She laughed. "We're here tonight. The club's still new, and it's good to keep an eye on things properly. But he's agreed to go to a couple of upcoming events and socialise more." She smiled in a way that really did make it seem as if she was so in love with him that everything was fixed. Then again, Hades and Persephone's problems had never been about loving one another.
"And that's solved all of your issues?"
She shrugged. "We're working on it. You can't be married for thousands of years without having to talk about a few things."
"I wouldn't know. I've never been married, and I don't intend to change that."
"And yet you regularly attend Jinx events," she said. And she wasn't wrong about it either.
"Even if it was a dating event, a woman has needs. Good company, good drinks, and the occasional fling. I'd say you know what I mean, but we both know you don't."
She laughed. "Flings have never really been my thing."
"I know, you're the consummate monogamist."
Persephone laughed. She looked past me, and I turned around, not at all surprised to discover that it was her husband who had caught her attention. "I should go."
I rolled my eyes but smiled all the same. They might be sickening, but it was also kind of cute how in love Hades and Persephone still were even after thousands of years together. But to me, it felt like something truly unobtainable for most of us. I'd seen plenty of the other gods date, only to end things and end up in an awkward situation or sixty.
That wasn't going to be me. There was truly no point in looking for something that would only end up breaking my heart.
Persephone wasn't privy to any of my thoughts and headed off to see her husband.
Luckily for me, the couple with their hands all over one another had left, presumably to find somewhere private, and that finally meant that I could take a seat at the bar and prepare to order myself a drink.
"Abandoned by your date?" a woman asked.
I turned to find the owner of the voice, a woman with large brown eyes, perfectly red lips, and a shirt with a bow on it at the collar. I gave her a once-over, liking what I saw. Maybe I wouldn't need to wait for the next Jinx event to see to my needs.
"She wasn't my date," I responded. "Just a friend I've known a long time."
"Ah, I shouldn't have assumed," she said brightly. "I'm Clara." She held out her hand.
"Hel," I responded, taking it and giving it a shake.
"Short for anything?" she asked curiously.
"Look, I don't do that," I responded. "Clara and Hel are all that's needed for a night."
"That's forward." She leaned on the bar, giving me a good look at her elegant hands and her neatly trimmed nails.
"So is starting a conversation with a stranger," I pointed out.
"We're at a club, isn't the whole point to meet strangers?"
I shrugged. "There are lots of reasons to come to a club. Sometimes, I just want to dance. What's your reason?"
"My cousin thinks I need to get over my ex," she responded.
"A worthwhile cause." I flagged down the bartender. "What are you drinking? It's on me."
"A virgin mojito."
"Good choice," I responded, repeating it to the bartender and ordering myself a ginger beer. The harried bartender returned a few minutes later with them and took my money. Hades should know better and should have hired an extra person to man the bar. I was surprised he hadn't already.
"So, you're here alone?" Clara asked.
"I have friends here," I responded. "But they're currently otherwise occupied. Your cousin?"
