Just For You

Chapter 3: Hera

"Well, if it isn't my favorite sister-in-law!" Poseidon's voice boomed around the hotel banquet room. The setup was beautiful—an assortment of colors. Light blue and lavender flowers hung around the ceiling and stationed on the table, covered in a white creme tablecloth, with plates and silverware awning the guest.

          I turn away from the bar, a glass of wine in hand—a tall, tanned man with striking blue eyes walks up to me with a bright smile, both arms up, awaiting a hug. Posideon.  "I'm your only sister-in-law," I say sweetly as I hugged him back.

          He squeezes me tight before grabbing my shoulders and pulling back. Poseidon and I have always gotten along. I've found myself migrating toward him rather than Hades at any family gathering. She and I don't have a bad relationship, but we aren't very close.

          "So it shouldn't offend anyone. However, if Hades ever fixes things with Persephone, you may have some competition." He laughs when I gasp. I saw Hades walk in by herself earlier. She keeps checking her phone, though I wonder if she invited her. Not my business.

          "Where is your soon-to-be wife?" Amphitrite is bridezilla times a million. Which is odd. She's such a friendly and kind person. Seeing her get so aggressive because they didn't send suitable color napkins has been a little off-putting.

          Poseidon looked around the room in the sea of people. His smile grew tenfold when he pointed toward his fiancee. "There. Getting her ear talked off by Mother." I looked to where he was pointing, and sure enough, Amphitrite was shifting back and forth, waiting for his mother to stop talking.

          I pat his chest. "You should go save her. I don't know what's going on with your mother lately, but she's been on one." I say a bit more aggressively than I wanted to. When I looked at Poseidon to see if I offended him, he didn't look upset, just conflicted.

          Before I can ask about that, he fixes his face, and a bright smile appears. "Yeah, I should go save her." He pats my shoulder, squeezing it once. "Go find my sister before she has a panic attack. That girl is damn near obsessed with you. I'm honestly surprised she isn't here by you now."

          "She's probably on the phone somewhere with her assistant," I say bitterly. Then sip from my wine, ignoring the frown on Posiedons face. He's clearly not about to leave anytime soon. Great. I set myself up.

          "Is everything okay with you two?"

          I point toward his fiancee and mother. "Zeus and I are... peachy. We couldn't be better. Go talk to your fiancee."

          He lifts a brow. "Really? Because I got a call from my little sister earlier today about how she slept on the couch." He has a faint smile on his lips.

          Zeus and I haven't spoken since last night. This morning when I woke up, she was already gone. I was relieved, as bad as it is to say. I don't know what to say to her. I don't know what she can do to fix our relationship. I just don't know.

          I clear my throat. "There are plenty of rooms in that penthouse she could have chosen from. Not my fault she chose the couch." I thought he was leaving to save his soon-to-be wife. Why is he here questioning me about Zeus?

          "She's punishing herself, Hera." He says sadly. "I love you, I really do, but you are hurting her with your indecisiveness. If you want to divorce her, do it now; stop treating her like she's indestructible."

          I can't help but scoff. "She created that persona. In the many years I've known, loved, and stuck by her,  yesterday was the only day she opened up. And she didn't even say anything of worth. She's keeping something from me, and it seems more damaging to our marriage than whatever I have going on in my head." 

          Like the fact that I believe she is cheating on me. What's so messed up is I should go and file for divorce. But I can't. I can't because then it will mean it's finally over. Despite not knowing what I feel for her anymore, I don't like knowing I could lose her with just a few signatures.

          "Go to counseling," He says sternly. "I guarantee that if you ask to go, she will jump with joy to know you don't want things to end so quickly. If that doesn't work or communicating doesn't work, at least you know you tried. Sometimes that's all you can do. Try." This comes from the guy about to enter his first marriage. And hopefully last. I seem to be a little bitter.

          I nod my head. "Fine. After your wedding. And you're off on your honeymoon, where she can't call you about our issues. We'll go to counseling." Poseidon's stone face turns humorous.

          "Awe. Do you want to call me about your marriage problems too? Please do, without having to run a company I do sometimes get bored. Fixing my sister-in-law's marriage might be interesting." He laughs, and I roll my eyes. I'm glad the seriousness of this conversation has died down.

          "Oh, was this not enough?" I ask with a smile.

          He smirks. "No. I'm nosy and like to get involved in my sister's issues, which is why I know Persephone is coming tonight."

          My mouth drops open. Hades will be... shocked. "You're awful."

          He winks at me. "Yes, I am. Now if you'll excuse me, I must find my beautiful lady."

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Zeus is sitting really close to me. Like, really, really close. I can move my leg barely an inch, and our knees bunch each other. We're all sitting at the table eating—everyone of importance gave a speech, including Zeus's mother, who went on longer than needed. But no one said a thing as she spoke. Zeus gave a speech that sounded like she had written it ten minutes beforehand, but no one cared. She even got a few laughs out of her siblings. Which I feel was her intended purpose.

          After my talk with Posidon, I lulled over what he said as I stayed near the bar. Zeus came and found me about five minutes after. Counseling doesn't sound like it would be terrible for us. I might even figure out why I feel like I do about her. I might even figure out what's going on in her head.

          I feel her lean over, placing her chin on my shoulder. "You look amazing, as always." She whispers in my ear. I grip the end of my dress.

          "Thank you," I respond sweetly. When she pulls back, I glance over at Posiodon, who is talking with Amphitrite, smiling and laughing with each other. It's like the rest of us don't exist.

          Zeus and I used to be like that. Living in our own little world. I really don't understand where it went wrong. Is it possible to just fall out of love?

          Zeus gasped, pulling me from my thoughts. Looking at where she was gaping, I couldn't help but laugh. Persephone walked in a floor-length black dress. Her long blonde hair was pinned up. She's scanning the room, and I know precisely who she's looking for.

           I pull my attention away from her and over to Hades, staring at her wide-eyed. Hades' dark brown eyes held so much light—something I hadn't seen in a while. Hades got up and walked over to Persephone. Everyone at the table was looking at them, and Hades knew it. She gently grabbed Persphones hand, leading them away.

          "She has a bizarre relationship with her." Zeus's gaze follows them until they are out of sight, then she looks at me.

          "It seems the only person in your family with a semi-healthy relationship is your brother." I point to him, and Zeus frowns at me.

          I clearly said the wrong thing. "Right, because I'm the cheating monster of a spouse," Zeus grumbles out a little too loud for my liking. The few people seated near us start to look at us. Nosy.

          "Let's not talk about this here." I bite out.

          She tsked. "Or not talk at all. It seems like that's all you want from me." Picking up the napkin in her lap, she throws it on her almost empty plate, stands up, and walks away.