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I also see that those ornate napkins are held by rings embedded with cartouches. The orchids on their table are embellished with lush papyrus. Along with the Greek Island scents, there’s the savory tinge of falafel and kebab.
Wow. How did I not see all this before?
Oread might be a massive homage to Greece, but tonight it’s getting a sizable visit from Egypt.
The land in which the two of them fell in love.
No wonder he’s so confident about Mom accepting his invitation to run away with him again.
I’m revving a long glare to tell him my own answer is still a giantget lost, but it never materializes. Not when the man only has eyes for one person in the room. Not when he turns to her with so much adoration, it does something strange to my anger. Something that feels like a slushie in the sun.
“The difference here is you, myagapi mou.”
And now I’m in danger of becoming nothing but sugar water, watching how the king of all the gods chooses instead to be the disciple. How he stares at Mom like he’d turn this place into a full shrine for her if she asked. How that leads to uncertainties about how I’ve seen him all along.
Has real love been the reason why Z has searched so long for Mom and me? Has he really been trying, in his own odd way, to reconnect and make up for lost time? Mom and I had to leave Olympus so fast. What if that ugly surprise left a twenty-year hole inside him?
A wound I could never understand…until the second I embraced the reality of becoming a father myself.
I’m so consumed by the epiphany that I don’t notice Kara grabbing her sister’s elbow.
“I’m so sorry for the interruption.” She turns to all of us with a determined look. “But Kell and I need to visit the ladies’ room.Now.”
Mom and Veronica give identical nods of understanding. Z, already knowing not to argue when that many females are in such wordless solidarity, points toward a spot past the curtained tables.
“It’s just through…there…”
It’s doubtful the sisters hear him past the first syllable. Because Kara’s dragged Kell into the elevator and pushed a button with more force than a gamer going up against a boss.
Rather than wait for the lift to come back down, I rush toward the stairs that climb right next to the shaft. Since they’re a free-floating artistic touch to the place, it’s easy to follow the pair to Oread’s top floor.
The three of us arrive within seconds of each other. Good thing, since Kara stomps out of the elevator with more words clearly ready to go.
“Damn it, Kell!” She doesn’t wait for her sister to turn around. “You really went there? With a serious face?”
Her sister pauses before executing a flawless turn atop the large, light-up leaf embedded in the floor. “So whatdidyou want me to do there, darling? Let Twiglet Kane’s grandparents simply figure out the whole story, with Hecate standing by for the full scoop? Guess I really could’ve gone there, right? Isthatyour point?”
Kara’s already past the landing, starting to pace across an area that’s likely populated with tables on nights when Z doesn’t deign to buy out the place.
“You could’ve thought of something. You were on the ball enough to come up with the engagement announcement.”
Kell narrows her eyes. “Which wasn’t going to happen at some point or another?”
“That’s not the point.”
“You’re right. It’s not. You should be suffocating me with a hug of pure gratitude right now.That’sthe point.”
“Even as Veronica and Nancy are downstairs penciling in wedding dates?”
Kell lets that one drop to silence while tension permeates the air. As the wet-leaves-on-fire energy grows, Kara wheels around and glares. A truculent V takes root between Kell’s eyebrows. She steps back and sinks into a gold wicker teardrop chair that’s suspended from the slanted ceiling.
“Hey there, Professor Kane,” she drawls at last. “Perhaps you’ll do better in the making-my-sister-see-sense department?”
Kara huffs. “Senseandrecklessnessonly go together in rock songs.”
“So doglowingandbaby.” Kell pushes out of her chair just as swiftly. “You guys were all but painted into a corner, darling. I simply blew open the perfect exit window for you.”
Kara drops her head between her hands and rubs her temples. “Holy…shit. What are we going to do?”
