Page 48 of His North Star
“That’s a neat little trick.”
I laughed. “It’s not a trick. Technology is just awesome.”
“I’m glad you know what you’re doing so you can show us old timers.”
I laughed. “Me too.” I squeezed her hand before moving on.
Every now and then, I’d look at Ty. Nine out of ten times our eyes met. Was he watching my every move? Was he sorry about overreacting earlier? Or was he sorry about forcing me to talk about myself even when he refused to reciprocate?
I moved away from his vicinity and pointed out where Hercules was to those interested. Phillip and Gerald knew a lot about the Greek demigod.
“His life was full of heartbreak,” Gerald said.
Phillip replied with a shrug of a shoulder. “A lot of it was of his own making.”
I chimed in, somehow feeling the need to fight for Hercules. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy to have a stepmom, if that’s what you would call her, that hated you. But yeah, his temper didn’t help him either.”
Gerald pointed to where Hercules knelt in the sky. “But to kill your own wife, I can’t imagine.”
“He was under his stepmom’s influence, and he felt guilty the rest of his life because of it,” I said.
“He really was unlucky in love,” Gerald stated.
“He reminds us all that when life is too difficult,” Phillip said with a slight strain in his voice, “or love seems unattainable, we can rise up. We can be brave like he was and conquer whatever comes our way as long as we believe in ourselves.”
What had Phillip endured in his life? His tone suggested he’d experienced more difficulties than just his wife’s passing.
I squeezed his arm. “You’re absolutely right. Hercules’s life wasn’t roses and unicorns. We have a lot we could learn from him.”
After an hour, Phillip called it a night. Everyone thanked us before loading into the vans. Phillip was the last to leave. Before he drove off, he pulled me aside.
“Tonight was fantastic. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Well, not Ty. But the rest of it was good.
“I hope you plan on giving that boy of yours a big ol’ thank you kiss. He was very polite and helpful.”
Why did everyone assume we were a couple? We hadn’t said two words to one another tonight! How did that equal boyfriend and girlfriend?
“He’s just a friend.” I was tired of saying that phrase. Maybe it was time for that tattoo.
“Oh, sweetheart, I saw the way he looked at you. That man’s in love.” He pointed in Ty’s direction.
What was with my older friends tonight? Love?
Yeah, right.
“He’s actually mad at me right now. What you saw was most likely death daggers.”
He chuckled while shaking his head. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway. He kind of has a girlfriend, and I’m seeing someone as well.”
He studied me through narrowed eyes. “I don’t like to give out advice like the ladies at the center do, but can I say one thing?”
He’d already said multiplethings.“Why not?” I shrugged.
“It’s not every day you come across someone who looks at you the way he does. In my experience, it’s very rare.”
