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“And what is that?”

“That this foolish Goddess of Wisdom might actually be your perfect match.Opposites attractand all that jazz.” And now the sardonic smirk was back.

“I can’t figure out if you’re insulting me or pulling my leg.”

“Really great leg, Dite. I mean, if I hadn’t taken that whole vow of chastity and we weren’t such good friends, I’m sure we would be pretty awesome. As it is, no, I was not insulting your intelligence by saying you and Athena are opposites that attract.”

“Whatwereyou saying?”

“That she’s obviously a big dumbass and you are, well… you. And also that despite you being total opposites, the fact that she has gone through something very similar to what you’re going through now, means she understands you better than most. So stop fishing for compliments. It’s not becoming of the Goddess of Love. You know you’re the fairest of them all. The sexiest, the hottest…” Artemis suddenly trailed off.

“Are you sure about that vow of chastity?” Aphrodite winked salaciously, and Artemis blushed.

“Yeah, no, yeah.”

“You’re too easy, Artemis.”

They had stopped dancing at this point, standing comfortably in the loose embrace of each other’s arms. Artemis gave her a little nudge before whispering, “Quit it! Go run after your dumbass potential mate, instead of standing here with me and causing half the room to swoon from our obvious compatibility. Go, before some foolish cupid actually shoots their arrow at us.”

The crowds partedlike the sea for her, and she ran from the ballroom, desperate to determine where Athena could have gone. Dumbass indeed. There was nothing between them. She had no right to get upset at Aphrodite dancing with anyone. Where the hell could she have disappeared to? Absolute fool. Soulful intelligent eyes notwithstanding. Aphrodite quickly turned left, then left again, trying to find her way in the labyrinth that was the MGM Grand and suddenly found herself stumbling. For once her four-inch heels had let her down and her ankle twisted, heel snapping and the floor getting perilously close. Stupid, stupid, stupid to chase after that fool and ruin her own face in the process.

But strong hands, familiar hands, broke her fall, and just like a complete cliché, she found herself in the arms of the dumbass she was chasing.

“Are you okay? Is it the shoes? I saw you stumbling.” Amber, warmth, gentleness, clarity. Everything around Athena was so bright, so clear. Aphrodite’s earlier anger edged out the comfort and satisfaction at being held safely and securely.

“You oaf! It’s all your fault!”

The beautiful eyes widened comically, completely uncomprehending, going from concerned to apprehensive in a split second.

Ah, familiar with angry women? Good! I bet Clio showed you her fiery temper.

At the thought of Clio showing Athena anything, Aphrodite got mad all over again.

“Yes, it’s your fault. You had no business running anywhere in a huff! You have no businessbeingin a huff! I was dancing with my friend.”

“Ah…” Athena seemed to be choosing her words carefully. “I went to the bathroom? I mean, sure, romance and all that, but you know, gods still go to the bathroom, even if it’s never mentioned in myths and legends.”

“Wait, what? What are you talking about?” The red haze of anger was slowly receding.

Athena stared at her, blinked once, twice and then shook her head.

“What areyoutalking about?”

Aphrodite felt like maybe she—with some nudging from Artemis—had made a bit of a strategic mistake. This being off-center, unbalanced, and totally unlike herself these past several months was driving her to do silly things. Like believing Athena was somehow jealous of her and Artemis, and that seeing her in her friend’s arms had led Athena to a dramatic exit.

“I… Ah…” How was she to come up with a plausible story to not thoroughly embarrass herself?

“Were you running after me for some reason?” Her voice tentative, Athena ducked her head enough to look into Aphrodite’s eyes.

“Me? No. Why would I? No. This is all just…” She waved her hand about herself as if that would explain her sudden brush with madness. It had to be madness. Running aftersome tweed-wearing, corduroy-elbow-patch-sporting, horn-rim-bespectacled recluse? Surely not!

“Just what?” Athena’s kind eyes were suddenly shrewd and a tad mischievous.

“Just nothing. Would you drop it? Or do you want to make me beg?” Belatedly, she realized what she’d said, as apparently did Athena, since her ears pinked endearingly. Then the corners of her lips turned up slyly.

“Ahem, despite our acquaintance dating back millennia, I don’t think we know each other well enough for that particular activity just yet?”

“Damn you! Ouch, damn my ankle! And my shoe!” The adrenaline of the chase and the encounter were apparently wearing off, finally allowing her to feel the damage from her fall. Athena had saved her face from certain bruises, but she hadn’t been able to rescue her ankle or her favorite Choos.