Unamused Muse (Mt. Olympus Employment Agency: Muse Book 2) by R.L. Naquin Page B

to me the past week, I couldn’t act like—well, like myself. I couldn’t close up like a delicate flower in a rainstorm. If I was ever going to get good at having friends, I had to learn to share even my stupid moments.
    I sighed. “He came to my door covered in sweat and carrying flowers.”
    “Ooh, flowers!” Kris clapped her hands. “Excellent start. So, he was sweaty and nervous?”
    “Yes. He didn’t calm down until halfway through the wedding ceremony.”
    Kris and Parker exchanged an odd look, then returned their attention to me.
    Kris brightened. “So, how was the ceremony? Was it beautiful?”
    “It was pretty. A little odd.” I was an open-minded person. Each to his or her own. Still, it was kind of jarring to attend a plural marriage ceremony when I wasn’t expecting it. In this case, there were two grooms and one bride. “The bride, Chelsea, was beautiful. Her dress was gorgeous—white with purple and gold lace, one shoulder bare so it kind of mimicked a toga. Really pretty. Both grooms—Tad and Ryan—wore white tuxes with purple and gold ties. The vows were simple, then they passed around a gold chalice with wine in it and each took sips.”
    “Ah.” Parker nodded his head. “It was a Bacchus ceremony. Were there grapes hanging everywhere?”
    “Yes. And they passed the chalice to the family, refilled it, and passed it back and forth to all of the guests.” I’d been reluctant to sip from a cup already touched by the lips of a hundred strangers, but I was more reluctant to make a scene than I was to catch the plague. Ironic, as it turned out.
    “Oh, I hate that,” Kris said. “So gross. But what can you do?”
    “You drink.” I shrugged. “Anyway, after that, Max seemed to loosen up a bit. By the time the reception was underway, he was his charming, pushy self again.”
    “So, did you have a good time?” Kris leaned as far forward as she could with her baby belly in the way. “You said it was messy.”
    “I guess I had a good time. The band was good. The wine geyser was a new one for me, but for a Bacchus-themed wedding, I suppose it was appropriate. They had a ton of food from all over the world. It was nice.” I scowled. “Until Max dragged me out on the dance floor.”
    Parker smirked. “Can’t he dance?”
    I answered slowly. “No, he’s a surprisingly good dancer.”
    “So, you can’t dance?” Kris asked.
    “I’m not too bad. Usually.”
    “So, what was the problem?” Parker sat on the edge of the desk and tilted his head.
    My voice was quiet. “He spun me. Fast.”
    Parker’s eyebrows rose. “Why do I feel like you’re about to describe a catastrophe?”
    I stared at him, my face growing hot with embarrassment at the memory. “The dress was too fluttery. I needed to do laundry. Phyllis said—” I broke off and hid my face in my hands. “I tried to hold my skirt down while I spun. My foot caught on something, and I….” I paused, wishing I could stop there. I took a breath and blurted it out. “I landed in the chocolate fountain.”
    Everything after that was a blur. Strawberries flew everywhere. Warm chocolate oozed down my neck and arms. A few drunk people caught drips off of my elbows with marshmallows, then made s’mores with them. Graham cracker crumbs went down my bra. Pound cake was stuck to the side of my face.
    The left side and all down the front of Nadia’s dress was a disaster. It no longer fluttered so much as slapped wetly against my legs when I walked.
    The band stopped playing, and everyone turned to stare at the girl who loved dessert so much she had to become part of it.
    Good thing I’d managed to keep from showing my laundry-day granny panties. Otherwise, I might’ve embarrassed myself.
    At that moment, Phyllis had not been my favorite person.
    Kris groaned. “Oh, honey.” She cast a frantic eye around the desk and finally grabbed a small tin which she opened and thrust toward me. “Mint?”
    I took one and sucked on it,