CHAPTER 71: [71] WOMAN TO WOMAN

Calypso closed the bedroom door behind her, pressing her back against it for a moment. Her heart hammered in her chest despite her outward confidence with Xavier. For all her divine power, Calypso had never experienced a mother’s scrutiny.

"Which side do you prefer?" Elaine asked, glancing up.

"I don’t have a preference," Calypso said, her voice higher than normal. "Whatever works for you."

"I’ll take the left, then." Elaine sat on the edge of the bed and began removing her earrings. "Xavier always sleeps on the right side."

Calypso nodded, not trusting herself to respond. Her nightgown suddenly felt too short, too revealing. She’d chosen it without thinking—pink silk with thin straps that Xavier had bought her during their shopping trip.

Elaine slipped under the covers and settled against the pillows with a sigh. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, Calypso dared to hope she might fall asleep immediately. Maybe this interrogation she’d been dreading wouldn’t happen after all.

Calypso gingerly sat on the edge of the bed, careful to keep a respectable distance. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, planning to scroll through social media until Elaine fell asleep.

"Black lace, huh?"

Calypso froze, her fingers hovering over her phone. "Excuse me?"

Elaine’s eyes remained closed, but a small smile was on her lips. "On the floor. Black lace underwear."

"I—I can explain," she stammered.

"No need." Elaine opened her eyes and turned to face Calypso. "I just want to know what kind of trouble you’re in that you had to move in with my son."

"I’m not in trouble," Calypso said, then amended, "Not the kind you’re thinking."

"What kind, then?"

Calypso considered her options. The truth was impossible. I’m actually a goddess bound to your son through a divine glitch, and if we’re separated by more than two hundred meters, we’ll both experience pain.

"It’s complicated," she said instead.

"Life usually is." Elaine sat up, adjusting her pillow behind her back. "Look, I don’t need all the details. But I need to know my son is safe."

"He is," Calypso said quickly. "I would never hurt Xavier."

Elaine studied her face. "I believe you. But that doesn’t explain why you’re sharing his one-bedroom apartment and wearing lingerie that sexy."

Calypso looked down at her hands. Even her nails were perfect—pink with tiny silver stars. A goddess’s hands in a mortal world.

"Xavier and I... we’re connected," she said carefully. "Not romantically, but in a way that’s hard to explain. We need to stay close to each other right now."

"Connected how?"

"Through circumstances beyond our control." Calypso met Elaine’s eyes. "I know that sounds evasive, but it’s the truth."

Elaine was quiet for a moment. "Are you in danger? Both of you?"

"Not as long as we stick together."

Elaine nodded slowly. "And the sleeping arrangements? The black lace?"

"The black lace is just... I like nice things." Calypso shrugged. "As for sleeping, we take turns with the bed and couch, like Xavier said."

"Mm-hmm." Elaine’s tone made it clear she didn’t believe that for a second. "If Xavier is anything like his daddy, he would love white lace more."

Calypso’s eyes widened. "I—what?"

"His father had a thing for white lace." Elaine’s expression softened with memory. "Said it made me look like an angel."

"Oh." Calypso didn’t know how to respond to this information.

"I’m not blind, Calypso." Elaine reached over and patted her hand. "I see how he looks at you, and how you look at him. Whatever this ’connection’ is, there’s more to it than you’re saying."

Calypso swallowed. "It’s complicated."

"You mentioned that." Elaine’s smile was knowing. "Just tell me one thing—are your intentions toward my son honorable?"

The question caught Calypso off guard. In her thousands of years, no one had ever asked about her intentions. Gods took what they wanted; they didn’t explain themselves to mortals.

"I care about him," she said, surprising herself with the truth of it. "More than I expected to."

"That’s not an answer."

"I know." Calypso twisted the bedsheet between her fingers. "The truth is, I don’t know what my intentions are. This wasn’t supposed to happen."

"What wasn’t?"

"Any of it. Being here. Meeting Xavier. Feeling..." She trailed off, unable to name the emotions that had been growing inside her.

Elaine’s expression softened. "Feelings are inconvenient that way. They show up uninvited and refuse to leave."

Calypso nodded, grateful for the understanding.

"Whatever’s going on between you two," Elaine continued, "just be careful with his heart. Xavier acts tough, but he feels things deeply. Always has, since he was a little boy."

"I’ll be careful," Calypso promised.

"Good." Elaine settled back against her pillow. "And maybe consider some white lace. Just a suggestion."

Calypso couldn’t help but laugh, the tension breaking. "I’ll keep that in mind."

"Now," Elaine said, reaching for the lamp on the nightstand, "I’ve had a twelve-hour shift and I’m exhausted. We can continue this conversation tomorrow."

"Of course," Calypso said, relieved for the reprieve. "Goodnight, Elaine."

"Goodnight, dear."

The light clicked off, and darkness filled the room. Calypso slid under the covers, keeping to her side of the bed. She stared at the ceiling, listening to Elaine’s breathing gradually slow and deepen.

This was so strange—lying beside a mortal woman who thought she was her son’s new fling, when in reality, Calypso had watched billions of souls pass through her realm. She had guided emperors and beggars to their next lives, had played games with their destinies, had grown bored with the eternal responsibility.

And now here she was, nervous about a mortal woman’s opinion of her.

Calypso turned onto her side, facing away from Elaine. She couldn’t deny the growing feelings she had for Xavier. Anytime he touched her—it had shaken her in ways she hadn’t experienced in centuries. Perhaps ever. Gods didn’t feel the way mortals did. Their emotions were different—more distant, more abstract.

But since being bound to Xavier, everything felt more immediate. More real. The taste of food, the sensation of a hot shower, the flutter in her stomach when he looked at her a certain way.

It terrified her.