Chapter 26

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Tamara Ramirez

a few days before Valentine's day....

I walked down the hallway, straining to spot the familiar mop of blonde hair in the bustling crowd of students navigating the corridors. The distance from my department building on the other side of the campus seemed to amplify the challenge.

My face brightened when I finally saw Apollo, standing in front of a classroom, surrounded by his friends. I quickly closed the gap between us and gave a gentle tug on his shirt sleeve. He turned, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he recognized me, while his friends fell silent, sensing the shift in the air.

"Hey, T. What are you doing here? Everything okay?" Apollo asked, worry edging his voice. If I'm close with Artemis, Apollo and I share an even deeper bond. He was the one who found me during a breakdown on a family trip, understanding my struggles in a way even Artemis doesn't.

Ignoring the curious stares from his friends, I gave him a reassuring smile, hoping it would signal that I'm perfectly fine. "Yeah, I just need your help with something."

He nodded, his concern easing slightly. "Let's head over to the coffee shop outside. I could use a coffee." With that, he gently pulled me by the wrist, leading the way. His friends, however, trailed behind us, which didn't go unnoticed by Apollo. "I'll catch up with you guys later," he said, signaling that our conversation was a priority.

They tried protesting, but Apollo was already steering us toward the coffee shop. "That was rude," I said, laughing as I imagined his friends' dumbstruck expressions.

"They couldn't get the hint," he replied, holding the door open for me. The warm air and the rich aroma of brewing coffee enveloped me as soon as I stepped inside. I took a deep breath, savoring the inviting scent. Coffee always smelled so comforting.

"Get us a table; I'll order," Apollo said, starting to head toward the counter.

I stopped him before he could go any further. "I'll get it," I insisted. I brought him here, so the least I could do was treat him to coffee while we talked—or while I talked and he listened and offered advice.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "I've got this. Go find us a table," he said with a tone that left no room for argument.

Feeling a bit deflated, I headed to a table by the glass window. While it wasn't the most private spot, the view of the sky was stunning, and I wanted to enjoy it.

As I relayed my plans to Apollo, he listened intently, his face a mask of concentration. His expression was unreadable, and I couldn't quite tell what he was thinking. I hoped my plan didn't sound as crazy out loud as it had in my head.

"Well?" I prompted, waiting for his response.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I don't know, T. The amusement park might be too much for the two of you. Remember, you're both well-known. The next thing you know, all your embarrassing photos will be all over the internet."

I pursed my lips, the concern creeping into my thoughts but not quite overpowering my excitement. So what if we ended up in a few embarrassing photos? We were already the subject of plenty of gossip. I wanted to spend that day with Dustyn in a place I knew he'd love. "Any suggestions?" I asked.

"T, your plan is great. I'm just more worried about the safety," he said, still deep in thought. "Maybe we should get Alec to help out?"

My eyes widened at the suggestion. The idea of Alec deploying his security detail to oversee the date was enough to make me shudder. Alec would probably end up tailing us with his team, turning the whole day into a surveillance operation. That's how overprotective my brother can be. "No way," I said, horrified. "That would ruin everything."

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