Page 3 of Risk (Gods #3)

I look at Zeus, and then my eyes involuntarily flicker to where my dad, Brett Kincaid is sitting with Ari’s dad—Eddie Petrelli, who is also Ares’s head coach—then back to Zeus.

I know Zeus is referring to our dad, who turned to alcohol when our mom died from cancer instead of caring for the kids who so desperately needed him.

It was Zeus and Ares who raised me and my twin brother, Lo.

Even though our dad is now sober and trying to make amends, Zeus harbors a lot of resentment toward him, and I understand why.

“We all are happy.”

“Damn fucking right we are.” Of course he’s looking at his wife, Cam, and their two girls.

Gigi and Thea are on the dance floor with Cam’s mom, who is actually her aunt, but she raised Cam from a young age after her sister—Cam’s mom—died of a drug overdose.

I guess we’ve all had a tough time in our lives. Including the man next to me.

Kaden was a world champion boxer, like Zeus, and during a title fight with Zeus, he suffered from a brain aneurysm that nearly took his life.

He was in a coma and spent a long time in the hospital, recovering and doing rehabilitation.

In the course of the brain bleed, he suffered a stroke, which gave him paralysis down his right side.

The doctors weren’t sure if it was temporary or permanent.

Thankfully, it was temporary, but he had months and months of rehabilitation to go through, and he did it all without a single complaint or feeling sorry for himself.

He worked hard to get himself back to health, and honestly, looking at him, you wouldn’t think he’d gone through what he had.

Except for the headaches that I know he suffers from.

Kaden is the true definition of a fighter.

Even though he and my brother were opponents in the beginning and it was Zeus who laid the hits on him that caused the brain bleed, they are now best friends.

Zeus was there every step of the way—through his recovery and rehab—and even paid for his hospital bills, which I know Kaden wasn’t happy about. He’s a proud man.

Kaden hired a lawyer and sued the International Boxing Federation because the fight should have been stopped earlier and wasn’t, and it came to light that the referee had been paid off by my brother’s ex-manager—which Zeus knew nothing about—to not stop the fight, no matter what.

When he received compensation from them, he insisted on paying Zeus back every penny he’d spent on his medical bills, even though Zeus didn’t want it.

I’m pretty sure the money ended up in a trust for Gigi and Thea for when they’re older.

“I’m gonna go dance with my girls,” Zeus tells us.

He gives Kaden a pat on his shoulder before heading toward the dance floor. Leaving me alone with Kaden. Well, not actually alone. We are in a large reception room, surrounded by my family and friends.

And it’s not like this is the first time I’ve just been with Kaden “alone” and had a conversation.

So, why the hell can’t I think of anything to say, and why is my mouth as dry as the frigging Sahara?

“Drink?”

The sound of Kaden’s deep, husky voice pulls my eyes to his, and I feel that tug in my belly that I always do around him.

“Champagne,” I tell him.

There’s a whole tray of them sitting on the bar, so Kaden reaches over and gets me one.

The tips of his fingers touch mine as I take the glass from him, and I get shivers up my arm.

This is ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong; I usually feel things around Kaden—I’ve had a damn crush on the man for years.

But Ari getting in my ear about it tonight, making me think things—like he might want me, too—has my nerves heightened and my body going into overdrive.

To cover my feelings, I take a drink of the champagne, letting the bubbles fizz on my tongue.

As I lower my glass, holding it close to my chest, I notice the drink that Kaden’s lifting to his lips. A beer.

“You’re drinking tonight?” I ask him, leaning my back against the bar, mirroring Kaden.

He rarely drinks. He once told me that it’s because of the migraines. He mostly avoids things that can trigger headaches, like alcohol and caffeine.

“Yeah, thought I’d treat myself to a few beers. It’s a celebration after all.”

I clink my glass to his beer bottle. “Cheers to that.”

We each take another drink, and then we fall silent.

I feel awkward around him, like I did when I first met him and thought he was the hottest guy I’d ever seen. But I coached myself to ignore my crush and be normal around him and not act like a stupid teenage girl.

And now, I’m right back here again. I blame Ari.

“So—” we both say at the same time and then laugh.

“You first,” he tells me.

“No, you,” I insist. I was only going to ask him if he’d had a good day, which would have been as dumb as when I asked if they were having fun when I first walked over.

“I was just gonna ask, how’s school going?”

“Good. I’m enjoying it.”

“You still working at the diner?”

“Yeah. That I don’t enjoy, but it’s money, and I have bills to pay.”

I laugh lightly, shrugging, and he chuckles.

“How are things at the gym going?” I turn to face him, resting my hip against the bar.

He owns a gym that trains fighters, old and new, but it’s also a public gym, too.

I think the building is split into two parts.

I know it runs classes—boxercise, yoga, Pilates, high-intensity workouts, that kind of thing.

Everything I should be doing, but never have the time or inclination to do.

I’m lucky I was blessed with good genetics, though I know they won’t last forever.

He takes another sip of his beer. “Good. Same old. Keeps me busy.”

“I really need to come check the place out.”

He bought the gym around the time he bought his apartment. I know it’s not far from where he lives, but it’s another place I haven’t been to.

“There’s always a free pass with your name on it.”

“That’s so kind of you. I will get there to use it, but between school, studying, and working at the diner, I don’t have much time for anything else.”

“So, you’re not dating at the moment?”

Huh? Did he just ask…

Yeah, he did.

Is this him flirting with me? Like, is he asking because he’s interested or because he’s just simply making conversation?

Fuck, I wish I could ask Ari. She’d know if he was flirting with me or just being the usual friendly Kaden.

I glance at his body, looking for any sign or signal that he might be interested in me for more than just friendship, but I just end up getting distracted by the sight of him in his suit.

Damn, he wears it well.

But…his body is angled my way, hips turned toward me, so maybe…

“No. Not dating at the moment. You? I mean, are you dating anyone?”

Why did I ask him the same question? I don’t know if I actually want to know the answer.

Because if he says yes, then, of course, it’ll sting.

Not that he’s dated anyone in the years I’ve known him—that I know of—but we don’t have the type of relationship where we ask those questions. Up until now, that is.

Kaden takes a drink of his beer before answering, and he holds my eyes the whole time. I swear it’s like someone has doused me in gasoline and struck a match on my skin.

“No.” His voice sounds rougher than it did a moment ago.

“So, we’re both single…” I’m flirting.

Holy shit! I’m flirting with him.

He’s still staring at me with those unreadable but gorgeous brown eyes. “Yeah, we are.”