Page 93 of Oh No! There's an Incubus in my Hot Spring
The wheel slows and I start scanning the names. My eyes land on @Jason_ArtNerd and the air leaves me like a punch to the gut. My stomach tenses and I look out at the audience, reapplying my smile.
The wheel clicks slower and slower as Jason’s Instaframe handle gets closer and closer. Fuck me. Why didn’t I screen this? I let Irene handle everything related to the giveaway, and of course she doesn’t know Jason’s handles.
His name is three away when the momentum slows significantly. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and nausea rolls through me.
Please no. Please…please…
Apollo is suddenly at my side, his lips close to my ear. “You’re all right, lovely.”
If only I could tell him how all right I was not.
The wheel catches on the last ticker before his name.
I hold my breath.
It slips over the edge, landing firmly on Jason. Black creeps in around my vision as the crowd cheers. I’m not smiling.
I take a breath and grin, clapping my hands.
The nausea really takes hold when I see a head moving through the crowd. Jason emerges between the guests and acid hits the back of my throat. I take a drink of my wine and set the glass aside, picking up the oversized spa package voucher.
Jason’s eyes are locked on Apollo, his lips set in a firm line as he approaches us. Apollo’s hand tenses on my hip and I feel the sharp prick of his nails.
I hold out the voucher. “Congratulations. You can sell this voucher to cover the cost of the hotel you’ve been staying in,” I say, only loud enough for the three of us.
Jason finally looks at me. “Who the fuck is this?”
“Please take your prize,” I say, keeping a mild smile pasted on for the cameras that are still filming from Channel Nine.
“I want to know who the fuck has his hand on my girlfriend,” Jason says much louder than necessary, and my heart thunders as my eyes dart around the room. Some of the guests have stopped talking and are now looking at us. Channel Nine is moving in closer.
Crazy-girl is screeching for justice, but she’s not equipped to handle this situation delicately. Logic must remain in control if I’m to salvage this.
“I’m not your girlfriend and I don’t owe you any answers. I don’t owe you anything except this voucher. Take it without a scene, please,” I whisper as I thrust the paper toward his chest.
He snatches my wrist, and I gasp. Before I can jerk back, Apollo is grabbing his arm.
“Remove your hand, or I will remove it for you,” he says, the threat deep and chilling.
The reporter, Andrew, is practically salivating, his hand on the cameraman’s shoulder as he guides him forward.
Fuckingwonderful.
There goes the delightful piece about my springs.
“Stop acting like impudent children, both of you,” I hiss and pull on my arm. Jason releases me and Apollo drops his arm.
He grabs the voucher with a sneer. “Fucking whore.”
Apollo’s hand snaps out like lightning, grabbing Jason by the neck of his shirt.
“Enough,” I shout.
Apollo hides his snarl as he looks down at me, his eyes still hard as ice. His nostrils flare and he lets out a heavy breath as he turns back to Jason.
“Don’t come back.” He releases Jason’s shirt with a shove and Jason stumbles back dramatically. The room is quiet. All eyes are on us.
“That’s assault,” Jason declares, pointing at Apollo.
