She tucked the phone away and headed back toward their house, only to hear her name echo across the lake. She turned and spotted Apollo standing on the shore, sunlight gleaming off the water behind him.
“I just talked to Cade,” she said quietly as she sat next to him. “Something felt…off.”
Apollo frowned. “I didn’t notice anything when I was there yesterday. He didn’t say anything major was happening.”
“That’s what I thought, too,” she said, gnawing her lip. “But now that I think about it…it seemed like he wanted to know about Artemis.”
“Well, they’re friends,” he said, shrugging. “After all they went through to put Arcane out of business.”
“I guess,” she murmured.
“Hey,” he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “It’s probably nothing.”
“Hmm,” she said doubtfully.
“Do you need a distraction?” he whispered in her ear.
“Oh my gods, Apollo,” she exclaimed, swatting his chest. “I didn’t know you had an exhibitionist streak.”
He burst out laughing. “I didn’t say we were going to do it out here.”
They kissed, lingering and sweet, until Geri found herself thinking,Yeah…and if he did want to do it out here, I wouldn’t exactly say no.
Then a voice broke in, dry and disgusted. “Gross. Please don’t tell me you’re still in your honeymoon phase.”
Apollo sighed, tilting his head back. “Hello, dear sister.”
Artemis crossed her arms, eyes narrowed. “I come to check on my friend, and this is what I walk into? You two playing tonsil hockey by a lake?”
He shot her a wicked grin. “Careful, Artemis. You might learn a thing or two.”
“Fromyou? Please.” She sniffed. “I’d sooner take dating tips from a Minotaur.”
“Okay, okay,” Geri laughed, cutting in. “Time-out before you two start shooting arrows at each other. What’s up, Artemis?”
“Girls’ night with Aphrodite, remember?” Artemis said, planting her hands on her hips.
“Oh, right!” Geri blurted, eyes widening. “Well…you’re going to help me, right?” she asked, fishing for rescue.
Apollo laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, youknowshe won’t be able to resist being useful.”
Artemis shot him a withering glare but ignored the jab, extending a hand to Geri. “Come on. There are some grazing boards and snacks I’ve been wanting to try. What do you think?”
“That sounds perfect,” Geri said, letting Artemis pull her up.
They headed inside, and within minutes, Artemis had completely taken over the kitchen, her sleeves rolled up and hair pinned back as she orchestrated a flurry of chopping, arranging, and taste-testing. Geri hovered beside her, handingover ingredients and occasionally sneaking bites of fruit and nuts.
When Apollo wandered back in, sniffing dramatically at the air, he reached for a wedge of cheese—only to find Artemis blocking him with a cutting board. “Don’t eventhinkabout ruining what I made. This isyourboard,” she declared, thrusting a personal-sized platter into his hands.
He grinned at his sister and leaned in to press a kiss to Geri’s cheek. “Have a great night, ladies.”
A breadstick sailed through the air, bouncing off his shoulder as Artemis huffed, “Out!”
Apollo called over his shoulder as he left, “Don’t wait up!” in a singsong voice.
Artemis rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. “How did I put up with him for so long? Good thing he’syourproblem now.”
Geri chuckled, and Artemis cracked a grin, laughter bubbling between them.
