My mother appears instantly in my doorway, worry written all over her face, one hand pressed to her chest.
“Nina! What is going on?”
“I passed, Mom! I passed the first stage!” I shout, still in full hysteria mode.
Her eyes widen as she connects the dots.
“You passed?”
“I passed!”
And that’s all it takes for the two of us to become a pair of lunatics—jumping and screaming in a pink-walled bedroom at seven in the morning on a Friday.
Two hours later, I’m having breakfast, my mind spinning with all the possibilities of working in the Emirates, when my phone vibrates on the table.
A quick glance at the screen makes my excitement falter for a second when I see a new message from Nero.
I didn’t reply to his last two messages last night, and I’m not sure I want to deal with whatever he’s saying now.
I ignore the phone for exactly thirty seconds—until curiosity wins.
Frog:
Check your window.
CHAPTER 16
NERO ZANTHOS
Nina’s big eyes stare at me through the window, as if they can’t decide whether they’re happy or annoyed by my presence on her sidewalk at nine in the morning. I widen my smile, testing it.
I’m no expert like Apollo, but he always says it works. When Nina lets go of the curtain without mouthing anything—neither smiling back nor telling me to leave—I start to doubt him.
Little Faeappears at the front door a few minutes later, stepping outside before closing it behind her. Her hair is pulled up high, leaving only her bangs to frame her face, and she’s wearing short shorts and a plain T-shirt.
There’s nothing remarkable about it—and yet the thought that she’s beautiful flashes through my mind like smoke. I find myself wondering how much more beautiful she looks when she wakes up.
“Good morning,Little Fae,” I greet her, keeping my arms straight at my sides even though every instinct urges me to open them in invitation. Fuck—I missed her. How is that even possible?
“Good morning,” she replies, approaching without giving me any clue what’s going on inside her head. “You’re a bit early.”
“I’d say I’m late. Six days late, to be more precise.”
She stops, leaving a few steps of distance between us and crossing her arms over her chest.
“What are you doing here, Nero?”
“I said I’d make it up to you,” I remind her.
“Five times,” she counters. “Sorry if I’m not exactly holding my breath in anticipation.”
“I deserved that,” I admit, wrinkling my nose.
“You really did.”
“And now that you’ve had your revenge, can I touch you?” I ask, finally extending my hand toward her. “Because I’d really like to.”
Nina looks between my hand and my face a few times before rolling her eyes and accepting. I have her in my arms within seconds, holding her tight, trying to ease the raw ache in my chest.
