Good Gods

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

I live in L.A., but I grew up in Nowhere, Oregon because when I was young my mother was in her tree-hugging phase. Meaning, we lived out in the forest where she could commune with plants and avoid people. Or at least that's what it felt like to me. And yes, one of her many, many gripes is that on my eighteenth birthday, I moved away from her to land in America's biggest city.Until today, I've only been in one other earthquake. Wasn't even that big by L.A. standards. Roman and I had been dating for a few months when he'd shown up at my apartment. He'd been all agitated and worried about me then boom—the earth moved me, literally.

I'd been rather freaked out by the whole thing, so he'd spent the night. Okay, maybe he'd slept over for other reasons. I'm trying to make a point here. Roman knew that quake was coming. I know he did. I think, on that day, it occurred to me that his appearance was related to the arriving micro-disaster. I guess that should have concerned me, as I said, I'd had other things on my mind, like his dripping hot body.

Over Jolene's shoulder, to the east, I see the hills rise and fall in waves. The rolls are headed straight at me, and I'm standing here comparing how all those years ago, Roman knew about an impending earthquake. I hadn't a clue because I wasn't a god yet. Today, I'm all godded-out. I know, little slow on the uptake over here.

Jolene grabs my arm, dragging me away from the restaurant's brick wall and into the center of the parking lot, right as the first wave reaches us. Kind of funky that the earth moves like its liquefied and a sea monster is under it, but when the quake actually hits, it shakes us sideways. Time slows down and I witness it all. Car alarms are going off, in the distance, I see street lamps dance back and forth like windshield wipers. People are screaming, above that is a grumbling roar. I can't tell if the ground is making it, it's from the buildings shuttering around us, or echoes of panic reflected in my skull.

I can't say how long it goes on. I know I fall to my knees. I know I grasp my cell phone to my pounding chest, I feel the tears streaking along my cheeks, and I'm frightened out of my mind for Quin. She's with Rip, and while our house is about everything proof, this is still going to scare her, and I'm not there. Again.

The air is thick with dust. I think the restaurant has collapsed because I can't see the wall anymore. Turning over the phone, as the world crumbles around me, I see the text.

Roman: Earthquake run

He did know. The ground has stilled, and I'm still staring at my phone. He knew like Jolene and I had. My mouth is bone dry. My lungs are constricting from breathing in all the dust, and I can only stare at the text as my eyes fill with tears.

Is Jolene correct? Did the future change? Instead of just having a daughter with the man, this time did I marry, my throat squeezes painfully, Zeus? Oh shit. I think back to his brother's comment this morning about Roman's wives.

"Are you okay?" Jolene is pulling me to my feet. Her hair has fallen out of her once neat bun, dirt is smudged over her face and her tweed suit is covered in soot. She coughs and waves her hand in front of her face.

"Roman, Quin." I push Roman's number. The call drops. I click over to Rip's cell, again the call drops. In desperation, I try my mother, sister, then try them all again—nothin.

Jolene is watching me. "The cell phone towers must be toast after that shake-up, or all the lines are busy." She's probably right. I stuff my useless phone into the purse I still have on my arm.

"I got to get home."

"I know sugar bear it's just that..." We both hear cries from the direction of the collapsed building. My heart leaps in my chest. There are people trapped in the building we just exited. Jolene flies into the air, a moment later, I see her land on top of a large crumbly piece of the back wall of the restaurant.