The revelation gutted me. I swallowed and turned away, staring out of the window a moment as Gavin put the Jeep in park.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
“Not really,” I replied. “But… I guess I understand it. I’ve seen you in pain, and I never want to see that on your face again. I can’t imagine what that was like for her.”
His lips twitched like he might smile, and he reached for my hand. “Every pair of eyes that sees you this weekend will start to remember you. Are you ready?”
“Do I have a choice?” I asked, nausea sweeping over me.
“You always have a choice,” he swore.
I inhaled deeply and stared at the mansion before us, the others leaving their cars and taking out bags. Gods and goddesses whom I’d seemingly once known so long ago. So familiar, and yet not.
“I can do this,” I said, squeezing his hand. “For you. Forus.”
Someone knocked on my window.
Aphrodite.
“Eros, can you help Ares with my bags?” she asked loudly.
I snorted as I met Gavin’s eyes. He huffed. “Yeah, give me a minute,” he replied reluctantly.
She walked away, and I burst out laughing at the unwillingness on his face. “Oh, shit, that’s adorable,” I managed.
Gavin pinched my thigh, making me squeal, and I hurried out of the Jeep before he could wrestle me any further into that seat. I had barely gotten out before he was on me, his arm wrapping around my waist, his lips on mine to capture the laughter that had just escaped my mouth.
“Okay, okay,” Persephone called out. “We know you’re excited to have your wife back but save a little for the bedroom, ohGod of Lust,” she teased.
Gavin responded by flipping her off.
I rolled in the suitcase and small bag that we’d packed with both our clothes in it while he helped his mother bring in her many matching bags, catching up with Ares while Aphrodite hung back to walk with me.
“Chloe, I wanted to apologize,” she said as we fell in step together.
“For what?” I asked, trying not to ogle too noticeably at the expansive foyer we were walking into. The whole architecture was audacious, rich, and generous in every way, and I felt so small in its vastness, even though it didn’t seem to bother anyone else.
Gavin glanced back at me and smiled as I mouthed, ‘holy shit!’ to him.
“For basically wiping you from existence,” Aphrodite said, and I remembered she had been talking to me.
“Oh. Oh, Gavin—or Eros—told me. I get it,” I said. “I understand. I think we just want to know why it ever had to happen or who is responsible, rather.”
Her lips pressed together thinly as she looked straight forward.
I almost stopped walking.
“Wait. Do you know?” I asked, wary of the look on her face.
“I wish I did,” she said.
I didn’t completely believe her, but as we turned the corner into the great room, I realized I didn’t have time to argue.
Because the entire room had hushed, and everyone was staring at me.
Aphrodite left my side to join Hermes, who was already sitting at the bar where a man was pouring large glasses of wine. Gavin and Ares exchanged glances, and Gavin set down the bags before starting my way.
A man and woman stood by the excellent portrait painting across the room. Both tan and beautiful, the woman with onyx hair pulled into a high ponytail, her slender frame hidden behind a flowing white chemise dress. The man had black curly hair, a salt-and-pepper beard, and large, round eyes. I wasn’t sure who they were, but their presence demanded attention, more so than any of the other gods and goddesses I’d met thus far.
