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But Lia did know this—her mother was a loon. August was not falling in love with her any more than she was falling in love with August. The Rose Kylix or whatever the hell it was had aphrodisiac effects. She’d gotten swept up in the moment. That was all.
When her dead phone came back to life, Lia sent a quick message to August.
Psst...home safe.
Please get a decent car so I can sleep after you leave me.
It’s Wednesday, she replied.Our deal ends Friday, remember?
I can’t see you after Friday?he wrote.
I didn’t think you’d want to.
I want to, he replied.
Lia grinned at her phone screen. Then she wiped that stupid grin off her face.
We’ll talk about it later. Good night/morning, she wrote.
What do you want to play tonight? Zeus and Io?
Wasn’t she the one he turned into a cow?
Leda and the Swan, then?
August added several bird emoji. He was never going to let her forget the bird noises.
I’m not shagging a swan, Lia wrote.Surprise me.
You sure about that?
Was she? Letting August surprise her would mean she trusted the man. Did she?
I’m sure. Goodbye.
Apparently she did trust him.
See you tonight, August replied.In your dreams. I’ll see you right now in mine.
Lia set her phone on the nightstand and cuddled down into her blankets. She couldn’t quite stop smiling long enough to fall asleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Lia arrived at August’s flat just before nine. Eight-thirty, in fact—8:29 to be precise. She might have been the slightest bit eager to see him, though she wouldn’t admit that to herself. Instead she told herself a gargantuan lie. She was early because she was worried about hitting traffic. Or a water main could have burst. August lived near Camden. Real risk of rogue parades breaking out. Lia was not eager. She was simply using good common sense.
Lia went to ring his bell, but she saw a note taped over the buzzer.
Come in, Lia. All others stay out, please.
Good thing he said “please,” otherwise the house would surely be overrun with burglars and murderers. Why did men always think they were immortal?
Lia slipped in through the door, taking the note with her, and locked it behind her.
“August?” she called out. No answer.
She ran upstairs and found August already in bed, covers up to his hips and no farther, head on his white pillow, eyes closed.
“August?” she whispered.
