Page 143 of Through You
Maybe it’s a trait that skipped a few generations. My mom says that my father had blue eyes, very much like Ares and Artemis’s mother.
Regardless, Ares makes use of this opportunity to tease Artemis. “I’m sorry, brother,” Ares says in an overly dramatic way.
“I tried to resist, but Claudia can be very persistent. She—”
Artemis slaps the back of his head.
“Show some respect, Ares.”
Ares gives us a wide smile.
“Always so serious.” Ares shakes his head, leaning over the crib and reaching for. “Hello again, my precious. Who is going to be a heartbreaker just like her uncle, huh? Who?”
Apolo rolls his eyes. “A heartbreaker? Are you serious? You couldn’t think of something else—like intelligent, or something along those lines?”
Artemis sighs and sits next to me on the bed. I’m still feeling a little sore.
“Do you need anything?”
I shake my head. We sit together and watch everyone fight over who gets to hold Hera.
Fourth of July
Artemis and I are alone for the first time in months. Hera is at home with her grandparents, who were more than happy to look after her. I believe this is the first Fourth of July that we’re spending alone together. Just like the night when we were teenagers and I rejected him because of his mother’s threats.
We’ve come to a beautiful and secluded beach a few hours away from the house. A gorgeous moon adorns the dark sky, and its reflection shines brightly on the water. We sit on the sand. Off to the side, where the beach turns inward, there’s a boardwalk where a small crowd lingers. The wind blows back my hair, and I look over at the man sitting next to me.
“This is beautiful,” I attest. As I rest my head on his shoulder, I notice that he’s shaking. I straighten. “Are you cold?”
Artemis shakes his head. “No.”
“But you’re trembling.”
He doesn’t look at me and points in the direction of the boardwalk, above which fireworks suddenly shoot over the ocean and explode in a multitude of different colors. I open my mouth, surprised and genuinely impressed by the magnificent display. I stand up and move closer to the shore to get to a better view of the light spectacle. I should have guessed Artemis would have prepared for this moment.
“It’s wonderful,” I tell him when he comes to join me. “I love it, it’s—” I stop midsentence when he bends in front of me, going down on one knee in the sand. I cover my mouth in shock.
“Claudia,” he begins. “I’m not good with words, but here under these fireworks, I’ll try my best. We grew up together. You were my friend, the one who stood by me, and my first love.”
The memory of him sticking out his tongue when we would fight as kids comes to mind.
“Together, we have overcome so much,” he adds.
I think back to all the times he was there for me when I would sleepwalk, or when I was terrified of the dark. And the times he would get into fistfights and I tended to his cuts. And how he would come to my defense when the other kids would pick on me at school. And the way his brown eyes would calm me as he created a safe space for me.
“Our journey hasn’t been easy and had many obstacles. But we’ve been together for over a year and we’ve welcomed our precious Hera,” he continues, overcome with emotion. “And I know, without a doubt, that you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, the woman I want to build a home with. For me, it has always been you.”
Big fat tears roll down my cheeks.
“And so this iceberg, Supercat, and a man who is crazy in love has a question to ask on this Fourth of July: Will you marry me?”
He brings up one hand holding a box with a ring inside. I put down the hand that was covering my mouth and smile through my tears.
“Yes. Of course. It’s a yes!”
I lean forward and hug him. Fireworks explode and illuminate the night sky. When I pull away, he places the ring on my finger and gives me a kiss. It’s a kiss packed with emotion, love, and promises. He stops and places his forehead against mine.
“You’re not rejecting me this time, huh?” he jokes.
