Page 25 of Property of Fox

“It’s your time to shine. Go sell her readers the fictional dream, big guy.”

I roll my eyes as I step into the gauntlet. The moment I step into the throng, I'm met with a wave of adoration that makes my skin itch. All eyes are on me, sparkling with excitement, and there’s nothing quite like being treated as if you're some kind of rock star when all you want is to keep your head low and slide through unnoticed.

Eden waves for me to join her at the center of her fans. I walk to Eden and settle at her side trying to relax and look like I am comfortable.

“Is that who I think it is?” A girl moves toward me, her lanyard swinging as she approaches. She has wide brown eyes that dart between mine and Eden's before focusing back on me like I’m the prize at some twisted carnival game. “He’s real?”

“Is it true? Are you really Ares?” One woman asks.

“Yes, it is. I know many of you wanted to meet him, so I just had to bring him to the signing. Everyone, meet Ares.”

“Hi, I’m Ares,” I murmur, forcing a half-smile. The room erupts with excitement, high-pitched gasps and claps echoing as if I've just thrown the first pitch at a game everyone was dying to see. The name is bound to fiction and constantly reminds me that I am here against my will.

“Okay, okay!” Eden interjects. “Questions! Let’s do some questions!”

“Okay, so, I’m just going to ask what everyone else is dying to know. Did you really meet Eden at the last signing? Is that story true?” A bold voice rises from the front.

I look at Eden, who raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this more than she should. It's surreal being placed on this pedestal, where my story is woven from threads of seduction and danger, all crafted from Eden's imagination. When the reality pales in comparison.

“Um,” I begin, stalling as I try to find the right answer. Truthfully, we did meet at the last signing, but the rest of the story is all bullshit. “Yeah,” I finally force out.

“Are you as big as Eden describes in the book?” Another voice rings out over the rest of the crowd. Fuck. How do I answer that question? I didn’t read her fucking book, something that I now regret because I have no idea how big she said I was. The crowd anxiously awaits my answer. “Sugar, not everyone can be as blessed as I am in the dick department.”

“Daaaammmn, Eden. You’re so lucky.”

“What can I say? I know how to pick my badass bikers, am I right?”

Laughter ripples through the crowd, a tidal wave of amusement that sweeps me along, but in reality, I'm sweating bullets.

“Tell us more!” someone shouts, enthusiasm pulsing through the air. “What else happened between you two?”

“You mean besides the obvious?” Eden laughs, rubbing her pregnant belly.

“Are you excited to be a dad, Ares?”

The question catches me off guard. I knew they’d ask about that, but I hadn’t exactly worked out how I would approach that question considering the only child I have and will ever have is a four-pound chihuahua back home. “Alright, ladies,” I pivot, playing along with her game. “Let’s not forget who really wears the crown here.” I toss a glance over at Eden, letting my voice drop to a conspiratorial whisper. “I may be Ares, but she’s got the pen.”

“Tell us more!” someone screams excitedly from the back of the throng.

Eden laughs and nudges my shoulder.

“More stories! More secrets!”

“Okay,” I relent, rallying myself against the feeling of vulnerability that creeps over me, “I’ll tell you something, but you all have to keep it between us.”

They lean forward as one body. A single hive of anticipation.

“Fine, fine,” Eden urges with feigned impatience. “Tell them how you swept me off my feet.”

“Right,” I grunt skeptically. “So, there we were…” I start before the lights start flashing off and on. A male voice cuts through the crowd announcing that we were all being kicked out of the bar area. Saved by the fucking security guards.

“I guess we’ll just have to save that story for later, huh, baby?” I coo to Eden and her fans.

A collective aww comes from her fans. “It was just getting spicy,” one of them remarks.

“Thanks for coming, everyone. We’ll see you all tomorrow at the signing,” Eden declares.

“Will Ares be there?”

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