Chapter 16
Sam
“Sam, why are you being such a bum?” Danny asked.
“I’m not,” I said and gave Danny and Michael a glare as I hit the billiard ball. It bounced back and forth and made its way into the pocket.
Desperately I’d made a few calls to ask for a quick meetup with the guys. I needed someone to talk to and also let off steam.
“Okay, I take it back. I mean, you were on top of your game. That was new.” Danny and Michael laughed together, while I shook my head at the stab at my playing ability.
Michael raked a hand through his perpetually shaggy hair and took a swig of his beer. “No, but seriously, what happened? You were so happy the last few weeks, and now, overnight, you’re a wreck.”
I leaned against the table, trying to keep my tone casual. “What do you know about the gods around here?”
His eyebrows shot up. “What do you want to know? I’ve lived here my whole life, man. They’re just… people, I guess. People with some extra perks. But you’re new, so I’m sure it’s all pretty weird for you.”
“One of them runs the dating business,” I said, testing his reaction.
Michael smirked, his expression equal parts amusement and inevitability. “Of course. That tracks. It’s why they’ve got a one-hundred percent success rate. They probably sprinkle a little magic or whatever into the matchmaking.” He tipped his beer toward me like he’d just cracked the code, but the ease in his voice only made me more restless.
“Wait,” Danny said. “It’s her, isn’t it? You found out she was one of them, and now you’re not interested. That’s why you’re being such a poor sport.”
“Yeah. Are they able to use their abilities for themselves?”
“No. I guess that’s the benefit for us. They’re not able to use it for their own good. Why do you ask?” Michael said, leaning against the pool stick, waiting for me to take my turn.
“Well, I overheard Eva talking about some legacy she would not fulfill because she wasn’t able to find her soul mate or whatnot, and that I wasn’t falling for her or something like that. I only heard bits and pieces of the conversation, so I guess that’s on me.”
“So she couldn’t have used her ability to make you fall in love with her in order to fulfill her heritage, if I caught all what you were saying?” Danny asked.
“Correct. So whatever feelings you have are yours alone, and whatever her feelings are, they’re hers,” Michael said.
“I made a mistake, didn’t I?”
The two guys nodded in unison.