Bows and Eros

Chapter 8: Favors

Eros listened as I told him the details of Gabe's ex fiancé the reaper, who'd killed me, and how he'd failed to tell me any of it.

"I just thought, hey, I'm dead," I said. "But I met this great guy, so it's not so bad. Apparently, not only is he a liar, but I'd be alive if it wasn't for him."

Eros poured me another drink, and I slammed it down. I didn't care for whiskey, but I felt less on edge with it in my body. Could ghosts get drunk? Was I ghost? No, with my special charm necklace I was technically a sub-deity.

"Well, he can hardly be blamed for what happened," Eros said. "I mean, the only thing he did wrong, technically, was die. And you'd be a bit hypocritical to judge him for that."

"But he lied to me..."

"Well, he was in love," Eros said. "Men are stupid for women. Trust me, I've seen it." 

"Shouldn't you be degrading him to get into my knickers?"

"Absolutely not," Eros said with a hint of outrage. "I don't need to run a dirty campaign to beat my competition. You just need to see me as I am, and you'll fall in love with me. I've tried the direct approach, hoping my sexuality will bring you in. Clearly, you wish to be wooed. Hence, the conversation and the drinks."

"I'm sorry, you think me bitching about my boyfriend while I down shots of whiskey is 'wooing' me."

"You hate me a little less, don't you? Besides, you are here with me, of your own free will..."

"But as a friend," I said, sighing. Was I that desperate for friends? Yes, apparently.

"Well, I'll take it," Eros said. "Yesterday I was a pig. So today, I'll toast to friendship."

"Do you think I'm foolish," I asked, "for hoping that Gabe might be my one true love?"

"As the man who makes 'one true loves' happen, I hope to god he's not. People who are fated to love end up miserable. Those who love just because, no magic arrows needed, those people have divine romances. Have you even watched a couple spend a lifetime together?"

"No, have you?"

"I have," Eros said. "For instance, I saw this couple in Australia. They were always poor and miserable, but they loved each other. They were both hideous too. But these poor, ugly, saps loved each other so deeply. They still kissed each other goodnight, every night, and never went to bed angry. I've had wives, and a thousand wards. But never once have I felt that kind of enduring, deep passion that these poor, ugly people did."

"So you're saying love is the best when if happens because you make it happen, and ignoring destiny completely."

"Destiny is overrated."

"Says cupid," I said with a smirk.

"I hate being called cupid," He replied. "It is the worst commercialized version of my name, ever."

"Well, what does Eros mean anyway?"

"The word Erotic is derived from my name," he replied. "Still want to be just my friend?"

"Yes," I said.

I felt my phone buzzing and I sighed. Aphrodite was always a bother when I needed a break.

"Duty calls, you know," I said. "But hey, before I go, could you do me a favor?"

"What do you desire, my love?" Eros asked me. And there was the creep I knew so well.

"This dress is really...tacky. I liked it three years ago, but I don't want to spend eternity in it."

"What would you like to wear?"