"Everyone saw that movie. I don't even watch movies much and I've seen it."
"Not a romantic comedy guy."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What?"
She shrugged. "You just seem the romantic comedy type is all."
He winked at her. "That's because you don't fully know me yet. But you will. So, do you still want to go to town, or would you rather just stay here and relax today? I can have the guys stay outside to give you some space."
She wiped her eyes and face and then stepped away from him. "Either way."
He nodded. "Let's go into town. I think you'll like it."
She smiled. "It's a date."
Apollo couldn't help but return the smile. A date. With his mate. Could there be anything better?
CHAPTERFIVE
RIVER
They walked down the leaf-strewn street, and the laidback vibe calmed River's nerves. They walked into a general store.
"This place is adorable." She walked to an old teddy bear and picked it up. "I feel like I've walked into a fifties movie."
"This store is one of my favorites."
"Why?"
He chewed his lip for a minute, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to a section of shelves stocked with old board games.
She looked at them and up at him. "You like games?"
"I love board games. Especially rare and hard-to-find games or old games. My mom used to play with me. My father was gone a lot for business, and she and I used to play games to pass the time if he didn't take me with him."
She realized neither Ares nor Apollo talked about their parents. She scanned the games, recognizing a few names but knowing nothing about them.
"I've never played board games."
"Never?"
She shook her head. "My dad and I used to do other things together. When Bianca and her father, Strider, moved in, Bianca only talked about Barbies and clothes and makeup and music and boys. I spent most of my time watching out for her and doing what she wanted or working out in the shop my dad left me. I don't even think I ever saw a board game in my house."
"I have hundreds of them. Every time my mom found a new one, she bought it."
"And you still have them?"
"Every single one… well… there is one game I don't have. My favorite game. We used to play it all the time, but Ares once got mad that Mom spent so much time with me, so he set it on fire."
She could almost see a frustrated pre-teen Ares taking it from Apollo and throwing the pieces into a fireplace one by one in vengeance.
She took his hand and squeezed it. "What game?"
He chuckled. "You know… I don't even remember the name. It had a bunch of animals in it. Kind of like Wind in the Willows or Beatrix Potter, but I don't remember exactly. I just remember that it used to be my favorite game."
How sad. "Well, do you have a new favorite game?"