My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Get a Job Offer

"You ready to taste dirt, Jackson?"

"If by 'dirt,' you mean victory, bring it on."

"By 'dirt,' I mean dirt, cause you're finished, maggot."

"Finished listening to you-"

"OH MY GODS, WOULD ONE OF YOU JUST PLAY A CARD?" Annabeth cries.

Juliette sighs dramatically.

"Fine. Uno!"

She slaps down a red 7 and stands with her hands up like a gymnast.

"OOOOOHHHH!" She cheers with a smirk. "How about that, Jackson? Do you speak Spanish? I said UNO!" She waves the lone card in his face. "Uno, like 'one,' as in 'one card.' How does that feel, Jackson?"

Annabeth groans and buries her face in her hands. Sally drains her wine glass. Paul refills it without blinking.

Percy's eyes are wide. Betrayed. Tortured. He reaches a trembling hand towards the deck.

Juliette smirks. This is it. His fingertips brush the top card.

And he flips his middle finger up as he slaps down a Draw 4.

Julie's jaw drops. Percy cups his ear. "Oh? Oh, what was that, Aster? You said Uno? More like CINCO-"

He pauses and glances at Annabeth in question. She nods.

"Yeah, CINCO! Draw up-oh, wait, don't even bother! Because-UNO!" He brandishes his last card. Juliette's face is stone. "And now? BAM!"

The last card in his hand hits the discard.

He stands, fists pumping the air like he's taking a victory lap in a wrestling ring. Juliette is silent, face impassive. Her final card is held delicately between shaking, brittle fingers.

"How could you do this..." She whispers brokenly.

Percy's smirk is mean, toothy, ruthless. "All is fair in love and card games, birthday girl. Maybe when you're my age, you'll be as wise and capable as me." He sighs wistfully.

"Oh my gods, I hate you both." Annabeth whines.

"Mhm, I think this game is going in the 'banned' bin." Sally mutters as she sweeps the cards into a neater pile.

Percy squawks his disagreement. "What?! No! Why, Uno's great?!"

Annabeth rolls her eyes. "You two are way too intense. This was Sorry! all over again."

"It's the name, why wouldn't you say it?!"

"You don't have to say it every time you do anything!"

"Well, you're gonna flip out when you hear about Yahtzee!"

"You clearly don't know how to play Yahtzee."

Sally drains her glass again. Paul leaves to open another bottle.

"Guys," Julie interrupts with a pout. "It's my birthday. I'm supposed to be the one who gets to be annoying today."

"You're annoying every day. Wouldn't it be more special if you took a break from it instead?"

"You're being pretty mean for a guy who sleeps two feet from my haircutting scissors." Julie glares.

"I think Annabeth would be the one more upset if you cut off all my hair."

"Yes, please don't. It's 50% of what I like about him."