Page 42 of Ruin

“Yep.”

I hear a grumble and a grunt. Then, finally, a click.

“Yay! Good job, Zweus! You dids it!” Gigi claps, and I laugh.

The look I get from Zeus is one of amusement.

“You need a college degree to fasten that thing.”

I nod in agreement.

I climb in the passenger side and buckle myself in.

Zeus gets in. I give him directions to the park, and then we’re off.

“Where are you staying?” I ask him.

He glances at me. “I was staying with Ares at his place in New York. But since…” He moves his eyes in Gigi’s direction. “I wanted to be closer, so I’m at the Travelodge in Manhasset.”

I laugh softly and shake my head.

“What?” He gives me a puzzled look.

“You’re driving an Audi A7 but staying in a Travelodge. You do know there’s a nice hotel not far from the marina.”

“I don’t need a nice hotel, Cam. It’s just a place to sleep and shower. I do need a safe car for Gigi to ride in, and this is one of the best.”

Well, if that doesn’t put me in my place in the best kind of way.

Zeus has always been a basic kind of guy. Material things have never really mattered to him.

The people he loves are what matter to Zeus.

That’s what made it hurt all the more when he just disregarded me without a second thought.

Gigi starts talking in the backseat, telling Zeus that we’re passing by her friend’s house, and she doesn’t stop commanding his attention. And he thoughtfully listens to her, taking it all in.

I half-listen to her—partly because I already know everything she’s saying, but also because being in this car with him is assaulting me with the hundreds of memories of time spent in the old Chevy truck that Zeus used to drive.

When my eyes fix on his strong hands on the steering wheel, my memories move off into a whole other territory, and I feel myself flush.

It’s like he can read my thoughts. His eyes turn to mine and hold for a fraction of a second, but the heat in his eyes is unmistakable.

“I came for you.”

I avert my eyes and stare out the passenger window, my heart beating out of my chest.

There are a few kids at the park when we arrive. But Gigi doesn’t go over to them. She heads straight for the empty swings, and Zeus follows behind her because she wants him to push her on one.

I follow, hugging Princess Twilight Sparkle to my chest, as Gigi wouldn’t leave her in the car. She said she’d get lonely there without us.

I recognize some of the parents in the park from Gigi’s school. I wave but don’t go over to talk to them like I normally would, as I don’t want to have to answer awkward questions about Zeus, and I opt to take a seat on the bench near the swings.

He puts on a ball cap that he pulled out of the glove box. “Just in case,” he told me.

I am hoping they don’t recognize him, as I don’t want people asking why he’s here with me and Gigi. But I know it’s wishful thinking on my part. Zeus stands out. With his huge height and massive frame, he’s unmissable. He also has an aura about him that just attracts people to him. And it doesn’t help that he’s incredibly good-looking.

Well, it doesn’t help me at the moment.