Page 17 of Winning Back Persephone

Surprise crossed her face.

"Oh, come on, Sephie. You know me better than that."

"You'd rather be at the club," she said.

"Or at home with Cerberus," I said. "He's good company."

Her face fell. "Yes."

"I'm sorry, I should have thought."

She shook her head. "Why should you have? He's your dog."

"He misses you. I miss you."

"I miss you too," she said so quietly that I almost thought I didn't hear it.

"Maybe you should come see Cerberus," I said.

"You want me to come back with you?"

Yes.

"To see Cerberus," I said. "He really does miss you. Maybe we could work something out so that you could see him more often."

Her face lit up, and it was all I could do not to feel hope well within myself. I knew there would be a lot of people who might call me a fool for wanting to take her back, especially so soon after things had ended, but I loved her, and my life was better with Persephone in it.

"I would like that," she said. "If you don't think it's strange."

I laughed. "It's definitely strange, but I don't think there's much precedent for our situation. Most relationships don't last as long as ours."

"That's true," she said. "I think that's partly what's making dating hard. I'm expecting something that can't exist with a stranger. We've known each other for so long, and so well, that it's hard to imagine I could have that with someone whose name I don't know until they introduce themselves."

"We were strangers once too, Sephie. You just have to think back to that."

"A lot's happened since then." She took a sip of her wine. "And that wasn't really dating. We met at one of Zeus' parties."

"So that's what you've got to do this time too," I suggested. "Attend one of Zeus' parties."

"Over my mother's dead body."

I laughed. "Fair enough. I can't imagine Demeter letting you go."

"I don'twantto go," she assured me. "I'll do anything I can in order to stay away from one of Zeus' parties. I'm surprised there are people who still go."

"There are always people who want to find out if the rumours are true," I responded. "And he can be very charming when he tries to be."

"I wouldn't know. I would say that's one of the perks of having a protective mother."

"Ah, finally a use for Demeter."

She smothered a laugh, even though the joke was at her mother's expense.

"How are things going for your launch?" I asked, spotting her handbag on the bar.

She reached out to touch it. "Well, I think. Nyx suggested I asked Aphrodite for help with planning the launch party, and she's actually been really helpful."

"I've heard good things about her event planning," I said.

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