Page 5 of Through You
I free myself from his embrace and turn around. “That is the last time.”
He flashes all his teeth. “I promise.”
“You said the same thing the other last time.”
“I double promise, okay?” He gives me the same sheepish look he has undoubtedly used to make girls fall for him. I abstain from answering. Instead, I flick one finger against his forehead.
Ares laughs. I look over his shoulder and notice that Artemis and the redhead are approaching, most likely to greet Ares.
And that is my cue to leave.
“I have to go and get more appetizers,” I whisper, and leave Gin, who is about to challenge my excuse, since we both well know there’s plenty of food circulating.
The kitchen is my safe place. It’s where I grew up, where I scribbled and doodled at the table while my mother cooked and cleaned. It’s the room in the house that the Hidalgos most rarely frequent. It’s my territory. I didn’t intend to turn this small space into my refuge, it just happened that way. I rearrange what is ready to serve, and try to make myself look busy in case someone comes in. I’m simply wasting time. If Mrs. Hidalgo finds me here she’ll likely scold me. I’m not sure why I’m avoiding Artemis.
In my head, this evening was going to unfold very differently.
I never imagined I would act like a coward, retreating to the kitchen. What is wrong with me?
I’m just surprised by how much he’s changed, that’s all.
I’ve never let anyone intimidate me. I can’t let him be the first.
“Is everything okay?” Apolo’s voice startles me.
I turn around to face the youngest of the Hidalgo brothers.
“Yes, everything is going well.”
Out of the three brothers, Apolo is the innocent one. He’s very cute, with big brown eyes and a childlike smile. I’m willing to bet that of the three, he’ll turn out to be the most handsome. And of course, he’ll be the one with the nicest personality.
“Okay.” He leans on the counter and crosses his arms. “So how come you’re hiding here?”
“I’m not hiding.”
Apolo arches an eyebrow. “Then what are you doing?”
I open my mouth but close it immediately. I stall while I try to come up with an excuse. And then one pops into my head.
“I am—”
“Wasting your time,” Sofia Hidalgo interjects as she makes her entrance. “Can you please explain where have you been for the past twenty minutes?”
“I simply wanted to make sure that—”
“Shush!” She shuts me up. “I don’t want to hear your excuses.
I want you out there tending to my guests.”
I promised my mom that I would be on my best behavior, so I bite my tongue. I walk past Apolo and begrudgingly make my way back to the event. I resume my duties. I serve drinks and smile like an idiot. I keep my eyes and mind off the evening’s center of attention.
I become preoccupied with avoiding Artemis at all costs.
This unfortunately leads me straight into the chest of the last person I expected would be here: Daniel. His eyes sparkle when they meet mine.
“My beautiful genius.”
Shit.
