Never again.
I leave my key where I told her I would. It feels like a final goodbye. The elevator ride down to the lobby is even worse, to the point where I’m relieved when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Less so when I realize who it is.
Hephaestus: Meet me at my place.
I stare at the text for a long moment. Agreeing to help him was a mistake. I knew it going in, and what I found this morning only confirms it. I can’t take this man’s word for anything. Continuing this charade where I give him advice to help him undermine Eris’s—no, Aphrodite’s—plan to thwart the enemy? It skirts the line of making me a traitor.
In this moment, I’m not sure I care.
I type back a quick agreement and keep going. There are a pair of photographers huddled across the street, and I force my expression into my customary relaxed grin. They’ll already have enough to talk about with my rush into the building; no reason to give them more ammunition.
My mother calls as I head back to my apartment. I sigh and check my pace. “Hello, Mom.”
“Adonis, honey, why are you outside that woman’s apartment?”
My mom loves Eris. She genuinely hoped we’d get married at some point and pop out half a dozen grandchildren for her to dote on, despite the fact that neither of us are overly inclined to be parents. But ever since the marriage was announced, Eris has become that woman in conversation. As much as I appreciate the unrelenting support, it doesn’t change the fact that it makes me want to defend Eris. “I had to drop off my key.”
Her beat of silence lets me know what she thinks of that poor excuse. “That girl has her sights set elsewhere, Adonis. She always has. It’s time to stop following her around like a lovestruck teenager and find someone to settle down with.”
We’ve had a variation of this conversation a dozen times in the last dozen days. I can almost recite it by heart. “Mom, you’ve got to give me time.”
“Your parent and I only have so many years left. You won’t have us dying without knowing you’re happy, will you?”
I don’t roll my eyes, if only because my mother has a sixth sense when it comes to anything resembling disrespect. “You’re only in your fifties. You were just saying you’re still in your prime last week. You’ll be around for another forty years at least and you know it.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
There’s no reasoning with her when she gets like this. She means well, even if her idea of a reasonable timeline to get over a broken heart leaves something to be desired. “I’ll considering dating at some point. That’s all you’re going to get out of me right now.”
“I suppose that will have to do.” She sounds so pleased, I can’t help grinning. Mom laughs. “You’re a good boy, Adonis. Anyone who doesn’t see that isn’t worth your time. Come by for dinner Sunday.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll see you then.”
“If you decide to bring someone, I wouldn’t be sad about it.”
I chuckle. “Goodbye, Mom. Have a good rest of your day.” I make a quick stop at my apartment to fix my appearance. I had no thought of that when I rushed to Aphrodite’s side earlier, but now that I’m going to be circling Hephaestus, it’s important to keep up every barrier possible.
My fingers still in the middle of buttoning my shirt. I knew he was attractive, of course, but seeing him naked was something that never should have happened. My family and friends don’t think I have much in the way of canniness, but even I know better than to sleep with this man.
But I won’t lie and say the temptation isn’t there. For a multitude of reasons.
I find Hephaestus waiting for me outside his building, leaned up against the wall as if he doesn’t notice the paparazzi trailing him. They’re further away than I expect, but then I wouldn’t want to risk a known murderer’s wrath if I were them, either.
He sends me a searching look. “You’re still torn up over her.”
“No shit.” I know better than to let my emotions get the best of me, but there was no closure this morning. If anything, it tore open a brand-new wound I wasn’t even aware of until now. “She slept with you.”
“You keep saying that.” He narrows his eyes. “What does that mean?”
I open my mouth to reply, but my brain catches up before I have a chance to. He has enough ammunition against her without me giving him more. I don’t want to actually hurt Aphrodite—just her public image. It’s a bone in my throat to know she was able to sleep with him in her bed, that she was never going to come to me for that again, not now that she’s married.