Athena's Pov

“...and then Zephyr said, you stupid ass bitch your grandpa has been meeting us behind your back all those years and you didn't have any idea about it.”

Tristan narrowed his eyes on me. “Are you sure that's the exact words he used?”

“Almost,” I said seriously. “You won’t believe it but I'm filtering his filthy language for your virgin ears. I swear he said worse than that.”

“I don't know about that,” He brought his hand up to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. “But I know if Zephyr had called you a ‘stupid ass bitch’ then Morpheus would’ve brought you back home by now.”

“Well… even if he didn't use the same exact words, the meaning and emotions behind them was the same as I'm explaining to you.” I said playing with a zip on his jacket.

“So when Ares said ‘hoe, you're not getting married so young’ and Hades said ‘you beggar, we pay your bill, you do as we tell you’. Was that what they said or what they meant?”

“It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm hurt.” I move forward on his lap to hug him.

He instantly brings his hands to my ass and lifts me up so I sit on his stomach and not his crotch. I smile, bringing my arms around his shoulders and back.

He’s always such a gentleman. While with anyone else I would’ve thought they were hiding a boner, I know Tristan is just being respectful.

Whenever I straddle him, he either sits me on his thighs —closer to knees— or his stomach. And each time he strokes my back so gently that it calms down any emotions I'm feeling.

“I know, amorcito.” He whispers, not breaking the peace of the room.

Amorcito. I don't remember when he started calling me that. Maybe when we were graduating middle school? But I love the nickname.

I had to ask him what it meant but he kept avoiding the question for days saying it was just a slip of tongue. But in the end I googled it and the disbelief on his face was so cute to ever forget.

Since then he started using it more often and I stopped pointing it out because I love when he calls me that. It's adorable.

His father's part Spanish and Latin while his mother is half German and Latin so Tristan always ends up calling me a bunch of different endearments in each language that he knows but this one is the most special one.

Whenever someone hears him call me “little love” they think something’s going on between us but it's just that people aren't used to platonic friendships.

“I don't know if I wanna talk to grandpa again.” I mumble.

“You know he loves you more than anything in this world right?” I hum at the question. “So why can't you forgive him for something he did because he thought it was the best for you.”

“But he lied and made fake promises. He said we would never ever meet them or keep any relationship with them and it turns out he was the one keeping contact with those man whores.” I grumbled.

“But he regrets it now and I'm sure he won't do it again… you gotta think from his side too, Thena.”

I just hummed, not helping the conversation so he rested his back against the couch and moved me on him to see my face. I didn't meet his eyes because I really wasn't in a mood to argue right after I got the biggest betrayal of my life.

“Don't you meet a thousand people that Morpheus doesn't want you to? But does he ever stop talking to you? Does he say you betrayed him?”

“It's different when I do it…”

“How?” He asks, gently gripping my chin and tilting my head towards himself.

I met his eyes as I spoke with more clarity this time. “Because it's my personal life, however many pedos I meet it’s always only gonna affect my life. But what he's doing is connected to the both of us and if he hadn't done that then I wouldn't have to hear how the men I hate the most are the ones feeding me this whole damn time.”

“You think it doesn't affect him when you go around hanging out with pedos? And do you think Morpheus ever planned for his sons to rub this in your face? If they messed up, why are you blaming him in this? He only took money from them for you, so you could live comfortably and he could give you as much time as you want.”

“But then why did he bring me up like we're poor?” I grimaced.

“I don't know. Maybe he was saving for your college or something.” He shrugged.

“Now you're just making up excuses for him.” I glared at him.

“Whatever the reason may be, you agree he isn't selfish and whatever he did was for you, right?” Tristan patiently waited for me to agree with him.

I hated that he talked to me like I was five and I never understood anything on my own. I am the older one here but he always has a point that proves my whole theory wrong and I hate him for it.

But I love that he always helps me clear my mind. I don't think I can ever make any decision without him.

“But meeting them wasn't for me.”

“Can't the poor guy have something for himself? He spent half of his adult life balancing two jobs and bringing up triplets without his wife and the other half was spent taking care of you again without a partner. Why can't he do something that he likes for once without thinking how it would affect his sons or granddaughter?”

I knew I was being selfish. I always saw grandpa as someone who belongs to me. I have all the right on him, he was only my grandpa. I never want to share him with anyone. And the triplets are totally out of question.

But I know it's wrong to cage him in my superficial expectations. I shouldn't expect so much from him. He’s already sacrificed so much for me, I shouldn't ask for more.

If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be in this world today.

I didn't want to continue this conversation so I moved my head to his shoulder and made myself comfortable, hoping he'd give up and let me sleep on him.

