From Darkness (Hearts & Arrows Book 3)(28)

“Orion.” Perry’s voice was sad and soft.

“Instead of building a bridge across her hurt to get over it, she’s standing on one side, screaming about the unfairness of it all. She blames me, you know.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“We’ve argued about it plenty of times.” Dita glanced at Perry with a smirk. “You have the worst memory.”

Perry shrugged. “I need CliffsNotes.”

“Her logic is that she loved Orion, and I’m the goddess of love; therefore, I’m to blame for her feelings for him.”

“So, it’s your fault that she fell in love?”

“Apparently. I swear, I didn’t have a direct hand in it. My charms do not work on Artemis. She and Orion did that all on their own.”

“She’s so out of touch,” Perry said as she broke off another piece of chocolate.

“She’s cloistered with her Oceanids and spends all her time policing mythical creatures. You’d be out of touch, too.”

“Josie’s a lot like her.”

Dita sighed. “I know. Poor Jo. Anne’s been gone six months, but Josie’s been alone and lonely for far longer than that. Losing Anne just pushed her into the spiral that she’s in now, but she was already broken. She thought Jon was it, the end of the road, and when she lost him…well, there just wasn’t any getting over it. She’s been on a handful of dates, and they were all disasters. She’s a lot of woman; most guys can’t handle her, but Jon gets her on the molecular level.”

“Really? Because he can be a real idiot when it comes to her.”

“I didn’t say he was perfect. But he gets her. The difference between Josie and Artemis is that there’s hope deep down inside of Josie. Artemis has no hope, only the bitter aftertaste of her heartache.”

“Do you think she’ll ever get over it? Artemis, I mean?” Perry asked.

“She’s the only one who can make that decision. If she accepts her feelings and lets Orion go, it would heal her, but she’d rather seethe and blame me than deal with her own issues.”

“Mmm,” Perry said vaguely as she looked down at her fingers fiddling with the Toblerone box.

Dita narrowed her eyes at Perry. “You keep doing that.”

“What?” Her brows rose innocently.

“Giving me responses that don’t mean anything.”

Perry looked back down and dismissed her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Want to talk about you?”

“Nope,” Dita said, popping the P as she turned back to the fire.

“You’re going to have to at some point.”

“When that time comes, I will.”

Perry gave her a look.

“I wake up every day and don’t know how I’m going to feel. So, I’m taking it minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. Please, don’t pressure me,” Dita begged.

“All right. I’m here though when you need me.”

“I know. And in the meantime, can you please help me avoid my feelings by watching a skinny, young Patrick Dempsey deliver pizzas with extra anchovies?”

Perry nibbled her lip. “Rain check?”

Dita’s cheeks heated up. “Oh, um, of course. I’m sorry. No pressure, right? Just save me from all my sadness real quick in your spare time.”

Perry laughed. “Let’s watch one tonight. It’s just…I’ve barely seen Hades since we came back from Greece.”

Dita held out a hand to stop her and gave her the most comforting smile she could muster. “Don’t, please. It’s fine. Let’s just plan on some point tomorrow. I really am sorry for monopolizing your time. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you and your love.”

“Or chocolate. Or bad jokes.”

Dita hoisted herself off the couch. “Okay. I’m gonna go and get out of your hair so it can get pulled by your husband.”

“You are such a creep.”

“Said the Queen of the Underworld.”

“Bye, Dita.”

“Bye.” Dita patted Perry’s foot and called for her dog, who followed her into the elevator.

She took a heavy breath on her way up to her apartment as panic crept in at the prospect of being alone for a minimum of twenty-four hours.

She stepped into her foyer, feeling her pulse in her neck as her eyes scanned her apartment. Going upstairs wasn’t an option, not with the gossiping gods milling about and Ares potentially around every corner. It would be fine. She could stay in her apartment and read or watch a movie by herself. She didn’t need someone to distract her. She’d be fine. She was capable of being alone with her thoughts.

Get it together, Dita.

She clearly wasn’t fine, but another day wouldn’t kill her. Plus, she could always go to Heff’s. Maybe he would play backgammon with her. Dita perked up a bit. The thought of his smile made her feel better, and she turned for the elevator once again.

Dita was halfway across the room when the elevator opened. It was empty, and her brow quirked as she came to a stop in the entryway. She felt a warm breeze and noticed a bend in the light, and when she dimmed the lights, she found Echo before her.

“Echo,” Dita said with a smile. She hadn’t seen the nymph in a very long while. “I am so glad to have you. Whatever can I do for you?”