Page 63 of Hades

Evelyn rolls her eyes. “I’m not ignoring you. I would never.”

“Sweetheart, I might have been born at night, but I wasn’t born last night. Between you and your brother, you’ve both been side-stepping me since I got back from my trip, and I’ve had enough.”

I cough to cover my laugh. She’s got lady balls, that’s for sure. It must be where her daughter gets it from.

Evelyn shoots me a dirty look.

“Wait, kids. I thought Reaper and Evelyn have different mothers.”

Sarah turns toward me and smiles. “I am not biologically Reaper’s mother, no, but that child is mine in all the ways that count.”

I nod. “Understood.”

“Now, enough about me. How about we order some dinner from that Mexican spot down the street? Then you and I, Evelyn, can catch up, and I can get to know you, Hades.”

I point down the hall toward Evelyn’s room.

“I can give you two some alone time. Like you said, it’s been a minute since you two have seen each other in person.”

“Oh no, Hades, you will be joining us. I would love to learn about the man who has been living with my daughter for weeks,” Sarah says.

“It’s not like that,” Evelyn and I say in unison.

Sarah smiles deviously. “How about you let me be the judge of that, hmm?”

I look over at Evelyn, whose eyes are wide.

Well shit, it looks like I won’t be getting out of this.

Evelyn

I shake my head as the scene in front of me unfolds. Hades smiles as my mom laughs like he’s the funniest man on the planet. Then again, he kind of is.

I fully expected him to run for the hills at the first opportunity, but he has indulged my mother. He’s answered all of her questions and refilled her margarita glass and mine every time they get low.

It’s been nice. No, more than nice. It feels normal. Like this is how it’s supposed to be.

It’s not like that with us…

But it could be.

“No, seriously, you won’t catch me in New Orleans. I’m not one to believe in magic and shit, but there’s something about that place.”

I roll my eyes. “Please, vampires aren’t real.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not just talking about vampires, although they supposedly have a community there. I’m talking about voodoo, witches in general, and ghosts. That place is a fucking hotspot, and I don’t trust anyone there.”

“There is something about that place that sends the senses tingling.” Mom nods.

“You two seriously can’t believe in that shit,” I scoff.

“Go to New Orleans, off the beaten path, and tell me you don’t feel it,” he challenges.

“Maybe I will,” I toss back.

He shakes his head. “No, you know what? You can’t.”

“Oh?”