He pulled her tight, molding her body to his, as she melted into him, sealing the deal.
And then everyone standing at the crumbled bedroom doorway holding their collective breaths, and those who had no breath to hold at all, cheered.
Epilogue
Six Months and Ten Days Later—Ten Utterly Implausible Paranormal Accidents And Counting, A Brand-Spanking New Aphrodite, One Relieved, Living-In-Boca-In-A-Cute-Condo Ex-Aphrodite, One GG/Goat Herder Pleased As All Hell With Her Deceptive Yet Very Successful Tour Bus Stunt, Three New Amazing Friends Who Lunched And Shopped (some more reluctantly than others) With Their New Goddess Friend On A Bi-Weekly Basis And Possessed More Fangs And Fur Than A CW Show, One Still-Somehow-In-All-The-Chaos Human Study Buddy On Her Way To Being A Vet-Tech The Likes Of Which The World Has Never Seen, One Manservant Grandfather Who Remains The Best Gods vs. Vampires Chicken-Wing Maker Bar None, The Sweetest Teddy Bear Of A Demon Doubling As A Defensive Linebacker Ever, And A Vegetarian Zombie With A Joyfully Discovered, Surprising Love Of Classic Literature all gathered together on a beautiful, cloudless spring day to celebrate a surprise under the guise of a game-day feast…
Quinn hugged Marty and Wanda and gave Nina a quick punch on the shoulder—just to show she cared.
Nina flicked the end of Quinn’s braid and smiled. “Ya look good, Aphrodite-Lite. It’s a good day to kick your people’s asses, right?”
Quinn threw her arms around Nina’s neck and squeezed hard—to which Nina responded by untangling herself with a scowl. “You and the huggy-kissy shit. You act like we haven’t seen each other in a hundred years. I just saw you last week, for shit’s sake. Remember, when we fucking trudged through that stupid outdoor mall and made like girls?”
Quinn laughed. “I do. You bought me an ice cream. It was delicious, Marshmallow, remember?”
Nina scowled, fighting a grin. “That was just to shut you the fuck up, so I wouldn’t have to hear you go on and on about Hot Dude. One more, ‘OMG, he’s so sensitive to my deepest girlie feelings’ gush, and it was either yank your tongue out of your flippin’ head or feed you. I chose feed, because if I don’t, these two flappy-lipped whiners get upset with me.”
Marty, wearing a football jersey and a cute pair of leggings, rolled her eyes and gave Quinn another tight hug. “We were so excited when Khristos called and invited us to game day! And you look so pretty, too. Just perfect for—”
“For an afternoon in Greece!” Wanda interjected, shooting Marty a look Quinn didn’t quite understand. “Really, love that dress. It suits your figure.”
Nina nodded, her grin wicked. “Yeah. That Barbie dress hides the fact that your cans deflated. Do you miss your boobs, McGee?”
She giggled, sticking her tongue out at Nina. “Not even a little.”
Her cans had gone back to their rightful size, followed by her eyes and skin returning to normal, At first she’d been dismayed and she’d worried about Khristos’s reaction when he saw her breasts in their original state.
But he’d reminded her, he didn’t love her for her body parts. He just loved her.
Khristos’s mother waved at Quinn from her lounge chair, set on the steps of the Parthenon. She’d begun to spend more and more time with the woman they lovingly referred to as ex-Aphrodite, when she wasn’t off at her hot yoga classes or Garden Club meetings, learning helpful tips from her on matchmaking and hearing all the stories about Khristos’s youth.
Quinn had a healthy respect for Khristos’s mother, and truly enjoyed their binge watches of Sons of Anarchy—whom ex-Aphrodite declared she’d have done some damage to back in her youth.
Ingrid and Carl strolled toward her, Carl with his ever-present book in hand. He held it up for her to see. “Oh, Carl,” she cooed, folding her hands together and placing them on her heart. “Romeo and Juliet so soon in the game? Are you sure you’re ready for all that heartbreak?” She gave him a warm hug, careful not to squeeze him too hard and break off another body part.
He patted her back in return when she bracketed his face with her hands and smiled up at him. Carl was one of the greatest new joys in her life. Nina occasionally dropped both Carl and little Charlie at her apartment on she and Greg’s date nights, and they all sat on the floor together reading.
Carl was constantly curious, and often made trips to the library with her to discover new books under the cover of a hoodie and some strategic planning on her part.