Be Brave With Me

Chapter Five

Was this what happened to you in Greece? So close to Mount Olympus and the old gods? Had the guys up there been especially bored tonight?

Hey, Aphrodite, baby, how about we let two of these mortals who used to be best friends get together somewhere where they can't escape - how about on a boat out on sea? Just think about all that juicy resentment that's gonna be stirred up! Let's see how it goes?

Why, Ares, what a lovely idea to pass some time!

Well, the joke was on them.

Because Aura would make sure that Theo Harrington would get off this boat as soon as possible.

What was he doing here? Was this some kind of summer job for him? He certainly couldn't be in need of the money. Was he done with college already? If so, why wasn't he back home and preparing to take over the reins from his Dad?

Whatever it was. It didn't matter. Eight years ago, she had left. This time around, it was his turn.

There was no reasoning involved, no contemplating, no wondering. She just knew she needed him gone. Now.

Having Theo back in her life would only cause confusion and consequences, panic and pain. It would mean opening up old wounds that she had barely stitched back together - and badly, too.

Yes. If you thought about it for a moment, trying to get him fired was an act of humanity, really. Plus, it would keep her occupied until her parents called.

Aura pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen and dove straight in. "Oh, Rosa! Please, tell me that you haven't-"

She stopped in her tracks, holding the door open with one hand. Rosa wasn't in here. Only Gio. And thank the Gods, no Theo.

"Principessa! There you are!" Gio waved hello with his spatula. "The star of the night. You hungry?"

Aura hesitated. She knew she should find Rosa. The sooner she talked to her about not taking Theo on for the job the better. It would limit her risk of running into him out there again. But the rumbling protest in her stomach made her decision for her. She'd stay and eat. The kitchen was the boat's Central Station, anyway. Rosa was bound to show up here sooner or later. 

"For you, always." Her words brought out a big smile on the cook's face. Aura navigated through the small kitchen space to hop onto her favorite spot next to the massive fridge. From here, she always loved to watch while the crew was hard at work.

Gio came over and handed her a glass of water. "Water first. Food follows after you tell me what you've been up to. We lost track and sight of you after the twister thing."

"The boys have kept an eye on me?" She set the big glass to her lips, holding it with both hands as she gulped down the water. No need for tiny sips and raised pinky fingers down here in the kitchen where only the crew was watching her, watching over her.

Gio and Rosa and Bardo, their captain, had seen her growing up during her summer visits to her godparents. The twins Tic and Tac had acted as her little brothers for the last three seasons. Avery, Bardo's son, was like a long lost cousin who had returned to the family two years ago. She knew they all wanted her happy and safe. Plus, they were probably under strict orders from Uncle Henry to watch out for her on her big night.

Gio came back with a plate full of tiny samples of every dish being served tonight. Greedily, she reached out to snatch it from him, but he pulled his arm back. "Oh, oh, oh. We have a deal, Principessa?"

She lowered her hands in defeat and kicked her legs back and forth. How often had she sat like this, recounting her day to Gio while he fixed her something to eat? She easily fell into the rhythm of their little ritual. "Right. Right. Let's see... so, yeah, we've played some twister. It was so much fun. Everyone is having a great time. Everyone loves the food..."