Free Goddess Secret by M. W. Muse

door.”
    “Exactly.” He laughed.
    “And what’s this about your grandma’s birthday?”
    Adin sighed. “She wasn’t supposed to know about that. It was supposed to be a surprise party, but my mom let it slip that we were planning something. I was going to ask you about it this weekend, but she brought it up to tease me about the fact that she already knows.”
    “Oh.” She smiled. “When is it?”
    “It’s in a couple of weeks at her house. Since she loves her garden so much, I figured it’d be a nice way for her to show off her pride and joy, letting all her friends take pleasure in it before all the flowers die. She’s not thrilled about turning sixty-five, so I’m hoping this will ease her concern and allow her to enjoy her birthday.”
    “That’s really thoughtful, Adin,” she whispered as she reached over and put her hand on his knee.
    “I just want her to enjoy her day.” He placed his hand on top of Legacy’s.
    They talked the rest of the way to the football field, and when they got there, Adin escorted her to the bleachers. As soon as they took their seats, he put his hand on her knee, stroking it gently. She shivered slightly, partly because of the chill and partly because he just had that effect on her. Legacy scanned the field until she found Calli. She was stretching her muscles, but waved when she saw them.
    People started filling up the stands as it got closer to time for the game to start. Of course, when Ellen and Kate got here, they came up and sat on the row in front of Legacy and Adin. Zach came alone and sat next to Adin.
    She saw River walk up with his cousin, Paul. He was the same cousin that River brought to the movies the night that he’d met Adin. She guessed River didn’t want to show up alone, knowing she was here with Adin.
    Ellen turned around to face her. “Who’s that with River?”
    “Um, his cousin.”
    “Well, good looks must run in that family,” she commented as she turned back around.
    As River and Paul walked up, they started to pass Legacy and the crew she’d drawn. “You can sit over here, River,” Adin called out.
    Legacy whipped her head around and gaped at Adin. He had a small smile on his face. It was strained, obviously held there by force of will, but at least he was trying to be the bigger man.
    “Umm…okay,” River responded. Zach, Adin, and Legacy scooted down, so River could sit beside her. Paul sat on the other side of River.
    Ellen and Kate watched as they took their seats and then turned back around to watch the start of the game.
    Legacy had noticed the weather being unseasonably cool, but sitting up in these bleachers without trees shielding her from the breezy air, she started to get really cold. She tried to ignore the chill she felt, but then she suddenly realized maybe she was the one making this weather colder—that maybe it had to do with the men she was sandwiched between.
    It wasn’t as if Adin and River were misbehaving, but both of them were being really quiet. When she was alone with either one, conversations flowed naturally, but now that they were all three together, she felt uncomfortable sitting between them, as if her uneasy feelings were causing the colder air around her.
    She didn’t know if she could do anything to change the temperature now, but she should try. She turned to Adin to talk. She figured if she started conversations with the both of them, maybe she’d be distracted enough to stop the chill in the air.
    “H-how’s Greek w-week c-coming?” she asked as her teeth chattered.
    “Are you cold, sweetheart?” Adin asked as he took his hand off her knee and wrapped his arms around her, chafing his hands against her arms.
    “A l-little.”
    “I have a sweater in my car. I’ll be right back.”
    Adin got up and ran down the bleachers while she rubbed her hands on her arms.
    River leaned over to her. “Why are you cold?”
    “I-I don’t k-know.” She shivered hard. “Maybe it has s-something to do