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Lukas squeezed once on my pulse point. “We’ll be okay.”
Would we?
There was no room for doubt. Not when we had to be on and supportive for our friend.
I simply nodded, giving him a small smile. With each sip of my coffee, I hoped he’d be right.
≈
Eleni had nothing to worry about. Everything down to the table runner was perfect and she looked wonderful. Not just because of the stunning dress draped off her elegant shoulders, but because of the air of settled confidence that bled through every movement.
She nodded at Lukas and I when we arrived but didn’t interrupt her conversation. Lukas and I greeted everyone, stopping for practiced small talk about the weather and plans for the rest of the year and nothing I was really focusing on.
I felt bad. I didn’t want to be that disconnected, but my nerves were twisting tighter with each passing moment.
I was imagining worse and worse situations, from Lukas kicking me out to him dropping my hand and admitting he didn't want me, but would take the physical.
“You look like you need this,” Piper said, popping out of nowhere and extending a cup of coffee toward me.
“Thanks,” I said through a gritty smile. My brain was fuzzy enough to miss her approaching me. I couldn’t deal with her right now. “I would love to catch up later, Piper, but I haven’t had a chance to congratulate Eleni yet.”
“Of course.” Piper’s head dipped down before stepping out of the way.
Eleni was in between conversations, so I was able to grab her. Talking to her was like a breath of fresh air, finally able to take a break from people who needed what I could provide. “How are you doing?”
I laughed under my breath. “I should be asking you that question.”
“I’m doing quite well. Only two people have made a comment about how little fish they’re catching, which is honestly a record low.” Before I could press, Eleni said, “Hello, Lukas.”
“Eleni,” Lukas greeted, joining our conversation. “Congratulations.”
Eleni’s eyes sparked. “For what? This is an honorary celebration.”
“For being a wonderful goddess,” I supplied.
“Oh, then, yes, thank you very much.” Eleni laughed, rich and full. “I appreciate you two joining.”
Eleni’s mother, Rhea, a kind woman with soft, inviting eyes, saw us and scurried over. “Oh, Daphne! How lovely to see you. We missed you last year.”
Lukas’s hand stiffened on my hip right as my back went straight. I smiled as kindly as I could manage and said, “It’s lovely to see you too, Rhea.”
We made small talk for a while, catching up and talking about how well Eleni had done in the transition as goddess of the Nereus line. I relied on instinct the whole way through, too busy suppressing the panic that was inching its way up my spine.
Even Rhea made a comment about the catches. Lukas brushed it off with a hand over his chest, pouting and saying, “Not from you too, Rhea.”
He could joke, but my nerves were nowhere near resolved.
You could see the tension in the room, in the stares that lasted a bit too long.
When Rhea excused herself, taking Eleni with her, Lukas leaned down and said, “You need to tell me what happened. Today. We can at least solve that problem.”
I looked up at him, needing to read his expression. “I know.”
Lukas nodded, passing his hand over my spine. “Let’s say goodbye to Eleni first.”
We did just that, stealing her away for a second to congratulate her again. Eleni paused when she looked at me, picking up the jittery undercurrent to my movements. I smiled and shook my head ever so slightly. Eleni matched it with the barest of nods, a promise to leave it be for now.
Lukas and I walked in tense silence back to our quarters, him a step behind me the entire time. Each breath sent the stone in my stomach growing, the tension escalating.
