What Happened After Happily Ever After

#5 - The Obligation of Date Night

Chapter 5 - The Obligation of Date Night
published: Wednesday, 30 December 2020

Annabeth's key jingled in the lock.

Grocery bags were slung on either arm. Annabeth usually hated doing the shopping. But since their fight last night, she and Percy hadn't exchanged a single word, and she desperately needed to get out of his immediate radius.

She turned the key and pushed the door open.

Annabeth checked her watch. It was 11am. Was it bad that she hoped some fish emergency had drawn Percy away?

Her gaze hovered over her wrist before it slid to a peculiar sight on the doorstep. There, right by her foot, between her shoes and Percy's shoes, was an unfamiliar pair of sneakers. Men's sneakers.

Annabeth's brow furrowed. Was Percy's deep dark secret that he was gay?

She peered into the house, now peripherally aware of the sounds coming from the kitchen and dining room. Clanging and...and talking.

Annabeth had been joking earlier about the gay thing, but honestly, she didn't know what to expect anymore when it came to Percy.

Kicking her shoes off, Annabeth slowly traipsed towards the kitchen, unsure of what she'd see.

It was...even weirder than she'd expected.

A ladder was stood up close to a wall, Percy perched on the top rung and installing a round, white, plastic object into the wall.

Stabilising the ladder and conversing with Percy was a tall guy with blonde hair. He was taller than Percy, but lankier, and there was a small scar on his lip that gave him a sense of mystery.

Annabeth glanced between them. "Um, what the hell is going on?"

Percy looked down at her. Crap, Annabeth forgot that she was supposed to be ignoring him. Somehow, it was easier to forget the fight when the sun was up. He cleared his throat. "I'm installing an alarm system."

Annabeth blinked. "You're what?" The was he said it was so off-handed, like "oh yeah, I have a pet barracuda now".

"Lots of robberies in New York," the blonde man supplied helpfully.

Annabeth folded her arms and glared at him. "And who exactly are you?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he returned.

"I'm Annabeth Chase," she scoffed. "Percy's-" Except the word 'wife' brought back too many memories from last night. Percy flinched from his position on the ladder. "I'm married to Percy," she said instead.

"I'm Jason Grace," the man waved. "Percy's college roommate. And best friend." Percy rolled his eyes.

Annabeth frowned. "Are-are you trying to be territorial right now?

"Please," Jason snorted. "I lost to you when he moved out."

Annabeth set the groceries down, still keeping a careful eye trained on the stranger in her living room. "I didn't know you had a college roommate."

Percy scratched the back of his neck, gaze flickering between her and Jason. "Yeah, I, uh, we shared a room on campus and then an apartment."

Annabeth started putting the cheese and wine into the fridge. Percy's story checked out so far. She'd only met him after his graduation, so if he was lying about Jason being his roommate then she wouldn't know.

"So why are you setting up an alarm system?" Annabeth asked.

"Robberies," Jason filled in again.