I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling icky.
“People want to know if he still has a poster of you hanging on his wall.”
Okay. That had been a weird revelation. Like, so weird. But people were taking it all wrong. Roman Archer did not have romantic feelings for me. Believe me, as a goddess of love, I would know. Or at least I thought so. Obviously, the divine part of me had some screws loose. I wasn’t sure why he’d had a poster of me, but I didn’t need to know. It was no one’s business.
Especially not mine.
Cassie waggled her dark eyebrows. The contrast with her platinum hair made her look even more mischievous.
“I think he had a crush on you.”
“No, please don’t say that. I can’t ever afford to think like that,” I pleaded.
There was a time I’d wanted Roman’s affection more than anything, and when he didn’t give it, I’d been devastated. Sure, looking back, it was ridiculous to think that I would have met my soulmate as a teenager. But my goddess side had been so sure that I’d easily fallen for it.
And to be fair, even if she hadn’t thrown me headlong in his direction, I still would have fallen for him. I’d watched him for a year every time he’d come to visit my father, and I’d foolishly thought there was something different about him. Something about how kind he was to everyone and how easily he laughed. But when I finally worked up the nerve to introduce myself to him, that boy was gone. I’d often wondered if he’d ever existed. If my divine side had tricked me into seeing something that wasn’t there.
Cassie tilted her head. “Demi, what aren’t you telling me?”
I’d told her about locking my heart after she decided to join the cast. I figured she should know how pointless an endeavor this was. And despite my heart being closed off, I did value our friendship. Now more than ever.
“It’s nothing. Stupid, really. And it doesn’t matter because we know Roman is definitely not my true love. Honestly, I don’t know if anyone is. And if that’s the case, I won’t even know who Roman is—who you are—come the first full moon in August,” my voice hitched.
She stood, brushing off her leggings.
“Don’t say that,” Cassie demanded in her scary-but-loving voice. “We are going to fulfill this quest with style and pizzazz and find your true love. We are also going to talk about Roman. But later. If you want to run, you’d better go now. My magic can only cover so many areas at once.”
I nodded and zipped up my black hoodie. Despite not being a world-class athlete any longer, I still trained every day. It was too ingrained in me. Normally I ran on my treadmill and lifted weights in my gym, but the cabin lacked such equipment. Besides, it had been a long time since I’d taken a run outside among trees, air, life. Coming out of my penthouse had made me realize all the things I was missing out on. You know, like, living.
“Thank you.”
Lady Goldy flew from my bedroom and landed on my shoulder. She would act as my protector from humans and animals. The last thing I needed was to be eaten by a grizzly bear. Although it would probably be less painful than starring in a reality TV show.
“Demi,” Cassie said carefully. “You don’t have a crush on Roman, do you?”
“No,” I was adamant. That ship had sailed, gotten hit with a missile, and sunk to the depths of the ocean.
“Oh, good. Just checking. He has such a little-g-in-gods complex, and I can’t wait to mess with him during my interview today.”
I laughed, already imagining the chaos.
“See you soon.”
I waved and hustled toward the door, nervous energy crackling through me like static. I needed to clear my head—especially of a certain TV host whose voice still echoed in mine. Stepping onto the covered porch, I paused.
The early-morning sun spilled golden light across the wood planks, warming my skin despite the crisp mountain air. Pine needles glistened with dew. A breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of earth and something that felt outside the constraints of time.
I inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the tension that had wrapped itself around my ribs.
Above me, wings fluttered. Lady Goldy took flight, her feathers catching the sunlight like molten metal. She circled once overhead, then swooped down to land back on my shoulder with a soft thud—her talons gentle, her presence grounding.
“Let’s go,” I whispered as I jogged down the front porch steps.
The scenery was stunning—towering pines casting long shadows across a meadow bursting with wildflowers in every shade imaginable. The creek trickled nearby, its soft murmur joining the birdsong in a quiet symphony of morning.
My mom would’ve loved this place. She always said nature was the closest thing to heaven.
My feet hit the dirt trail, and something about the rhythm of it—thud, thud, thud—made me feel alive again. Like my body remembered who it was before the accident, before my heartbreak and the revelation of my demigodhood.
