been that long since I'd left her cat sanctuary this morning, I still wanted to get back to her. I'd spent thousands of years without her, I wasn't going to spend another day.
But it was also important for me to make sure that nothing was going to come of me being cornered in the street by the journalist. It wasn't the first time something like that had happened to a god, but it was better if I told someone with the power to do something about it.
A woman approached and cleared her throat. "He'll see you now."
"Thank you." I got to my feet, checking my watch as I did. So long as this meeting was quick, I wouldn't be late for dinner with Bastet.
I made my way into Hermes' office, not at all surprised by how ostentatious it was. Hermes had always been the kind of man who liked to flaunt his wealth. It wasn't to my taste, but there was nothing wrong with it.
"Ptah," he said as I walked into the room. "This is rather unexpected."
"Likewise," I responded as I made my way over to the chair on this side of the desk.
"How can I help you?" Hermes asked as I took a seat.
"There was an incident earlier," I said. "A journalist approached me earlier."
"Journalists have a habit of asking questions," he responded. "It's how we make our living."
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to suggest that you're out on the street finding your own stories?" I found that hard to believe.
"It's been known to happen," Hermes responded as he pushed some of his curly brown hair away from his face.
"Well this journalist wanted to know if I was Ptah and wouldn't take no for an answer," I said.
"Ah. I can see how that would be a bit of a problem," Hermes said. "So, what did you say?"
"That I wasn't," I responded. "That was it. But he wasn't particularly accepting of the truth. He gave me his card."
Hermes nodded. "And you've come here because..."
"He works for one of your papers," I responded.
"Ah. Yes, well that would be a problem," he said. "Which one?"
"The Reporter," I responded. "His name is Joshua Thiens."
"Hmm, I don't know the name." He tapped his chin with a curious expression. "But that's not a paper that I have much to do with. I don't officially own it."
I rolled my eyes, not really caring about Hermes' business interests or when they might end up contradicting one another.
"Do you have more information?" he asked.
