Chapter XXXIII
Demi
“How do I look?”
I twirled in my denim dress and cowboy boots, the skirt flaring just enough to make me feel like I belonged in the Wild West.
Cassie didn’t even glance up from her phone. Her scowl was answer enough. “Jonas is a dead man.”
I froze mid-spin. “What? Why?”
And just like that, I forgot all about what I’d been calling my “date” with Roman.
Not that it was a real date. He was sneaking me into Jackson Hole under the guise of finding my true love. Because Roman still hadn’t figured out that it was him. And he thought we were wasting precious time.
I dropped onto the couch beside Cassie and leaned over to peek at her phone.
She was watching the new sneak peek clips of Love Unscripted.
My stomach knotted. I’d been dreading their release, knowing they’d milk every ounce of “drama” between Jonas and me.
But what choice did I have?
If I wanted to help Roman save his ridiculous show—and prove I was his soulmate—I had to play along. It sounded noble enough on paper. Until I saw Jonas smirk on-screen and say, “How do you know it wasn’t she who hurt me?”
Then the voice-over cut in, slick and merciless: “Stay tuned to find out what Demi did to Jonas. What secrets is she hiding?”
The words hit harder than I’d expected.
Secrets. Lies. Betrayal.
“In all fairness, Jonas warned me—he said that by accident. Apparently Roman got under his skin, and he forgot to keep it vague, and you know they’ve been dying to paint me as the villain this season. And honestly, it was me who hurt him. And I still feel awful about it.”
I gave a half smile, though it felt more like a grimace.
“On the bright side, if this whole thing crashes, I’ll probably forget who I am anyway. No memory, no embarrassment. And if Roman does somehow manage to unlock my heart . . . well, I’ll just leave the mortal world behind. Or beg Zeus to make it all go away somehow.”
This did nothing to soothe Cassie’s ire.
“Regardless, you weren’t supposed to end up the villain. I think Jonas needs a little reminder about the plan.”
I stifled my grin. I’d been hoping she would say something like this.
“Uh, yeah, he does. Would you mind talking to him tonight?”
Jonas and Cassie didn’t know it yet, but they belonged together. Believe me, no one was more surprised by this revelation than I was. But I was absolutely certain of it.
I’d been scheming ways to get them alone, just the two of them. I couldn’t make it obvious—and it was against our laws to give a love pulse to another divine being. Too many disasters had come from misusing those in the past.
“Oh, I’ll do more than talk to him,” Cassie snapped. “I’m going to rip him a new one—and maybe try out that new hex from Magic Weekly.”
I giggled, appreciating her concern more than she’d ever know.
“Don’t go too crazy. He feels awful about it. And remember, I am the one in the wrong here, and he’s doing me a huge favor.”
Cassie tossed her phone aside.
“Please, he’s a grown freaking man. And I’ve heard rumors about him. He’s dated every goddess and demigoddess from here to India. It’s not like he’s withered away pining for you. After I’m done with him, he won’t slip up again. And by the way, you look amazing. Very cowgirl chic.”
I nudged her shoulder.
“Thank you. And thank you again for making sure no one recognizes us tonight.”
“Just remember—the glamour charm only lasts four hours.”
“I feel like Cinderella, racing the clock before midnight.”
Cassie’s scowl softened into something more serious.
“Except in your case, it won’t just be your carriage turning into a pumpkin. You risk exposing yourself—to the world and the press.”
I swallowed hard.
“We’ll be back before that happens.”
She stood, looking ready to go to war with Jonas—purple leather miniskirt, dog collar necklace, and a glare piercing enough to wither any man’s ego.
I had to hide my grin. If sparks flew between her and my ex-boyfriend tonight, I wouldn’t complain. They both deserved happiness. They’d both done more for me than they’d ever know.
“Have fun tonight. I’ll burn some incense and pray Roman finally opens his eyes.”
“I’m not too hopeful,” I admitted. “In his note inviting me, he said we shouldn’t have any physical contact.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “I give that rule fifteen minutes.”
“I don’t want to throw myself at him.”
“Why not? He’d enjoy it.”
“Yeah, but he feels guilty. And I’m starting to think he believes I’m just toying with him. Like I’m some kind of tart.”
Cassie barked out a laugh.
“A tart? Please. The man is smitten. People online are begging for you two to get together. They even gave you a ship name—Romi.”
“What?” I giggled, half horrified, half flattered. “He’s going to lose his show at this rate.”
Cassie shrugged. “Maybe that’s what he needs—to finally lay it all on the line.”
“I hope not,” I muttered. “I’m already throwing my dignity out the window to save his show.”
Cassie yanked me off the couch with a look that brooked no argument. “Well, you’ll lose a lot more than that if he doesn’t unlock your heart. So go. And remember—you’ve only got four hours.”
I hugged her. “Thank you. Wish me luck.”
She squeezed tighter than usual, and for a moment I wondered if she thought this was a hopeless quest.
“May the gods be with you.”
That didn’t exactly give me warm, fuzzy feelings—considering it was the gods who had landed me in this mess. Them and whoever or whatever had unnaturally torn Roman and me apart. For all I knew, it was gods who had done that too.
On that unsettling note, Cassie and I parted ways—she to Jonas, me to Roman. He’d told me to meet him at the edge of the property, where a narrow service road wound through the trees, used by vendors to haul goods to the resort.
How we were sneaking out from there, I had no idea. The place was locked down like Fort Knox, every exit guarded, every secret kept until filming wrapped and the final episode aired. Even in the episodes they had already released, you couldn’t tell where we were exactly.
