Page 26 of Promising Her Forever

Oliver clears his throat and I laugh.

“There are two new families that have joined them. And yes, they’re shifters too.”

“Is shifter code for like greek mafia or MC?” Riley asks.

Oliver and I laugh.

“No, baby. They’re actual shifters.”

“Yeah, we need to show them. Let me ask Zeus if I can.” Oliver says as he pulls his phone out to call Zeus to ask.

“You’re both delusional, right? Shifters are make believe.” Daphne laughs. “But I love your sense of humor. Even if it comes out at weird times.”

As she’s saying this, a snake comes out and comes over to us.

“HOLY FUCK. Where did that fucking snake come from?” Daphne screams as she jumps up on the couch. Riley seems like she’s frozen and her eyes are as big as saucers.

Oliver comes over to me and climbs onto my shoulders.

“No. No. No. You’re not a snake lover are you?” Riley says.

I’m trying not to laugh because she’s still not moving. All of a sudden Oliver launches himself at the girls and all hell breaks loose. Before I can stop her, Daphne grabs a chef knife from my kitchen and comes back screeching like a banshee trying to stab Oliver.

“No!” I laugh as I grab the knife from her.

“I have to kill it!” she screams.

“Omg. Where did it go?” Riley says as her eyes are still bugging out. “Are we going to die? Do we know if it’s poisonous? What the fuck is going on?”

Apollo, Seraphina and Francesco come barreling into my house, guns drawn.

“Whoa! What the fuck, guys?” I say as I step in front of them.

“We heard screaming.” Apollo says as he’s looking around.

“Where’s Oliver?” Seraphina asks.

Seraphina is Oliver’s older sister and she looks worried.

“I’m here.” He answers as he’s buttoning his jeans and putting on his shirt as he’s coming out of one of the bedrooms.

“Ohhh. You were showing them your snake?” she laughs.

“Well that could be taken in a couple of different ways.” Francesco laughs.

“Why are you all laughing? You didn’t see the snake that just tried to kill us! Where is it?” Daphne screams more.

“You’re talking about a real animal snake right?” Seraphina giggles.

“Okay, seriously, you need to stop screaming. Oliver wouldn’t kill you. He might bite you, but never kill you.” Apollo says as he’s putting his gun away.

“What does Oliver have to do with all this? I’m not worried that Oliver will kill us. It’s the snake and I know it’s still here.”

“Wait what do you mean ‘animal snake’?” Riley asks as she’s looking around at all of us. “Are you saying that snake that was trying to eat us was Oliver? That’s not possible.”

While Riley’s trying to figure out if she believes me about Oliver, Apollo comes out of one of my bedrooms. The only reason I know it’s Apollo is because Ares is still in the room with us. I’m not actually sure how he managed to shift in the room and squeeze himself out without destroying my house. But he’s squeezing his way down my hallway and I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s being quiet. But it considering he’s filling up my entire hallway, he’s not as quiet as he thinks he is.

“We’re. Going. To. Die.” Daphne says as she turns and sees him.