Page 65 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

My mouth opened, but no argument came out. I had no explanation. I wracked my brain trying to come up with one, but it just wasn’t there. The only thing I could think about was the way Gio’s face contorted when he was shoved down my throat, which only confused me more.

Why would I go to that moment? It wasn’t like I enjoyed it. That was humiliating and horrible, but it kind of made me feel powerful. Maybe I did like it?

God damnit.

When I took too long to answer Memphis, that skeptical line in his brow deepened. “Did something happen between you and Gio?”

When did he become a mind reader?

“Pfft, no. I would tell you if something did.”

I totally wouldn’t. Memphis didn’t need to be drug deeper into this shit than he already was.

“Uh huh? Just like you told me when you kissed him, right?”

I knew that would come back to bite me in the ass.

“Those didn’t count.”

I didn’t ask Gio to kiss me. He just did it, which considering he hated the ground I walked on, was weird. Why would he do something like that with someone he loathed so much? And guys thought girls were compilated.

When Memphis’s judgy look didn’t let up, I pointed out, “When have I ever lied to you about a guy?”

Until recently, I literally told him everything.

“Prince Charming.”

Well if he was going to remember everything...“I was six.”

And that situation wasn’t even close to this. For the most part.

I looked over at the green glare throwing daggers my way.

Gio’s normally intense stare was extra penetrating today. I could feel the weight of his hatred pressing down on me. But it was the shadow casting darkness in his expression that made my stomach swirl.

“Actually, you were seven…” Memphis said, drawing my attention back to him. “And you drew fake wedding pictures to try and prove it.”

Yeah, that probably wasn’t the best piece of evidence to fabricate. It might’ve helped if I didn’t make Prince Charming purple.

“Need I remind you about your engagement to the king of rock and roll.”

Memphis also went through an Elvis phase. Of course neither of us knew the king was no longer with us and hadn’t been since long before we were born. When Memphis found out, he wore black for a week.

“I didn’t invite you over for a reception buffet of peanut butter and crackers.”

“Hey, those were good.”

“You made them out of cardboard and paint.”

What did he want me to do? I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen.

“Listen,” Memphis cut me off before I could say anything else. “We’re not talking about fairy tale characters or someone that none of us have ever met.”

Personally, I thought my fantasy wedding was pretty spectacular, but whatever.

“Gio is a real, living, breathing person.”

Was he sure about that? The person thing might be a stretch. I wasn’t sure if any of those three were human. A demon I could see. Then again, they could’ve come from the other way. The divine liked their rules, and so did Gio. Not that anyone would be able to tell that from this week at school.

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