Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(84)

"Oh, sweetheart! He couldn't hate you. No one could hate you. Come on. Sit up here at the table. I'll pour us some coffee and we'll figure this out." She pulled Chloe gently from the goddess's lap, and then helped Venus to her feet and hugged her hard.

"No - no." Venus hiccupped, taking her usual place at Pea's table. "It's not going to be figured out. Pea, he doesn't want me now that he knows I'm a goddess."

Pea set mugs of steaming coffee before both of them. "Tell me everything. And here, use the linen napkin as a Kleenex. It's an emergency."

Pea listened while Venus replayed the scene with Griffin for her, only occasionally gasping and muttering under her breath about how stupid guys could be. When she was finished Venus blew her nose and wiped her eyes. Pea didn't say anything. Instead she got up and brought out of the freezer a long sleeve of something hard wrapped in aluminum paper.

"It's my special stash of Belgian dark chocolate. Eat it. It'll help."

Venus nodded woodenly and broke off a piece of the chocolate and let the dark sweetness dissolve in her mouth as she sipped Pea's delicious coffee. "You're right." The goddess sniffled.

"It does help."

"Okay. First, I'm really mad at Griffin, too. He behaved like an ass**le."

"I think Smart Bitches dot com would call him something worse. Something like..." She paused, thinking and sucking on the chocolate. "A goddamn stupid-ass cockhumping whoremonger or maybe an assburger."

"You're right. Their curses are excellent. Let's call him a cockhumping assburger. It's way worse than an ass**le."

"I agree," Venus said.

"So we're really mad at him, but I don't think you should give up on him."

"I have to, Pea. I can't change who I am, and even if I could, I wouldn't."

"I just think that he was shocked, and that's why he reacted so badly. After he has time to think about what a moron - " Venus raised a brow at Pea. "I mean what a cockhumping assburger he's been, he'll be all sorry and apologetic and will grovel properly to get you back."

"You didn't reject Vulcan when you found out he was a god."

"Well, that's not really a fair comparison. I'd already become friends with you, so I was kinda used to the idea of immortals hanging out in Tulsa."

Venus shook her head. "He asked if we were even the same species. I don't know if I can forgive him for that."

"Do you love him?"

"Yes," Venus said softly.

"Then I think you can learn to forgive him."

"I don't know. In a way he's right. There's always going to be this mortal/immortal issue between us. When he's old and stooped I'll still look like this. I will eternally look like this."

Pea's face had gone pale and Venus realized the significance of what she had said. The goddess took Pea's hand. "You should know that I would still love Griffin if he was old and stooped, and after he died I would eternally mourn his death and hold his memory as sacred. As will Vulcan with you."

"I know. At least I think I know. But it is daunting and more than a little scary to know that you're in love with a being who will never age - will never die."

"But you're courageous enough to continue loving Vulcan."

"I don't think I'd call it courageous, but yes. I am going to continue loving Vulcan."

"Griffin doesn't have your courage. Or perhaps it is closer to the truth for me to say that he doesn't have your love." Venus blinked back the tears that threatened to well in her eyes again.

"Don't give up on him yet. Men aren't as good at adapting as women. Plus" - Pea shrugged, smiled and popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth - "we have more sense."

"You're definitely right about that." Then all kidding left the goddess's voice. "I don't know if I can do it, Pea. I don't know if I can open myself to him ever again. What if he rejects me again?"

"But, Venus, isn't that just part of love?" Pea asked gently. "You have to be vulnerable to truly be loved."

"Yes. If you're not vulnerable to love, you'll never really be open to experiencing it. I just don't know if I can be vulnerable again. Rejection hurts."

"Who rejected what?" Vulcan's deep voice rumbled from between them as he materialized in the kitchen.

Pea squealed and clutched her heart. "Okay, y'all have got to stop with the sudden materializations. Use. The. Door. Or you're going to give me a heart attack."

"Sorry, little one." Vulcan bent to kiss Pea. He smiled at Venus. "Hello, Goddess."

"Vulcan." She nodded absently at him.

Then he sniffed in the direction of Pea's mug. "Coffee..."

Pea laughed and swatted at him when he tried to take her cup from her. "Who knew immortals would be so crazy about something as simple as coffee." She pointed to the pot. "Help yourself."

Vulcan poured himself a cup and scooted his chair over so that he could sit with one arm around Pea. He glanced at Venus and then took a second look. "You've been crying," he said.

"Griffin didn't respond well to finding out Venus is Venus," Pea said.