Free Ode to the Queen by Kyleigh Castronaro Page B

lingering on his face as he turned toward the barbecue I had missed on my first glance around the area.
    “Oh, sure. I’m starved.” I grinned again before looping my arm through his as Charlotte had done to Aidan, taking a chance to look over at Aidan to see if he was looking. To my disappointment Charlotte had him engaged in some conversation with two of the servers and a frown momentarily crossed my features. Not wanting to dwell though I quickly painted on another grin and followed Hunter.
    “Gees, how much do you work out?” I teased again, my hand squeezing his forearm and craning my neck to look up at him. He seemed to like that I had pointed it out and launched into a detailed explanation of his regime. I laughed appropriately, kept a firm grip on him and smiled so much my face began to hurt but I was certain I was sending the right signals.
    At the grill I was introduced to Royce, who as it turned out was Hephaestus, the God of fire. I supposed it made sense then that he had been put on barbecue duty.
    The conversation that followed between the three of us was small and typical; my attention split the entire time between being flirtatious with the two boys and glancing at Aidan waiting for a reaction. The only one I was managing to get was a lot of whispers and sharp glances from the other girls. They didn’t seem to like the fact that I was engaging two of three eligible bachelors at the party. But then again, I wasn’t really interested in them even if I seemed to be.
    Hunter, in stereotypical jock-surfer boy fashion, didn’t appear to have much going on besides an overwhelming love for himself and the ocean. Royce on the other hand was sweet and unassuming but definitely more someone I could see having a brotherly relationship with and not sexual.
    It was hard to admit but I was somewhat disappointed that Aidan hadn’t even noticed or reacted to the attention I had received from the other two boys.
    Something in the back of my mind told me that I shouldn’t be so putout, considering Aidan had told me his self that I wasn’t his type. But I supposed that a part of me had hoped he was exaggerating. Further still, if I really were his Godly wife surely Zeus wouldn’t like the affections of other men directed toward me. At least, this was the impression I got from all the stories I knew about the God of the Gods.
    “Don’t tell me you took the time to put that outfit on without any intention of actually getting in the pool.” Royce had swum over to me, leaning against the wall and sizing me up as I took everyone else in.
    “C’mon… it’s not going to make you melt. I promise.” He jokingly crossed an x across his chest and smiled at me.
    I returned the gesture but shook my head, “nah, it’s fine. Marco Polo hasn’t been my thing since I was like 6.” I teased back but Royce wasn’t buying it.
    He just shook his head at me, “your loss…” He turned as though he was going to swim away, when he turned suddenly and reached out, hauling me over his shoulder and swimming out into the middle of the water. I shrieked in surprise, laughter bubbling out of me as I flailed.
    “Put me down. Royce, I mean it. I don’t want-“ Before I could finish what I was saying he complied and dropped me right down into the water. Although he was well meaning and just playing around, when I resurfaced I found everyone laughing at my expense. I felt my cheeks grow hot with embarrassment.
    The feeling didn’t last long before someone swam under my legs and tugged on them as they surfaced. Hunter stood, having managed to settle me somehow on his shoulders and towered over everyone.
    “Who wants to play rooster?” He grinned as I gripped his head, teetering a good foot over everyone else who joined in. The game didn’t last long since there were only three participating males and none of the girls wanted to put another girl on their shoulders.
    Charlotte, unsurprisingly, climbed on top of Aidan while Royce