My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Play Matchmaker

"I promise you, Nico, Will likes you."

"No, he doesn't. He's just friendly."

Julie groans and throws a balled up Honey Bun wrapper at him. He scowls at her and plucks it up off the carpet of the Hades cabin. "He's not friendly like that! The way he looks at you? You cannot tell me you haven't noticed."

Nico stalls by the trashcan.

Juliette shoots up where she's laying on Hazel's bed. "OMG, you have."

Nico turns, looking panicked. "That's not what-"

"Nope! Stop your excuses and spill!" She squeals, hugging the pillow to her chest and kicking her legs off the bed. The bronze prosthetic on her right side is slightly heavier than her left. Julie sure hopes that doesn't mean her thighs are going to end up unevenly toned.

Nico groans, covering his eyes with his hands. "You're going to make a big deal out of it."

"Only if it's a big deal!"

"Everything is a big deal to you," He snips.

Juliette just grins at him and pats the mattress next to her invitingly. Nico sighs and comes to plop down beside her.

"Look, it was just..." He grimaces, and Julie giggles maniacally when she spots his cheeks flushing red. "The other day, I was talking to Connor Stoll in the infirmary, and he got all weird and pointed over at Will across the room."

Julie nods him along encouragingly. Nico rolls his eyes and tugs on the zipper of his jacket.

"He was just...kind of staring. And smiling. At me. I think."

Juliette makes the sound of one of those squeezable rubber chickens. Nico shoves her over with one hand and scowls.

"He could have just been thinking about something and spaced out. It doesn't mean anything!" He defends.

"Or he was distracted looking at your beautiful face!" Julie insists, bouncing up and down on the springy mattress. "Oh my gods, this is so exciting. I'm so happy for you!"

"I really doubt anyone looks at me and thinks 'beautiful,'" Nico scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Especially, someone like him. It was probably nothing. He just spaced off. We all do it. ADHD."

Jaw dropping, Juliette hits him on the shoulder with Hazel's pillow. "Um, excuse me? We aren't just pedaling past that first comment. How many times do I have to tell you that you're a certified hunk, Nico di Angelo?"

He groans and flops back on the bed. "Not this again."

"Yes, this again! Are you kidding?!" She screeches, still hitting him over and over with the pillow while he stares irritably at the ceiling. "You're all black hair and pale skin! I wish you'd let me add some actual color into your wardrobe, but you're, like, textbook bad boy. Not to mention, you speak Italian."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I dunno. Bilingualism is hot."

"It sounds more like you're in love with me."

"Don't change the subject!" Julie glares down at him.

She takes a second to scan him, looking over his classic features where they're screwed up in annoyance. He may not be Jason's brand of the hyper masculine kind of attractive or Will's kind of sunshine beautiful, but there's a reason that mortal women fall for Hades.

Nico is moonlight. Gentle and mysterious. Not to mention carrying around a set of lethal big brown eyes. She wants to smother him every time he mutters something about anyone being 'out of his league.' Can't he see himself the way she does?