Heart of Fire (Blood of Zeus #2) - Meredith Wild Page 0,59

insecure about who he likes best?”

I frown. “No.”

He laughs again. This time, there’s real humor in the sound. “Then what? I don’t get it. Why do you care after all this time? If he were playing favorites, it’s pretty obvious who would be at the top of that list.”

I sigh and shake my head. “It’s nothing. You’re right. It was a stupid thing to ask.”

He studies me for a long moment and seems to reach some inner resolution for his effort. “Listen, I don’t remember much about him. By the time I could start latching on to memories, he was out of the picture for the most part.”

He’s right, of course. I have more memories of Gramps than the others, but even those early ones are few and sketchy. For the first time in my life, the realization has me asking myself why.

Why was Gramps entrusted with us as children and then suddenly exiled from our lives? Why were we threatened with my mother’s wrath if we dared show him any kindness? Why weren’t we ever given the causes for the threats?

What happened?

I ruminate on that as I walk Jaden to the door. His canary-yellow Lamborghini is parked in the drive. He jostles his keys in his hands a few times, pausing at the threshold before turning back to me.

“Okay, now I have a question for you,” he ventures.

I fight to school my features. Knowing Jaden—though I really don’t anymore—this might be anything. “Hmm?” I answer noncommittally.

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Oh.” My surprise is evident as my brain scrambles through the agenda. “I’ll be at the university’s Gold Circle Dinner.”

He clucks his tongue. “Right. Forgot about that. Thankfully I got out of that one.”

“Lucky you,” I tease, even though I have plenty of good reasons to suffer through it.

He chuckles. “I’ve got a callback for some angsty new show they’re putting together at Fox, but afterward I’m headed to a little get-together at Rerek’s place.”

I stifle a groan. Barely. “You’re still hanging out with Rerek? Does Mom know?”

“She knows what she needs to know,” he replies while finger combing his hair via his reflection in the window. “Besides, Rerek’s mellowed out a bit. I swear.”

“Define ‘a bit.’ And define ‘a little get-together.’” Because in Rerek’s world, that means a head count anywhere between fifty and five hundred.

“It’ll be fun.” More of his calculated subject dodging. “And it’s going to be a nice night. We’re hoping to have a bonfire on the beach, since Rerek’s place is right on the sand. You should stop by after the dinner if you want. Bring the new guy.”

I find myself warming at the offer. More because I can feel him actually…trying. I’m not entirely sure why he is, but I’m happy that he is. Because only days ago I chose Maximus over a life that I would have shared with Arden but also with my family. Now it seems like maybe I can have Maximus and keep my family, strange as they all may be.

I smile and give Jaden a hug. He’s tense for a second before returning the embrace.

“Thank you for the invite. I’ll be there,” I promise.

Chapter Seventeen

Maximus

I nod up at Reg in gratitude as she sets a second cup of coffee in front of me. Without words, she knows how much I need a liquid recharge of what she calls the “Sleepless in Maximus Special.” It’s appropriate on days after I’ve slept three hours and then gone to the gym just as long. This is the first time she’s ever dosed me for the opposite. I’m learning, with fast and furious agony, that god-booze hangovers are not consequences to tempt.

Does Z feel this way too?

I don’t want to know the answer to that. Not that I can spare an extra brain cell for the duty.

With the remaining three cells that are actually functioning, I focus on what to say next to Reg. We’re settled on a couple of couches in the shop’s back corner, the spot they cleared so Piper Blue could hold court with fans and press a few weeks ago. I can’t believe it’s really been less than a month since the night of that party. Those first moments I pressed in on Kara over in the classics section and realized that our chemistry was more than a fluke thing were undeniable—and incredible. At once, I saw that she recognized the same thing. That was the first night I felt her spirit tug on the middle of my soul,