Page 73 of Ruin

“Yeah, and I’ve heard you’re really good at it.”

She beams at him. “I pwactise all the time.”

“Gigi, this is your uncle Lo and your aunt Missy.”

“Hey, Gigi,” they say at the same time.

“Do you pway fwootball, too?” she asks Lo.

He chuckles and shakes his head. “No, I leave the sports to your dad and Uncle Ares.”

“Look how beautiful she is, Z.” Missy steps closer to Gigi. “She has mom’s eyes. God, I’m so happy to meet you, Gigi. Would it be okay if I hugged you?”

Gigi looks to Zeus for consent, and he nods at her.

Missy reaches out and hugs her while Gigi’s legs stay attached to Zeus’s hips.

Missy leans back, taking Gigi’s face in her hands. “I’m gonna spoil you so bad.” Missy grins at her.

I decide, thanks to the gentle dig in my ribs from Aunt Elle, that it’s time for me to say my hellos and invite them in, as they’re all still standing outside on the porch.

“Hey, guys.” I walk toward them, smiling.

The greeting I get isn’t one I was expecting.

“Cam!” Missy squeals and then runs through the doorway at me, throwing her arms around my neck, almost knocking me off my feet.

“Hey.” I chuckle, a little winded, hugging her back.

She leans back, grinning into my face. “I can’t believe how long it’s been! And you look even more gorgeous than ever, ya biatch—oops! Shit!” She covers her mouth, giggling. “Gotta learn to watch my mouth,” she says between her fingers.

“Yeah, you do,” Zeus grunts from behind.

“It’s good to see you, Missy.”

“You, too.” She smiles at me.

Lo comes over and kisses me on the cheek. “Thanks for inviting us, Cam.”

“Oh, no problem at all.”

They go over to say hello to my aunt Elle as Ares meanders over to me.

“Cam.”

“Hey, Ares.” I smile, not sure how to greet him.

He’s the one I’ve been most worried about hating me, as he’s always been closest to Zeus. I mean, they’re all close. But, with Lo and Missy being twins, they are naturally close. Zeus and Ares have always looked out for one another. They’re brothers in the truest sense of the word.

Then, he steps forward, puts his huge arms out, and hugs me. “Missed you,” he says.

I feel a wave of emotion.

Zeus was the love of my life. But Ares was my friend. We went to high school together, and after Zeus left to get a job and box full-time, Ares was the one to watch out for me at school. When Zeus and I broke up, I didn’t just lose him; I lost my friend, too.

Freeing his arms from around me, he steps back and looks me in the eyes. “You’re not getting rid of us now, you know. We’re here to stay.”

He grins, and I laugh softly.