Страница 24 из 53
Everyone in the restaurant, including Lucky, looked in Syph’s direction.
“Spaghetti,” said Steve. “Got it.” He bolted for the kitchen.
Lucky stood and started walking over to the table.
Bo
He stood before them.
“Hi,” Bo
Syph pushed forth a smile. “Oh, hi, Lucky.”
He took a seat at the table, steepled his fingers, and frowned. “What are you doing here, Syph?”
She fiddled with her fork. “Nothing.”
Bo
Lucky’s ears fell flat. “Syph…”
“We’re just having di
“Syph…”
“We’re allowed to have di
Caught in mid-drink, Bo
“We’ve been over this,” said Lucky. “I get North and South America, Asia, and Antarctica. You get Africa, Europe, and Australia.”
Syph spoke into her chest. “ Australia is barely a continent.”
“Fine. I’ll trade you Antarctica for Australia if it bothers you so much.”
“Whatever. I’ve been thinking. We’re two mature, immortal beings. We should be able to work this out in a reasonable way without all the drama, right?”
“We should,” said Lucky suspiciously.
“Honestly, I don’t even see what the big deal is. Maybe I overreacted a bit at first, but that was before I realized that you’ll come to your senses. Eventually. All I have to do is be patient.”
“Fine. Be patient. Just be patient somewhere else.”
Syph laughed. She tried to pass it off as casual and light, but it was forced and high-pitched.
“You always were a witty one.” She nodded at Janet. “Who is that?”
“Nobody,” said Lucky.
“Is she your date? Are you dating a mortal?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I can’t believe you’d actually stoop to dating a mortal.” Syph chuckled coldly and elbowed Bo
Bo
Lucky forced an impatient smile. “She’s nice.”
“I’m sure she is,” said Syph. “She’s also doomed to dust.”
“Syph…”
The goddess threw up her hands. “It’s true, isn’t it? She is mortal, after all. They all find their way into the grave sooner or later. Usually sooner.”
Lucky stood on the chair, put his hands on the table, and leaned forward. “You’ll leave her alone.”
“Of course, of course. She seems lovely, doesn’t she, Bo
Bo
Lucky’s fur bristled as an electrical crackle passed between the god and goddess. The dim lighting flickered.
The manager, a tall woman in a pantsuit, approached the table.
“I’m sorry. Is there a problem here?”
Bo
“No problem.” He hopped off the chair. “Just a couple of old friends catching up. Nice to see you, Syph. Sorry you couldn’t stay longer.” He walked away, and all the divine energies dissipated from the atmosphere.
The manager exhaled, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. She made an offering of complimentary bread sticks to the goddess, but Bo
“I was actually looking forward to the spaghetti,” said Syph.
“What just happened in there?” Bo
“I talked to him. Just like you wanted me to.”
“That wasn’t what I wanted.”
“It wasn’t?”
Bo
Syph suggested, “You might want to drive carefully when your passenger is a goddess of tragedy. You never know when a bus full of orphans is nearby.”
Bo
“What was that thing he mentioned? Something about a restraining order?”
“Oh, that.” Syph folded her arms and shrugged. “That’s nothing. Just a little misunderstanding, that’s all. I did some things, some embarrassing things. Maybe I overreacted when we had our problems. I admit that. Anyway, it’s not a restraining order per se. It’s more of a voluntary territorial division arbitrated by the Court of Divine Affairs.” Syph turned her head away and mumbled, “More silly than anything else.”
“What did you do?” asked Bo
“Oh, I just kept him from making any mistakes until he realizes he really does love me. Lucky always did fancy the mortals a bit too much. I just helped him to understand how fleeting their affections were.”
“You’ve done this before, haven’t you? To him. That’s why he wasn’t surprised to see you.”
“It was your idea to talk to him,” said Syph. “Really, it’s your fault.”
“I notice you didn’t mention the restraining order-”
“Voluntary territorial division,” corrected the goddess.
“This is what you do? You follow this god around, ruining his love life, along with whatever random mortals you come across?”
“You make it sound so…”
“Pathetic?” interrupted Bo
“The pursuit of love is never pathetic.”
Bo
“And to think that I was actually feeling sorry for you earlier tonight. Now I find out you’ve devoted your endless life to making everyone as miserable as you are.”
“You don’t understand, Bo
“Okay, you’re creeping me out now. Do you have any idea how unbalanced that sounds? You can’t make someone love you.”
Syph chuckled lightly. “Don’t be absurd. Of course I can. I’m the goddess of love.”
“More like the goddess of stalkers,” replied Bo
Syph’s brow furrowed. Her jaw clenched.
“You just don’t get it, do you? But you’ll see. I’ll show you.”
She stared straight ahead at a little old lady carrying a bag of groceries in front of the parked car. The bottom of the sack fell out, spilling oranges, a carton of eggs, and a jar of jelly that shattered on the pavement.
“Oh for cryin’…” Bo
I’ll show you.