“They’ll always be his kids no matter how horrible they are.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “He loves them even if he hates them for abandoning you. You can't force him to stay away from them, it's not right.”

“I know…” I whisper.

“But?” He asked softly.

“I don't know. I was mad because he lied and I… you know maybe if I was told that some other way then I wouldn't have been so mad. Those guys literally rubbed it in my face so I lost it. I felt so bad... I hate them. I hate them so much. I- I want to kill them.”

“Okay.” He agreed right away. “But this time I’m throwing them off the stairs and you'll keep watch.”

I moved back to look at him. “No I'm doing it cause it's my revenge.”

“We should probably change the plan because we can't throw them one by one, they'll get suspicious.”

“How about we poison their food?” I suggests.

“But then the police will arrest some innocent staff member for it.”

“We can cut the breaks in their car.”

“What if they have a driver? He’ll die too.”

“We have to do it in a way so it looks like suicide. And when they’re gone grandpa gets all their money and what’s his is mine and then I'll be a millionaire.” I clap my hands together in excitement. “And don't worry darling, I'll give you a euro or two for helping out.” I wink at him.

“So all of them killed themselves together?” He found yet another loophole in my plan.

“We could make up a story of how they were so depressed after abandoning me that they decided their pathetic life wasn't worth living anymore.”

“That's too good to be true.”

I slapped his chest pretty hard. “Can you stop messing up my fantasies?”

“I'm just telling you the possibilities. Would be a shame if such an intelligent brain ends up in juvy just cause you acted on impulse.”

He knows how to flatter me and compliments on my personality and intelligence are the way to my heart and pants. Most people always appreciated my looks —as if I don't already know how gorgeous I am— but it rarely excites me.

“I should just take them hiking, line them up and bam bam bam. How's that sound?”

He shakes his head. “Alright, let me know when we're committing three homicides.”

“See? That's why I love you. You're the best.” I lean forward and kiss his cheek appreciating how red spread across his face.

I know he'd stay quiet now until I speak. We always flirt as a joke. It's something we picked up and have stuck with but every time I reciprocate with a kiss or a gesture of romance that he wasn't expecting, he has to take a few minutes to himself.

“C'mon daddy, we’re in the middle of planning murders. You can't blush.” I tease.

He shoves my hand away that’s coming up to brush his cheek. “I'm not blushing.”

I stifle a laugh. “Yes, you are.”

“Shut up!” He glares at me and pulls me forward so my face is tucked in his neck and I can't see him.

I start laughing immediately. “You're really cute.” I hug him and inhale his comforting scent. “Can I call you daddy since you take so good care of me?” I joke.

“You can call me whatever you want.” He says with fake anger still evident in his voice.

I tried to move back and see his face before I speak the next words but he tightens his hold on me to keep me in place. He doesn't want me to see him flushing so bad that people would think he was born pink.

“Soul sister?” I suggest the best possible name.

“Anything but that.”

“But you are like a sister to me. You always get me, you love unconditionally, you share your clothes with me, you cuddle with me, you're my crime partner and you're the one I come to you when I think both my boobs are different sizes.”

“I'm not your sister, Thena. Shut up or I'm gonna punch you.”

That makes me laugh harder. “When have you ever punched me?”

“There was this one time in kindergarten, did you forget that? Mum’s got it on camera, I can send you the recording.”

“You were a kid.”

“If I could do it when I was a kid, I can do it now too.”

He can. He’s almost thirty kilos over my weight and nine inches taller than me. If he wanted he could easily overpower me. But Tristan isn't the type of guy to use his strength against a girl.

And it makes this so much more fun to annoy him because I'm the only person he tolerates. He never lets anyone else mess with him. Any girl who tries ends up being called out by him to stay in her limits.

“I’d love to see you try, baby ” Just then I got another brilliant idea. “How about gay best friend? That suits you perfectly.”

My eyes widen when he spanks my ass. “I'm not gay and you know it.”

“You didn't have to get so mad.” I mumbled rubbing the spot where he hit me. “I’d love you the same if you come out as gay. And don't worry about Oliver and Julia, I'll talk to them, they won't disown you. They’re such cool parents.”

“You know what I'm leaving if you're gonna irritate me so much.” He doesn't make any move to get up.

“Huh? I was kidding. You're cute when you're offended.” I smile at him.

He can't resist my charm and smiles back. “You're cuter.”

“I agree.” I chuckle.

Just then I yawn and he asks, “Sleepy?”

I nod, completing my yawn. “Haven't slept the whole night.”

“Let's put the baby to bed then.”