Page 28 of The Best Trick

“Is there any way we could send them a congratulations gift?” he asked, setting down the pitcher. “Maybe anonymously?”

“Risky,” Odin said, and Zeus grumbled in agreement.

I sighed. “Yeah. And it would probably just upset them. Like if it was a nice gift, they'd wonder who it was from and it would be weird. And if Vanessa figured out that it was from me and us, she'd have to playact that she didn't know, and that would be awkward. It would be a gift of weirdness and awkwardness.”

“Nobody likes a gift of weirdness and awkwardness,” Thor said.

“Nope!” I grinned at Zeus. “Your surprise was the opposite of weirdness and awkwardness,” I said. “Especially compared to what we thought you were gonna spring on us.”

Zeus tilted his head, eyes sparkling. “What did you think it was going to be?”

I snorted. “Omigod, it’s sort of funny...” I scanned the area for the brochure, then I remembered Thor hiding it under a stack of travel magazines. I leaned over, rooting around for it. Maybe I should have paid more attention to Odin holding me too tightly, almost like he was trying to pull me back, like he didn't want me to get the brochure or something, but I had two and a half mimosas in me—I was feeling jolly!—and I broke away and grabbed the thing.

“This madness.” I tossed it at him, laughing.

Zeus studied the picture, frowning at the happy couple riding in a balloon basket high in the sky, clinking glasses against the backdrop of a brilliant sunset. The hills below them were lush with stripes of greenery mixed with orange and brown rock, glowing deeply in the light. The small inset picture showed Harley sitting unobtrusively on the business end of the hot air balloon basket, wearing a gray jumpsuit and gray cap, diligently working the controls. Across the top it said, “romantic balloon rides for two.”

“Romantic balloon rides for two? What the fuck?” he said. “Why just two?”

Dread shot through me. “Anyone want to play gin rummy?” Gin rummy was one of Zeus's favorite card games, second only to poker.

“Don’t change the subject,” Zeus said. “You've always dreamed of going up in a hot air balloon. Remember in New Mexico how you were like, ‘it would be so amazing, floating through the clouds. Perfect silence.’”

“Um…I said that?” I was sobering up, needless to say.

Zeus frowned, studying the brochure. “Who is this man to rob you of your dream of a romantic balloon ride with your three men?”

“That’s not really my dream—”

“I’m sure he’d let us four on,” Zeus continued. “I’m sure I could get him to be flexible.”

Odin whisper-groaned behind me.

“I noticed that they had Pictionary, too!” I suggested enthusiastically. “That is my current dream.”

“I’m good with Pictionary or gin rummy!” Thor said. “I wouldn’t recommend a balloon ride, what with Isis’s vertigo.”

“Her vertigo is gone,” Zeus said. “She said so an hour ago.”

“It could come back,” Odin said.

“It feels like it might,” I said.

“One vertigo-free day doesn’t mean she’s out of the woods,” Thor pointed out.

“Exactly,” I said. “It could definitely come back.”

Zeus frowned at the pictures. “I think you’re just saying that because this brochure makes you feel like you can’t have a romantic ride in the balloon with three men. You said it was your dream, don’t you remember? You can’t un-say that. Once we explain that we are a romantic unit, I’m sure he’ll see reason.” With that, Zeus began to scroll and tap his phone.

“What are you doing?” Odin asked.

“Looking at the schedule of availability. This guy’s got walk-in availability this afternoon. We could do it this afternoon!”

“But…gin rummy…” Thor said.

“Fuck that,” Zeus said. “Isis is gonna have her dream balloon ride, goddammit.”

“There might not be enough space in the balloon,” I tried. “It looks small.”

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