Quaid and I glance at each other as they disappear into the bathroom.
He opens his mouth to talk, but I hold a finger. “Bro, you’ll get your chance. Don’t worry.”
“What are you talking about?” he asks. “That’s not what I was thinking.”
I roll my eyes. “Right. Then what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking… well, wondering actually, if maybe we were all sent here at the same time for a reason.”
“Well, sure. We were all sent here to get Star.”
“Yeah. We were. But we were assuming that it was fordifferentreasons. Or, at the very least, they were separate missions. But what if my god is working with your god—or goddess, as it is—and they’re both working with his.” He gives a chin nod in the direction of Aric.
“Why would they do that?”
“To see what happens? Because they must know something about Star. Something that makes her desirable. Other than her hot body.” Quaid adds this last part with a chuckle.
I point at him. “You like her. You’re being a dick, but you like her.”
He shrugs. “I’d hit that.”
And I laugh. “Yeah, so would I. I mean, there are worse things to be burdened with than a hot little demigoddess who lights up the room with glowing symbols and gets me more power when I work her up.”
He frowns. “All she does is break me.”
“Maybe,” I say, completely understanding his frustration. “I mean, obviously she is interfering with your glasses, that’s for sure. But you, Quaid?” I shake my head. “No. She doesn’t breakyou.”
“You don’t get it,” he says. “The glassesareme. They’re the only power I have.”
“You’re right, I don’t get you. I have no idea who you are. But Apollo sent you, Quaid. Which means you’re necessary. You should let that be enough for now.” Then I slap him on the shoulder. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“To watch, of course.”
I snicker all the way over to the doorway of the bathroom and then lean up against the wall on one side, while Quaid leans up against the other.
“Shhhhh,” I say, putting a finger to my lips.
Then I peak around the corner.
Star and Aric are having one of those awkward sixth-grade, spin-the-bottle moments. In other words, acting like a couple of teenagers who both know they like each other, they're just not sure how to get from first to second base.
Aric mumbles something, which makes Star move in closer to him. Her breasts press up against his chest as her hands move down to his waist and then slowly begin to explore his back. Lucky bastard is already shirtless, having taken it off, so this skin-on-skin contact excites him enough to place his hands on her face and give in. If it was ever a struggle in the first place. Chills erupt all over his tattooed torso and I realize, I’m holding my breath, waiting for them to kiss.
It doesn’t disappoint. The moment their lips touch, all the reservations are gone. Aric leans in, opening his mouth, and Star responds by leaning up on her tiptoes. He holds her face in his hands and I’m actually getting excited, heart pounding in my chest, as Star’s fingertips play with the button on his jeans.
Next to me, Quaid exhales loudly. “Fuck, that shit is hot.”
And I’m about to laugh and agree, when the two lovers just…disappear.