As I hustled across the property, I was more than grateful to have a best friend like Cassie. No one noticed me, and I wasn’t afraid of the cameras I knew were everywhere.
The glamour shimmered faintly over my skin, like a veil of starlight only I could sense.
Cassie said it would bend perception—people would only see me if I wanted them to, and even then, they’d see whatever their imagination could conjure.
A shadow, a trick of light, a stranger passing by.
I didn’t understand how it worked, but I trusted Cassie.
I followed the route Roman had given me straight into the forest. The sun was just starting to fade, bleeding gold into violent pink, but the trees swallowed the light before it could reach me.
Branches clawed at the sky, their silhouettes jagged and skeletal, while the underbrush whispered with every step I took.
The deeper I went, the more the air thickened—damp earth, pine resin, and the faint metallic tang of dusk.
The glamour hummed against my skin, a reminder that I was hidden, untouchable.
Still, the forest felt darker, creepier, alive in ways that made me feel like a small child.
I should have brought Lady Goldy with me, but she’d been spending most of her time with Junie.
Without her, every rustle sounded sharper, every shadow stretched longer.
Then, a hand shot out of the shadows and grabbed me. Before I could scream, I was pressed against a chest I knew too well—taut, familiar, steady.
Roman’s scent—cedar and musk—wrapped around me, calming the panic before it could take root.
“You scared me,” I whispered, breath uneven.
His hand slid slowly down my back, sending a shiver through me, before he abruptly let go and stepped away.
“I’m sorry.”
The apology seemed to be for the touch rather than the scare.
I tilted my head, studying him. “You look like you.”
And wow, he looked amazing. Tight jeans, a blue tee that clung to muscle and made his gray eyes burn brighter in the fading light.
Roman grinned as his eyes swept over me. “You see me as I am because I want you to.”
“Oh. So, what do I look like to you?”
His jaw flexed, and the word came out like a groan. “Trouble.”
I smirked. “That good, huh?”
“Too good.” He turned abruptly, striding ahead as if distance were the only defense he had left.
I sighed, then fell into step behind him.
“Um . . . so what are we actually doing tonight? You didn’t really say in your note.”
“There has to be some reason your quest brought you to Wyoming. So we’re going to hit as many places in town as we can. See how many men I can read. Maybe one of them will be a match. I wanted you there too in case he can immediately unlock your heart.”
I stifled a giggle. Did he even hear how ridiculous he sounded?
“Uh, yeah. Good plan,” I said, keeping my voice as neutral as possible—the best I could do without outright mocking him. “And if this doesn’t work?”
He threw his hands up. “Hell, I don’t know.”
“Roman,” I whispered.
The intimacy in my tone made him stop and turn, though he still wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Are you okay? I thought you’d be happier, considering all the drama on the show with Laila and Carter, Olivia and Todd, and Diego and Fiona.”
Oh, those couples had issues. I’d somehow become everyone’s relationship counselor, and I knew more than I ever wanted to know—like about some of Fiona and Diego’s escapades at dig sites. Let’s just say, if fossils could talk, they’d blush.
Of course, Laila had some deep concerns about Carter. The guy had dated a pair of sisters, after all. Not at the same time, but still.
Then there was Olivia and Todd. Most of their problems stemmed from personality differences. Olivia liked her space, and Todd would follow her around like a puppy if she’d let him.
“I know the last episode was better received. And hey, looks like I get to be this season’s villain after all. That’s good, right?”
“Why would you think I want that?” he growled.
“I didn’t say you did. I just thought you’d be happy your show won’t get canceled now.”
He scrubbed a hand over his neatly manicured beard, frustration etched into every line of him.
“Except I’m constantly getting calls from the studio heads reminding me not to fall for you. And it’s not a good look for the show.”
“Are you falling for me?” I asked softly, almost daring him.
His eyes locked on mine, stormy and unflinching. Frustration rolled off him.
“You know damn well how I feel. You read me like a book. And you”—his voice broke—“you’re a puzzle. One I want to solve, but can’t. And probably shouldn’t.”
I edged closer, careful not to spook him.
“What do you want to know about me? I’ll tell you.”
He tilted his face toward the sky, as if searching for mercy he knew wouldn’t come.
“I want to know everything. But I fear that will only make me want you more. And I’m not meant to have you. I won’t torture myself. And I won’t be a selfish excuse for a man who stands in the way of you finding your true love.”
If only he knew. He wasn’t standing in the way—he was the way. He was the sweetest idiot alive, and his own biggest obstacle.
I took his hand, and when he tried to pull away, I held tighter, refusing to let him sever the connection. I needed him to remember.
“Would it make you feel any better if I told you I was falling for you? Well . . . as much as my locked heart will allow.”
His jaw clenched. “No. It makes me feel like a prick.”
The words cut deeper than I wanted to admit. Why couldn’t he see how much I was laying it on the line for him? I blew out a breath and let his hand slip from mine.
“Maybe we shouldn’t do this. Or maybe I’ll just go alone.”
I had no idea how I’d get to town, but I’d figure it out. Cassie could probably conjure me a car or something. Maybe she would want to come with me. I could do with some girl talk and retail therapy.
“I promised I would help you find your true love, and I meant it.” He marched ahead without looking back. “We’d better hurry.”
If only I could tell him the truth—that he was my true love.
Instead, I followed, knowing this was going to be a long, long night.