“Get to know her and find out for yourself,” he challenged me. “And . . . please help her find love this summer.”
“No pressure there. You realize she has towantto fall in love. And she doesn’t believe that my show or I can help her with that.”
“Prove her wrong.”
“My gifts can only do so much. As you well know.”
“Don’t rely on your gifts. She needs you to be human. She needs to be human. Do you understand me?”
“Not really.” I’d never thought of myself as human per se. To me, there was no human side or god side—I was just a demigod. I took pride in that. It meant I could walk in both worlds. See what others couldn’t.
“Well, I’m counting on you to figure it out. I love you, godson.”
“I’m beginning to wonder,” I teased him.
He laughed. That familiar, easy laugh. It gave me some comfort. He’d always been one of my favorite people. A confidant.
But this time, his laugh didn’t erase the weight of what he’d asked me to do. It felt like an impossible task to help Demi find love. Harder still would be becoming friends withher. She didn’t trust me, and I certainly didn’t trust her. Or her hex-loving friend.
“I promise at the end of this, you will know just how much I love you.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” He owed me big for this. His supposed help in saving my show was feeling more and more like a punishment.
“Very good. Good night. I hope you rest easy.”
Impossible at this point. “Good night.” I clicked “End” and stared at my screen. I studied Demi’s guarded eyes. Her perfect posture. Her pouty mouth that refused to smile. “Why are you so important?”
That question lingered in the air unanswered and relentless.
Thankfully, my favorite word replaced the silence.
“Daddy!” Junie ran in squealing, wearing peach polka-dot pajamas and holding her favorite bear, Cuddles.
My mom, Melissa, trailed not far behind, smiling, always with an air of contentment, carrying a mug of chamomile tea. She believed a good cup of tea could cure almost anything. My father called her his angel. Even now, when her golden-blonde bob had darkened and looked less like a halo. It made me think it had never really been about her hair. He’d once told me she was the love of his life and he wasn’t sure he would ever be with another woman even though he’d been with plenty before her and had several children with them. I had a long list of half siblings, some fully divine, some half like me.
Sadly, my parents had separated years ago. Not because they didn’t love each other, but because of time. My mother had aged, while my father looked as young as I did.
They were still the best of friends, but there was always an ache between them anytime they were together. Father had offered to become mortal for her, but she said the world needed Cupid. But sometimes I think she wondered what it would be like for them to grow old together.
I scooped up Junie, and she and Cuddles settled on my lap. I kissed her dark braided hair, the same shade as her mother’s.
Mom set the mug of tea on my desk. “I thought you could use this.”
“Thank you.” I gave her a knowing look. She was aware of the reason behind the special season ofLove Unscripted. Or at least the condensed version. Eros’s latest revelation that this was a quest for Demi added an entirely new level of chaos. Quests were never easy. And the gods always meddled during one. Given how accommodating my team had been and how everything had fallen into place, it seemed the meddling had already begun.
“I know that lady.” Junie pointed at the screen.
I should have clicked out of the photos before they’d entered.
“How do you know her?” I asked, surprised. As far as I knew, Demi and Junie had never met. Over the years, Demi had refused to come to any “family” gatherings.
“She reads to me in my dreams all the time.”
I cleared my throat. Discomfort prickled down my spine. Junie’s dreams had a way of always coming true. Her mom possessed the same gift.
“She does?” I asked cautiously.
“Uh-huh.” Junie beamed, her bright amber eyes locked onDemi. “She’s so nice.”
