Page 31 of Perfectly Matching Again

“First of all, are you seeing a therapist or something? Because, yes, girl. To all of that spiel about you being an a-s-s,” Aphrodite spelled the word and covered her belly, as if the baby could hear her. Erato, who knew nothing about babies, imagined Demeter with a child, her child and nearly fainted.

Then Aphrodite spoke again. “As for seeing Demeter… You know, nobody does. So what’s one more?”

Erato sobered instantly and hackles went up.

“Don’t say that! She’s amazing, a miracle, an angel?—”

Aphrodite smirked, clearly getting the exact reaction she wanted.

“And that is what you should say. Emphatically. Just like that.”

Erato’s shoulders drooped. Nothing like pre-gaming the big speeches with her dear friend the Goddess of Love, one hopped up on pregnancy hormones and yet manipulative enough to get Erato exactly where she wanted her.

With a last look in the mirror, Aphrodite gave Erato a kiss, then took an extra second to wipe the lipstick from her cheek. Erato felt tears threaten.

“Wish me luck, Dite.”

“You don’t need it, Erato, you are the sexiest muse. The most talented romance writer of our time. You’re smart and gorgeous. And you have such a wonderful heart. Luck has nothing to do with it. All you have to do is be and the women?—”

Erato rolled her eyes and exited the room before Aphrodite finished her pep talk.

“No women, Dite. Just one. Just one Goddess, please.”

The Beltane Festivalon Calton Hill in Edinburgh was a sight to behold. The dark night was illuminated by thousands of fires, people dancing and drinking, chanting, praying. Several stages were set up with performances happening all at once. The participants were wandering from one to the other, drinking, eating and being merry. Any other time, Erato would have joined the most rambunctious of the groups and gotten lost in the dancing and the celebrations of spring.

But that was any other time. This time she immediately homed in on the rather large group of Olympians, watching a performance that could only have been directed by Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, outdoing herself in yet another production.From the side stage, Erato caught a glimpse of her favorite Cupid fleeting between the performers, fixing their clothes.

Abby Angellini really had that knack for tailoring and originality in her costumes.

“Should I be offended that it’s my wife who is your favorite?”

Sabine’s voice near her ear almost made Erato jump. Sheer force of will held her in place. That and the unwillingness to make any moves that could ruin her hair.

“I highly doubt anything can ruin that devastatingly handsome hair.” Sabine snarked and Erato had to roll her eyes.

“Did Aphrodite narc on me? When could she even have done so? I literally just walked away from her. And quit reading my mind, Sabine. It’s annoying.”

Sabine’s expression turned smug.

“It’s not. It’s enlightening. Illuminating. All this devastation unleashed on unsuspecting women. How do you do it?” The theatrics did not pacify Erato, but, as Sabine went on, she suspected they were not meant to. “Plus, everything you’re thinking is written on your face. And as for Dite narcing. We have a group chat, darling. It’s called “Devastatingly Handsome and Totally Clueless”. Needless to say, it’s entirely dedicated to you.”

Sabine’s hand lifted and fixed Erato’s collar, taking the sting out of her words somewhat. Erato sighed.

“You don’t have to tell me I messed up. Dite already did. Hera did, believe it or not. Even her bears did.” At Sabine’s uncomprehending eyebrow raise, Erato shrugged. “You don’t want to know.”

“Probably for the best.” Sabine tugged the collar once again, expression slightly pouty. “As for the clueless part, my dear, I did everything that was in my power. I even came out of retirement just for you. And you can imagine what that cost me. Zeus has been on my case for weeks now, since he thinks I am back inbusiness.” Sabine made gagging noises. Erato could sympathise. Still, this was one aspect of the entire ordeal that she simply could not comprehend, nor like, no matter how much she tried.

“So you forced a Perfect Match on me and Demeter?”

Sabine’s groan was nothing short of exasperated.

“Don’t growl at me or whatever.” Erato stood her ground valiantly. “You didn’t have to shoot an arrow at Aphrodite, and everyone knows your own wasn’t a Perfect Match, so why me?”

Sabine took a deep breath, then another. Erato was certain she was counting to ten on the inside. When she finally looked more composed, she spoke.

“Because of you and because of Demeter. Some matches don’t need help. Don’t need arrows or circumstances or pushing. People just fall. But this match? The two of you fought it tooth and nail and needed to see that you were not just perfect, but perfect for each other. Granted, turns out only Demeter realized I had a hand and an arrow in this.” Sabine rolled her eyes and Erato felt it was at her being as clueless as she was.

Sabine fiddled with her collar some more.

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