ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

40

KAT STUDIOUSLY STARED down at the pile of clothes, toiletries, and candy that was strewn around, folding her clothes, shoving her toiletries in their respective drawer, and stashing her candy for her personal consumption in an effort to hide her shaky hands.

There was a really awkward silence until Kat said, "So? You wanted to talk. So talk."

"Yeah." Footsteps, then she saw the beginnings of dark skin in her peripheral vision, and she knew what it led up to. "I'm sorry, Rina, for jumping to conclusions really quickly. It wasn't fair for me to do that to you — especially on your birthday — and I promise not to assume anything about your relationships anymore."

"I'm sorry, too," Jason agreed, his footsteps coming closer. "For assuming that you're with Leo. I shouldn't have done that, and I know not to do it in the future. I promise."

Kat pursed her lips before she shrugged and said, "Cool."

"Cool?" repeated Jason. "That's all you're gonna say?"

She snickered, rolling her eyes and making eye contact with both of them and, wow, had they gotten prettier during her time away? It certainly seemed like they had. "Well, that was my sign that I forgive you. I'm a forgiving person, y'know. I don't hold too many grudges — y'know, unless they're against my mama. Then fuck yeah I will!"

Piper rolled her eyes, but she was smiling too. "Oh my gods, Kat."

"What? It's true!" Kat shoved the rest of her things in a drawer before closing it a little too roughly. Whoops. "There's a reason I never want to see her."

Jason frowned. "Weren't you just at your home?"

"Not by choice," she sighed. "I went to Canada to visit a friend — and no, I'm not with him either, I've literally known him since we were in diapers, that's fucking gross — and I flew home and a driver picked me up and dropped me off at home. Because it was 3 in the morning and he was tired and I was tired."

"You got back at three in the morning?" Piper snorted. "Sounds like you."

"Shut up," ordered Kat. "I slept until, like, five, and now I'm here. Yay. Go me."

"At least you got ten hours of sleep," Jason said. "That's good."

"Aw, you're worried about me?" She made kissy faces at him. "That's so cuteeeee. You're cute when you're worried about me, milaya."

Piper giggled. "Which is all of the time?"

"I can't help it if I get into trouble and completely disregard my health all the time!" Kat scrunched up her nose at Piper. "You can't talk, malyshka. You also don't give a shit if you get hurt or not doing something stupid."

"I blame you and Leo for that," Piper smirked. "And, besides, this confirms that Jason definitely has a type."

Jason's face and neck turned red. "I — uh, um . . . Piper!"

"I plead the Fifth," said Kat. "But how can anyone not be attracted to me? I'm literally Katerina Mikhailova."

Jason and Piper looked at each other. "Uh huh," they said in unison.

Which was weird, but okay. Kat ignored it, her stomach growling. She stared at her snack drawer, debating if she should break out more of the Canadian snacks.

"Hey," Jason said, grabbing a couple of her fingers with his. She stared down at their interlocked fingers as he asked, "want to get dinner? I'm sure they have something left."

Kat's stomach felt like it was turning upside down, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yeah, sure, let's go get food."

They started walking out of the cabin, Piper snagging Kat's arm and looping it around hers on their way out. Kat felt her face heating up as they walked single-file out the door and down the porch stairs.