Page 32 of Hera

“No, I’m using the tarts as moons, each with a different phase.”

“Of course you are,” Hera said with a chuckle. “And what did you just put in the oven?”

“The honeycombs. Once you’re done getting that icing stirred together, can you start scooping out the melons?” Demi switched icing bags, moving on to the next color. “I’ve already carved the watermelon, you just need to empty it and then refill it.”

Hera frowned down at her bowl of green icing. “Is this good?” She showed it to Demi.

“Perfect, thank you.”

Hera switched tasks, picking up the melon baller. “This is so cute! The watermelon looks like an old fashioned baby carriage!”

“That’s the idea!” Demi smiled at her. “I’ll carve the part I removed and re-add it as the handle, and with pineapple rounds for wheels, it’ll be perfect, don’t you think? Try to make the three colors of melon evenly spaced out within it.”

“I’ll scoop the watermelon first and put the balls on a plate and then replace them with the cantaloupe and honeydew,” Hera assured her sister. She went to work, the tiny melon baller slowly eating away the pink flesh. “What else is left?”

“The main cake needs to be assembled,” Demi said, nodding her head toward multiple cakes that were cooling on trays. “And the rest of the Goldilocks platter, although that shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“The rest?” Hera asked, curious.

“I’ve got the ‘just right’ set out already, the toppings, but the ‘too cold’ and ‘too hot’ will be last minute additions.” Demi didn’t look up from her decorating. “It’ll require some power, naturally, to keep them at the appropriate temperatures.”

“Naturally,” Hera echoed. “Is the ice cream already made?”

“It’s in the freezer. And the heated sauces are in the fridge, I simply have to warm them up again before we go.” Demi put down the green icing pipette and blew her hair out of her eyes again. “I’ve got caramel, fudge, strawberry, peach, and apple,” she enumerated on her fingers.

“Sounds divine,” Hera said with a wink.

“Speaking of divine,” Demi said, heading for the oven. “I still can’t believe you didn’t recognize Augustine from the fight club.”

“How does that relate?” Hera demanded.

“It doesn’t. I needed to change the subject.” Demi chuckled. “Why didn’t you recognize him? You stared at him enough, didn’t you?”

“I was inside Odin’s box,” Hera said. “And to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t particularly looking at hisface, if you know what I mean.”

“Naughty girl,” Demi teased, passing by with the honeycombs. She peered into the watermelon. “Looks like you’re just about done with that.”

“I was thinking that, too.” Hera switched the melon baller to a knife and cut open the cantaloupe and honeydew that were waiting to be excavated. Rather than deal with scooping out the seeds, she cleared them with a snap of her fingers. “What?” she asked Demi.

“Nothing,” Demi replied with a smirk. “So? Have you spent some time not looking at Augustine’s face in person, yet?”

“No, not yet, and it’s been over a month!” Hera caught herself from whining. “I even wore the purple gown.”

Demi’s eyes grew wide. “In public?”

“No, at home. A night of dinner and stargazing.” Hera sighed happily as she reminisced about the previous weekend. “It was really quite romantic.”

“But you still want more.”

“Of course I do!” Hera practically exploded. “You haven’t seen him, but good Goddess, he’s quite literally drool-worthy! And from what I’ve felt, he’s—”

“Please don’t finish that sentence if you’re going to say what I think you’re going to say,” Demi said with a groan.

“Why not?” Hera asked, raising an eyebrow. “I heard quite a lot of details from you about Charles.”

“Yes, because youwantedto hear those details. I am quite satisfied with a quick ‘he treats me well and is great in bed’ thank you very much.”

“He does treat me well,” Hera said.

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