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He leaned close so only I could hear him. “Hephaestus was wrong. You weren’t simply amazing.” He put his hands on my hips. “You’re otherworldly. Do you hear me?”

I nodded my head. “So you actually liked that?”

He sighed, his breath hot in my ear. “I more than liked it. I will never get enough of you, Aphrodite.”

I wanted to believe him. But the last person I’d done this with moved to a whole different state to get away from me. “You promise you’re not about to skip town?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered. “But I’m slowly dying waiting for you to wake up. Tell me you’re awake now. Tell me you’re over him.” He pulled back to stare down at me.

I was over being sad. I was over having my confidence smashed to pieces. And I hoped that meant I was over the person that had done that to me. “Promise me one more thing.”

“Anything, goddess.”

“Don’t break my heart, Adonis.” Because I couldn’t go through that again.

“Does that mean I have it?” He smiled.

I stared into his green eyes. I swear they suddenly looked a shade brighter. I didn’t want to dream of brown eyes ever again. I wanted to dream in green. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. But then I oddly felt...lighter.

I didn’t want Mr. Halifax.

I really didn’t.

I didn’t want someone who didn’t want me. I wanted someone who was as obsessed with me as I was with him. That’s all I’d ever wanted. And I was obsessed with the guy right in front of me. I had been for a while. Even when I was furious with Adonis, I’d wanted him. I’d wanted him and I’d been too terrified to admit it. But it was a lot easier to be brave when he’d already played all his cards.

I slowly nodded.

He smiled. “Humor me. I want to hear you say it.”

I laughed. “You have my heart, Adonis.”

He pulled on my hips, drawing me closer as he placed a searing kiss against my lips.

“Ow, ow!” Scarlett yelled.

I laughed against Adonis’ lips.

He picked me up and twirled me around. And I realized it had been a really long time since I’d smiled this hard.

Adonis set me back down on my feet, but kept me tucked into his chest. “I knew I’d win you over eventually.”

I’d known it too. I pressed the side of my face against his chest and wrapped my arms around his back. I could hear his heartbeat. I was pretty sure it was racing even faster than mine. He’d been nervous about what I’d say back to him. I believed his words. But it was comforting realizing they came from the heart.

I looked out at my friends. Scarlett looked so happy. But the rest of my friends were staring at us warily.

Jacob wiped the blood from beneath his nose.

“Sorry about the nose, man,” Adonis said.

“Sorry about your face,” Jacob said back.

Adonis laughed. “Ow. Yeah.” One of his hands fell from my back as he rubbed his jaw. “You and RJ did a number on me.”

“You good?” RJ asked me, ignoring Adonis.

I nodded. I think maybe I finally was good again. Or at least starting to be.

RJ didn’t offer an apology to Adonis. He just nodded at him. Which I was pretty sure meant all was forgiven. That was probably the best Adonis was going go get.