What Happened After Happily Ever After

#13 - The Lotus Casino

Chapter 13 - The Lotus Casino
published: Wednesday, 18 August 2021

The next morning, Annabeth was last to wake up again. Weird enough, since she could count on one hand the number of times Percy had ever woken up before her.

She pawed at her eyes, blinking away the blurry sleep vision, only to see Percy standing at the foot of the bed, doing up his jeans without a shirt on.

Annabeth fought the urge to bury herself under the duvet and scream into a pillow. It wasn't fair. It was too early for filthy thoughts, especially not after a deep, heart-felt talk.

Speaking of, Annabeth was incredibly aware that she had basically confessed her undying love for a man who had made it clear on multiple occasions that he wasn't in love with her anymore. Great.

When Percy noticed she was awake, he had already shrugged on a t-shirt and was packing the rest of their things into the bags. "Morning," he said tentatively.

Annabeth didn't blame him. She had been rather temperamental lately (though she thought she had the right to be).

"Sorry," she mumbled, sliding out of bed. "I'll be quick."

Rifling around in her bag, Annabeth dragged out a bra and a tank, tossing them onto the bed along with her jeans. She pulled her pyjama top off over her head, stuffing it into her bag.

"Oh," came Percy's voice.

Annabeth glanced up to see him turning around, and she didn't even need to see his face to know that he was blushing. She rolled her eyes. "Percy, it's been six years."

"I know," he struggled. "Just, give a guy some warning."

Annabeth couldn't help smiling as she clasped her bra on and pulled the straps on, sliding the top over her head. She stepped into her jeans and was dressed within the minute.

Stepping past Percy, Annabeth checked her reflection in the mirror, pulling a face as she made it out even against the dirty glass.

"You look fine," Percy offered as she pulled out a small bag of make-up.

"Maybe, but you'd say that even if I had blood all over my face and an eye gouged out," Annabeth pointed out.

"Graphic," she heard him mutter.

After Annabeth had brushed her hair and deemed herself presentable to society, she packed the rest of her things and shouldered the bag.

Percy stepped out the door first, but Annabeth paused to do a quick visual sweep of the room to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything.

Her gaze snagged on the unfinished pack of cigarettes and lighter sitting on the bedside table.

"Everything okay?" Percy called from the corridor.

Annabeth reluctantly dragged her eyes away from the room. "Yeah," she said distractedly, following him out and shutting the door behind her with a click.

As they traipsed out of the motel, Annabeth realised what felt so out-of-place this morning. Some of the discomfort that always seemed to linger between them had dissipated.

It was disconcerting, to say the least.

Communication works, she noted to herself.

Annabeth checked out at the desk while Percy brought their bags down to the motorcycle. As she made her way down the front steps, Annabeth stopped short at the sight of Percy fixing something on the motorbike.

He was leaning over onto the other side, shirt riding up such that a strip of tan skin above the waistband of his jeans was visible. Annabeth gripped the bannister so hard she was surprised it didn't splinter.