“Call me when you’re back home,” Calliope said with a sniffle, before Athena hung up.
“Hey, you okay?” Brian asked as he ran his hand down her bare back.
“My brother is going to die if I don’t get my hands on some stupid rock that divines mates,” she breathed. “So you know, no pressure or anything.”
Brian twisted his lips, cocking his head to the side.
“A Diviner?” he asked.
Athena perked up.
“Yes, actually.”
“Yeah, I remember my dad mentioning one in his papers about the exhibit. It’s on loan from the history museum.”
“You have one?” she asked, hope blossoming in her chest.
“I don’t, but the university does. It’s going on display Thursday.”
Thursday was only a few days away.
Surely they could make it, couldn’t they?
The diviner would show her brother the way to his mate, and the curse would be lifted.
It was the best chance he had.
“Do we have to wait until Thursday or...”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have access to the gallery because I don’t work at the university.”
“You don’t? But I thought—”
“I work at the County Children’s Library. I have a key to my dad’s office, but not to the gallery.”
“Oh,” she said, her hopes dashed immediately.
Brian reached out, running his hand along her arm.
“But... I could ask him for it? Maybe... maybe under the guise of a... date?” Brian blushed.
“You’d do that? For me?” she asked, dumbfounded.
Brian spun her chair around, putting her knees between his legs, and she noticed he was wearing grey sweatpants that hung off his hips deliciously. And by the sight of things, he didn’t seem to be wearing underwear.
Lust formed in her belly once more and she bit her lip.
The things the sight of this man did to her...
“Of course. I’d do anything for you,” he breathed, setting his hand on her jaw, hooking her chin under his knuckle.
Athena looked up at him with hope and wonder.
Is this what being saved feels like?
“But first, we should refuel. Can’t save the day on an empty stomach,” he said, and kissed her forehead.
Athena nodded. “Of course,” she said as the whiff of bacon made her salivate.
