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He smiled against my lips and pulled back, dropping his hand. “Do you like it?”

I reached up and touched the chain where it skated across the top of my collarbone. It wasn’t quite a choker, but close. I touched the little dove to the side. “I love it. But that’s not the point.”

“That is the point, Aphrodite. Come on. We don’t want to be any later or we might get in trouble.” He put his hand out for me.

“You’re trouble.” I didn’t take his hand.

So he picked me up in his arms and carried me up the stairs. I laughed into the side of his neck. He set me down on my feet in front of my first class.

“Tell pumpkin I say hi.” He brushed some snow out of his hair.

I laughed. “Okay.” I tried to do the same, but my hair was just wet.

“Now get to class,” he said and lightly slapped my butt. “You’re a terrible influence on me.”

He had that all backward.

“Thank you,” I said and reached up and touched the dove again. “I really do love it.” Even though I had no idea where he’d gotten it from.

He smiled.

And then Uncle James leaned his head out of the classroom. “Sophie. Adonis. The bell rang 10 minutes ago. Class. Now.”

“Sorry, Uncle James,” Adonis said.

Uncle James frowned.

“I was having trouble with my car in all that ice. And I called my girl to come help me. She always has some salt on her.”

Now Uncle James just looked confused.

And I was too. I didn’t have any salt in my trunk. And I wasn’t sure how helpful salt was now that snow was already on the ground. Maybe it was super useful? But I didn’t know because I’d never salted anything before. I looked up at Adonis.

“Because you’re always so salty with me,” he whispered in my ear.

I laughed.

“Well...class,” my uncle said. “Now. You’re both late.”

Adonis smiled at me. “Later, Aphrodite.” It looked like he’d rather kiss me than walk away.

“Get to class, Adonis,” Uncle James said firmly.

“Yup. Later, Uncle James. Tell Aunt Penny I said hi.” He winked at me and walked down the hall, not in any hurry.

I was starting to see why he’d gotten kicked out of his last school.

“Why is he always calling me that?” Uncle James asked. “I’m not that kid’s uncle.”

I shrugged. Adonis was way too familiar with everyone in my life. But I knew he didn’t have a big family. It was just him and his dad. And his dad was away on business a lot. I was starting to wonder if Adonis was a little lonely.

Adonis stopped in front of his first class and turned back to me. He winked at me before strolling through the door.

I smiled. I didn’t mind sharing my family with him.

Chapter 34 – Terrorizing the Waitstaff

Tuesday