ATHENA

    One monthter....

    "You know," Sloane says, tossing a bag of torti chips into the cart with ir, "I think my uterus has grown cobwebs. Literal. Freaking. Cobwebs."

    I snort so loud a nearby toddler swivels to look at me. "Sloane!"

    "What?!" she grins shamelessly, pushing her sunsses up on her head as she saunters past the cereal aisle. "It''s been so long, Athena. I''m talking ghost-town, tumbleweed-rolling, ''CLOSED FOR BUSINESS'' kind of long."

    Isabelle snorts behind me. "Okay, now I''m picturing cobwebs... down there. Thanks for that."

    Sloane shrugs, utterly unfazed. "I''m just saying, if a hot guy so much as smiles at me, I mightbust. Or cry. I''m not sure which yet."

    Iugh, catching my breath as I toss a bag of apples into the cart. "This is what I missed. You two and your incredibly vivid metaphors."

    "Well," Isabelle says dryly, "that''s what happens when your love life is non- existent."

    Iugh at that because it''s true. Well... at least for me.

    Isabelle is too busy with her career and has zero time to date. With how much she has achieved, I was shocked to learn she''s only thirty-two. Which is the same age as Ale..

    Nope.

    I''m not going there.

    "So, how are you fitting in working directly under that hottie? You should hook me up. He looks like a hot nerd and a total freak in bed." Sloane says, making me gasp in horror!

    "Sloane!"

    "What? Just answer the question, girl." She rolls her eyes like she didn''t just say the most horrific thing right here in public.

    I groan, " It''s only been a week, and he''s already rearranged my entire schedule. Twice."

    Sloane shoots me a sly look. "Oh no. He''s into rearranging things? He can rearrange-"

    I don''t let her finish as I move to the cheese section.

    I love cheese so much. Honestly, I can eat cheese with anything. Those who are allergic are missing out big time. But because I''m a good person, I buy twice what

    I need so I can eat on their behalf.

    Yep. I''m pretty generous, I know.

    I grab a block of sharp cheddar and toss it in the cart with dramatic ir.

    "Behold. Charity."

    Isabelle raises an eyebrow.

    "That for thectose-intolerantmunity?"

    "Exactly," I say,pletely serious. "I suffer for them."

    Sloane snickers. "You''re a martyr, really. A saint."

    "I try."

    We turn down the next aisle, and just as I''m admiring the selection of brie, Sloane leans against the cart and sighs.

    "But seriously, Quinn, though. He''s hot. Like, sses-wearing, brooding, probably has a secret tattoo kind of hot."

    I give her a look. "I don''t think he has a tattoo."

    "Oh, honey," Sloane says with a wicked smile. "They always do."

    Isabelle grabs a loaf of bread and says, "And how exactly do you know what ''they'' do?"

    "I dated a software engineer once.

    Real quiet. Real polite. Turns out he

    had a full sleeve and a thing for

    roley."

    "That''s a guess thing. It''s 50/50, but your cousin, I''d do anything for that six feet of gorgeous."

    Sloane frowns.

    "Who?"

    "Alex." Isabelle says with dreamy eyes, and I freeze mid way.

    Sloane chokes on her drink, spiling

    some

    at

    her shirt, I shake my head

    wanting to be the one to tell

    he time is right.

    "I''m sorry, babe. He''s out of bounds. I hear he''s a mental case." She leans in to whisper.

    I silently thank her as she continues with ndering her dear cousin while I walk

    to the first aid section.

    I''m turning around the corner when my legs hit something small and soft.

    I turn to find a small boy sitting on his ass with his slightly long hair covering his face.

    "Oh my God! I''m so sorry, are you okay?" I reach over to help him up when I''m met with green.

    My eyes look around, horrified. I''ll end up meeting one of his parents. "Mummy?" His cute face frowns.

    I sigh.

    "I''m a stranger. Why do you keep calling me that?"

    Rayen smiles, and my heart melts. He has the most adorable face I''ve ever seen.

    "Because you''re pretty." He answers while I help him up, making meugh.

    Rayen dusts off his pants like a little gentleman, then looks up at me with that same wide, green-eyed curiosity.

    “You okay?" I ask again, crouching to his level.

    He nods solemnly. "You''re very pretty."

    I blink. "Wow,ing on strong, aren''t we?"

    He grins. It''s all missing baby teeth and innocence. "Are you a princess?"

    That makes meugh. "Not quite. Just a regr, tired woman who really likes cheese."

    He studies me for a moment, like

    bet

    he''s deciding whether to believe me.

    She leans in like he''s about to

    me a secret.

    "You look like a princess."

    I rough his hair, making him giggle,pletely charmed. "So, where''s your mom

    or dad?"

    Rayen points toward the front of the store.

    "My daddy''s outside. He said he had forgotten his wallet."