I forget about all the others around us dancing and playing the ridiculous game. I’m just enjoying the moment, and I wonder the last time I felt so hopeful and eager to be with someone. I find myself wanting to get to know her, just as much as I want to press my lips against hers and see what she tastes like.
Juliet swallows and boldly places her hands on my shoulders. Her hands are soft as she rests them there.
“More uh… protection for the balloon,” she says quietly. A deep flush takes over her cheeks, and I get even more excited for this gentle connection that I know could quickly and easily grow.
“Right.”
Suddenly, a bunch of balloons pop, and the music stops and we look around the room.
“Oh, would you look at that? We have a winner!” Love says, coming to approach us.
I glare down at her for ruining the moment, and she hastily pops the balloon between us. Juliet stumbles forward slightly, and I keep her standing upright.
“Thanks,” Juliet whispers.
“If you’d let me finish, you win a date, paid for in full by none other than your supervisor, Death.”
“What?” he says behind his girlfriend in confusion.
“I know just the spot, right down the street. I mean, the party is settling down anyway. You guys should just go now.”
“The party just started,” Juliet says to Love and then smiles at me. “We will be right back,” Juliet says while tugging Love to a corner of the room.
Fucking great, it’s about to be over before it even started.
Ismile at the ridiculously attractive reaper as I tug my superior cupid over to a corner, more aggressively than I intend.
“Love? What in the love of fuck are you up to?” I whisper once I know we’re out of earshot.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” she says, planting her hands on her hips.
“Uh huh, and the sky is purple.”
“It is on some planets,” she whispers back.
“Mors doesn’t want to go out on a date with me, look at her.” I point in the direction of the reaper, who I can tell is attempting to eavesdrop on our conversation.
“Gods, matchmaking immortal beings is fucking exhausting. I wish I could just hit you both with love arrows and be done with it,” Love pouts and looks down at her sparkly pink nails.
“What are you talking about?”
“She’s totally into you. Like full on wanted to pop that balloon to get all handsy on you. You’re hot, Juliet, any reaper here would subject themselves to that game to get close to you. I gotta say, it was super fun to watch. I need to come up with more games to scandalize them.”
“Focus, Love.”
She shakes her head and looks back at me. “Ever since I met you and Mors, I knew you could be a potential match. I’ve been holding off on introducing you until you got your groove back. You’re kicking ass at being a cupid. I thought we could try the other part of your little predicament.”
Yeah… the whole never having been in love part.
“She’s intense. Are you sure she’s interested in me?” The idea feels laughable. I mean, she was kind and respectful, but we were right next to each other when the game was announced. She hasn’t even had the opportunity to meet anyone else.
“Do we need to have another intervention?”
“Hard pass,” I say back quickly. Definitely not wanting to get pinched or have another stern talking to about my self-esteem.
“I think she literally had to wipe drool off her ridiculously perfect chin when you walked into the room.”
I rub my arm, and then rub a hand over my chest where I have the shamrock tucked away for safekeeping.
