As my emotional state soured, I trudged out of the forest’s shade and into the oppressive sunlight. Gritty grains of sand had crept into my boots by the time I reached the edge of the beach. I stared out at the glistening blue water, trying to calm the hell down.
Just relax, you fucking asshole,I told myself.
It didn’t work.
“Hey, man. You’re gonna bake to death in that leather jacket.”
There was nothing worse than assuming you were alone when you really weren’t.
Instantly, my hackles rose as the chatty voice reached my ears. I spun in its direction—just outside my peripheral vision, dammit—and saw Gaius floating on an inflatable raft on the water.
For once, he wasn’t wearing a disgustingly bright shirt. He was shirtless, relaxing on his back. He sported a pair of sunglasses and clutched a fruity cocktail on his raised knee.
I swore internally. He was the last person I wanted to deal with right now. I’d been too caught up in my own bullshit to notice him until he’d spoken.
“I’ll leave you alone,” I muttered, turning to leave.
“Hey, c’mon,” Gaius called casually. “What’s the big rush? Come and relax, enjoy the waves.” He scooted over and patted the empty space beside him on his stupid raft.
“I’m not sitting on that fucking thing,” I growled.
Gaius shrugged. “Suit yourself, my friend. At least have a drink.”
He pulled a mysterious can out of Holy Drake-knows-where and tossed it at me faster than I could think. I caught it instinctively. The can was plastered in a foreign language I didn’tunderstand, but judging by the pictures, it was some kind of cream soda.
“Where did you even get this?” I grumbled.
Gaius flashed a pure white grin. “I’m a world-traveler, same as you.”
I clicked my tongue. “Don’t compare us like that. I’m not—”
“You traveled. I traveled. Hard to argue with facts, no?”
I scowled. Then I stopped scowling.
“How the fuck do you know about that?” I demanded.
Gaius grinned wider, swirling his index finger in the air. “A little birdy told me.”
My scowl returned with a vengeance. I gripped the soda can hard, then angrily turned to leave. I wasn’t going to feel better by arguing with that birdbrained gryphon.
“You know, Viol,” Gaius said. “The world is only what you make of it.”
I stopped abruptly, shooting a spray of sand from my boots. Was hetryingto rile me up? What for? Just to see my inevitable pissed-off reaction?
I spun around, ready for an argument. But when I searched Gaius’s face, expecting a smarmy grin, he wasn’t smiling at all.
“You’re not the only one who’s seen things, I’ll tell you that much,” Gaius remarked, his tone somehow both casual and somber. He took a long sip of his drink, then added, “What matters is what you make of it.”
He kept saying that. Was he trying to coin a new catchphrase? What the fuck did he mean?
“Go on, try it,” Gaius encouraged, gesturing at the soda in my hand.
His weird comments threw me strangely off-guard. I opened the tab and took a swig. When the cold, sweet carbonation hit my tongue, I had to admit it felt good. I couldn’t remember thelast time I’d indulged in a cream soda. But this one had a distinct flavor, being from a different part of the world.
“You like it?” Gaius asked.
“Yeah, I guess,” I admitted.
