Page 106 of A Subtle Scar

Hermes had tried to get his arms around my back and help me up, but that hurt so much I was seeing stars.

“I’m healing, and I’m doing it faster than you, darling. Oh, my precious Chandler,” Charon said and bent down so he could brush a kiss against my cheek.

Hermes tsked. “Make out with him once he’s off the floor, Ronny.”

“Of course. Let’s get you up, darling,” Charon said.

“A second, just a second. In fact, could you, uhm. I mean, listen. For a second.”

If I didn’t do it now, I might not at all. I was already beginning to wonder whether I was thinking logically. Almost sacrificing yourself could make you do stupid stuff.

Both gods exchanged a look and shrugged.

“Sure,” Hermes said.

They both sat on the ground opposite me, and Charon lifted one wing to block out the sun so it didn’t hit me in the face. They were both just wearing shorts, and since my back hurt too much for me to sit straight, I was basically talking to their chests. I’d had worse conversations.

“I have a list. Let me finish talking before you say anything. Yes?”

“Yeah, baby.”

“Of course.”

I cleared my throat. “One. I was wondering. If. If maybe I might be able to l…to love you, as they say. I don’t know. Sounded better in my head.

“Two and three are connected. I don’t do emotional stuff. I mean, I do. For work. Not personal emotional stuff. You know when you are young and you’re hopeful you will find your person, that person who will give you their heart and guard yours in turn? I gave up on that. But I was thinking, I could maybe try to…have something with you. Uhm. A relationship, maybe. I’m just gonna say it, I was thinking I could maybe try to bear your love and to accept it too, but that just sounds so cheesy. In fact, forget that. Scratch that.” I rubbed my face with one hand, needing the other on the ground to steady myself.

The chests in front of me moved. Before I knew it, I was the center of a god sandwich, but the four hands reaching for me were gentle, careful as mother hens toward the brittle shell where they touched me.

“Chandler,” Charon said. He brushed a lock of my hair out of my forehead.

Hermes growled. “Imma just say, hell yes to all of that. Also, I am hard as fuck again, and once more, this eruption cannot go anywhere. When you two are not in various stages of near death, I expect to get my dick sucked so hard it turns blue.”

I couldn’t help it. Hermes made me smile. “Such a drama queen.”

Charon giggled. “Oh, you have no idea, love. Should Hermes teleport you back to bed?”

I shook my head. “Five more minutes. The sun feels nice. Sitting here is nice.”

“I swear, if an ant bites my ass,” Hermes said. He didn’t finish that thought though, instead he let me lean sideways against his chest and held me. I let him.