rolled her eyes and gave Quinn another tight hug. “We were so excited when Khristos called and invited us to game day! And you look so pretty, too. Just perfect for—”
“For an afternoon in Greece!” Wanda interjected, shooting Marty a look Quinn didn’t quite understand. “Really, love that dress. It suits your figure.”
Nina nodded, her grin wicked. “Yeah. That Barbie dress hides the fact that your cans deflated. Do you miss your boobs, McGee?”
She giggled, sticking her tongue out at Nina. “Not even a little.”
Her cans had gone back to their rightful size, followed by her eyes and skin returning to normal, At first she’d been dismayed and she’d worried about Khristos’s reaction when he saw her breasts in their original state.
But he’d reminded her, he didn’t love her for her body parts. He just loved her.
Khristos’s mother waved at Quinn from her lounge chair, set on the steps of the Parthenon. She’d begun to spend more and more time with the woman they lovingly referred to as ex-Aphrodite, when she wasn’t off at her hot yoga classes or Garden Club meetings, learning helpful tips from her on matchmaking and hearing all the stories about Khristos’s youth.
Quinn had a healthy respect for Khristos’s mother, and truly enjoyed their binge watches of Sons of Anarchy—whom ex-Aphrodite declared she’d have done some damage to back in her youth.
Ingrid and Carl strolled toward her, Carl with his ever-present book in hand. He held it up for her to see. “Oh, Carl,” she cooed, folding her hands together and placing them on her heart. “Romeo and Juliet so soon in the game? Are you sure you’re ready for all that heartbreak?” She gave him a warm hug, careful not to squeeze him too hard and break off another body part.
He patted her back in return when she bracketed his face with her hands and smiled up at him. Carl was one of the greatest new joys in her life. Nina occasionally dropped both Carl and little Charlie at her apartment on she and Greg’s date nights, and they all sat on the floor together reading.
Carl was constantly curious, and often made trips to the library with her to discover new books under the cover of a hoodie and some strategic planning on her part.
That Nina and Marty trusted her with their children was the ultimate compliment. It meant she really was a part of this crazy family, pieced together by accident.
Ingrid, dressed in leather, her eyes rimmed in charcoal, did a little dance. She clenched her hands together at her chest and swooned comically “Look at me, gettin’ my Greece on. Now give me your hand, Quinn Morris. We’re going to have one of those moments you’ve dreamt about since I’ve known you. The one you planned on so long ago, but instead got some big ol’ boobies and a new job. Right here in the middle of the Parthenon.”
Quinn’s laughter echoed in the open space as she remembered all the dreams of her trip to Greece she’d shared with Ingrid before her breakup with Igor, giving her hand to her friend and squeezing it.
Rocking back and forth, Ingrid let out a dreamy sigh as she perused the shimmering white landscape, bumping shoulders with Quinn. “Isn’t it romantic here in the Parthenon now that you’re in love and happy, Quinn? Isn’t it just like you’ve always dreamed? A perfect day for a pro—”
“Batch of Arch’s chicken wings and artichoke dip,” Khristos said from behind her, gripping Quinn’s shoulders.
Ingrid’s eyes flashed something odd at Khristos before they went warm. She lunged for him, giving him a hard hug. “You bet! It’s the best day ever for some chicken wings and artichoke dip. In fact, I think I’m going to go stuff my face with some right now and see if I can find some hot god’s abs to play like an xylophone.” She blew them a kiss and ran off into the bright sun to join the others invited to this impromptu party Khristos had cooked up.
Marty, Nina, and Wanda followed suit, throwing themselves into their various roles of the day, and Quinn sighed, feeling content—included.
She turned to Khristos, slipping her arms up under his and letting her head rest on his chest, her favorite place in the world these days. “I wish my mother could have been here. Though it would really take some explaining, huh?”
His laughter rumbled against her ear, making her shiver with pleasure. “I gave Zeus strict orders there’d be no