Navigating Hermes (Book Two)

Chapter Nine

Welcome back and happy long-weekend to most of my fellow Canadians :) This chapter is on the shorter side, but it won't be boring. Don't forget to vote if you enjoy and share any thoughts you have! - Amy

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     Julie awoke to what sounded like Hermes' sleepy complaining groans, a sound she'd grown fond of. Hermes was not a morning person, so the bright sunlight beaming into the room of their east-facing hotel room was more than enough to wake him up early.

     Julie yawned and cuddled into Hermes' chest since his arms were wrapped around her. "I guess we forgot to close the curtains when we got back last night." 

     Hermes groaned and let go of Julie, moving to his side of the bed. "What time is it?"

     Julie did her daily morning stretch before rolling slightly toward her nightstand and checking her phone. It wasn't even seven in the morning, but the sun didn't care. "It's six forty-five."

     Another groan came from Hermes before he stole Julie's pillow and held it over his face.

     Julie watched him, knowing he'd give us at any moment. Hermes could never fall back asleep after a rude awakening. She laughed when he took the pillow off and sighed. "You ok there?"

     Hermes jokingly scowled. "Thankfully one of the perks of being a god is that I don't get hangovers, but it doesn't mean I can't be tired."

     Julie sat up, immediately regretting the quick movement when pain shot through her head. She flinched and grabbed both sides, applying pressure. "That makes one of us," she mumbled. "I even drank two bottles of water before going to sleep to prevent a hangover, but I guess that failed miserably."

     Hermes, appearing to be in a much better mood than moments before, hopped out of bed. "Stay there. I'll go get you some painkillers. Do you still want the pancakes for breakfast?"

     "That'd be great," Julie smiled through the pain, impressed that Hermes remembered what she'd picked when they looked the menu up while getting wedding party photos done right after the ceremony. After a few minutes went by, Hermes returned wearing boxers and with pills in tow.

     "They said the food would be fifteen minutes so you can probably take that soon," Hermes motioned to the painkillers. "Here," he said, fluffing up the pillows and placing them behind Julie. "You can just lean against those and relax until the good is here."

     "I love you," Hermes' admission from the night before echoed in Julie's head. Her heart swelled at how caring he was being for her. Hermes wasn't a brute in any way, but he also never went out of his way to care for her until very recently. I wonder what changed.

     For the next ten minutes, Julie enjoyed scrolling through her phone, catching up with everything from the day before since she hadn't had her phone on her. She laughed when she noticed that Danika had already changed her relationship status to 'married.'

     A sudden knock at the door made Julie jump in her spot, making Hermes laugh at her.

     "Breakfast is served," Hermes rubbed his hands together in excitement and ran to the door, not caring that he was only wearing underwear. He slipped the man delivering the cart a ten dollar tip and happily pushed the breakfast cart toward the bed.

     Julie smiled at Hermes' joy toward food. Seeing him happy brightened up her day and the prospect of their relationship becoming serious excited her. She didn't know how she'd bring it up, but she didn't want to wait too long. Julie threw back the painkillers and grabbed her cutlery. "I haven't had these in way too long."