Page 36 of Faking Ever After

Percy continued to hold my hand as he lifted the basket and led the way down the slope to where a few short trees provided a bit of shade. Although it was only eight in the morning, the sun was starting to kiss the earth a little too passionately.

“There he is,” Percy said with the sort of delight that was reserved for the oldest and best of friends. Was it this ex-boyfriend of his hiding behind the tree? I couldn’t put the dots together if it was. But then, as we came around the tree, Percy named this friend of his. “Hello, Zeus.”

At the sound of Percy’s voice, a tame, big-eyed donkey abandoned his breakfast and hurried—as much as a donkey could hurry—toward us. He ignored me completely and thrust his head under Percy’s arm, rubbing himself against Percy’s leg and cuddling much the same way I wanted to cuddle Percy.

In turn, Zeus received rubs and satisfying scratches behind his ears, braying and snorting and practically prancing around Percy.

“You cannot be serious,” I said in a low voice of disbelief.

Percy simply laughed. “That I’m besties with Zeus? Oh, I’m serious.” He sweetened his voice for Zeus’ ears. “He remembers me. See? He knows who brings the best apples.” Percy lowered the basket to the ground and Zeus immediately moved toward it, but Percy pushed the donkey’s head away playfully andproduced a fresh apple from under the cloth. He fed Zeus gently, and I, once again, felt this ridiculous zing of jealousy.Great, I thought.I envied a donkey. It was hilarious and tragic and completely bizarre, but after Percy fed Zeus, he offered to introduce us. “And this is Finn,” Percy spoke to the donkey. “He’s a very nice person, Zeus. You’ll see. A bit of a temper, but he’s sweet as a muffin.”

“A temper?” I asked, outraged.

Percy lifted his eyebrows at me as if to say, “Exhibit A.”

I gave Zeus my hand, somehow expecting him to sniff me. So when Zeus opened his toothy mouth and pressed his wet lips against the back of my hand, I jumped back and squawked.

Percy seemed to find that endlessly funny. “Zeus likes kisses. Don’t you, baby? You love kisses.” He scratched the lower side of Zeus’ neck and head, then patted his behind and made him move a little away from us. “So? Do you like my friend?”

I laughed out loud. “Whenever I think I figured you out, you introduce me to a donkey.”

Percy took the basket again and we walked over to the shade on the lower side of the tree. Zeus was too busy grazing to pay much attention to us, so Percy uncovered the basket. He spread out the checkered cloth, which had been folded several times and was much larger than I had imagined. It was our picnic blanket, on top of which he put the basket and sat down.

I joined him, watching his deliberate movements as he began to unpack the big basket. Cups, the thermos filled with coffee, a plate of cheese, homemade bread wrapped in a clean, damp cloth, cold cuts, various fruits, and three small jars of jams I assumed were homemade by Nektaria and Dimitrios.

As Percy poured us coffee, I continued to watch him. And when he lifted his eyebrows, I asked the question that had been on my mind since arriving. “Why are we here?”

Percy smiled. “Direct, huh?” He thought about it. “I like spending time with you. And I think you like spending time with me. Down there, it’s hectic. There’s this Benny that’s coming today and Richie will probably show up sooner or later. And I figured, I really want us to be alone for a bit, to see where it goes.”

“Where it goes?” I murmured.

Percy tore off a small part of the bread and dipped it in one of the jams, then brought it to my lips. “Try this.”

I did, my heart fuller than it had been this entire year. “Mm, oh fuck, that’s…that’s amazing.”

He laughed softly. “Fig jam. Dimitrios’ specialty.” He let me enjoy the flavors before he continued speaking. “It’s as simple as this. These days I spent with you have been crazy, sure, but the best thing about them was that I got to know you, Finn. I think you’re funny and sweet…”

“And have a temper,” I pointed out, mock-offended.

He laughed. “I like your temper.”

That shut me up very nicely.

“And if you liked me already, I was too cautious about your comfort to let myself see that,” he said. “I only saw an amazing guy willing to cross the planet to help out a stranger.”

Guilt murmured within me as I looked at Percy, then away. “Listen,” I said quietly. “There’s, um, more to it than that. And I can’t get into details, but the gist of it is that I pissed someone off and needed to go away for a bit.”

Percy nodded. “Okay.” There was a trace of worry in his tone and I feared I put him off. Everything I wanted was one right word away from me, but I couldn’t reach for it without telling him some of the truth. I wasn’t just a nice and altruistic guy. I had my agenda, too.

And I worried it would ruin things.

“It’s not serious. I mean, I don’t think it is. And I didn’t do anything bad.” Was it not bad? I hoped to God I wasn’t lying to him. “But he’s a powerful guy and I needed to lie low for a little while.”

“Are you in danger?” Percy asked, his eyes sharpening with focus. “We can leave for someplace more remote if you are.”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t think he’ll bother to hunt me down.” It didn’t escape me that Percy had offered forusto go. Silence followed. Awkwardly, I snacked on cheese and cold cuts and bread, olives and jam, and contemplated all this mess. I didn’t have much of an appetite anymore. “Look, I can’t tell you more than that. It’s for a good cause. The guy’s shady and he’s getting nothing less than what he deserves, but until then, I…” I shook my head. “I can’t risk telling anyone. Even you.”

Percy nodded.

---