Chapter 26
Too Good to Be True
CHARLOTTE
Pluto Perpetual cock-blocker begone! Let me get her number
Wait a minute! Was the guy hitting on me Pluto? This was too good to be true.
I decided to play along. I pocketed my phone and focused on the guy in front of me, putting on my best innocent act.
“I am traveling alone, and it was such a long flight—no one to keep me company,” I said, pouting.
“What a shame. Would you like someone to keep you company now?” he asked, smirking in a way that probably made most girls swoon.
“Well, aren’t you sweet. What’s your name, handsome?” I asked.
“Frank,” he replied, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“So, are you alone this entire stay? I live here and wouldn’t mind showing you around and keeping you company during your visit,” he said.
I couldn’t believe he thought these lines would work on me.
“Oh, that would be awesome. I was so worried about being in this big city by myself,” I replied coyly.
“Some friends and I are going out tonight. If you give me your number, I can text you and you can come with us. We’ll keep you safe,” he offered.
“That sounds amazing! You would really do that for me?” I gushed, trying not to gag at the cheesiness of it all.
I gave him my number and watched as he entered it into his phone. I knew that as soon as he entered the last digit, my contact card would pop up. He typed in the numbers and then looked at his phone, then at me, then back at his phone.
“I think I may have typed your number wrong,” he said, then read the
digits back to me.
“No, that’s right,” I confirmed.
“Is something wrong?”
He just sat there looking confused. He looked at his phone, then at me, then back at his phone. He then slowly moved his gaze down my body and back up, stopping at my chest.
I assumed he was looking at my shirt, which had our team logo on it.
He then looked back at my face and tilted his head slightly, looking utterly baffled.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I burst out laughing at him. He still didn’t say anything, just pointed at his phone, then at me, then back at his
phone.
Mars Nep, we might be late getting back. I think I broke Plut
Neptune Oh no, I can’t wait to hear this story
Plut finally looked up at me again.
“Mars?” he asked tentatively, making me laugh even harder.
People in the baggage claim area were starting to stare at me because I was laughing so hard.
“Were you expecting someone, um, taller maybe?” I teased.
“Um, someone with less up top and more down below,” he replied,
making me laugh even harder.
“You said you were a dude!”
“No, actually, I said I liked dudes. I never once said I was one. You guys just assumed.”
“Wait, so even Jup doesn’t know you’re a chick?”
“Nope, should be fun times tomorrow, huh,” I giggled.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see his reaction.”
“Anyway, since you got the ‘fifteen out of ten, smoking hot, set-the- place-on-fire’ babe’s phone number, can we go now? I want a nap,” I asked.
“Yeah, um, let’s forget about that text conversation, okay?”
“Sure. Are we going to forget about all the moaning and body part comparisons too?”
“Oh, man! I can’t believe all of the things we’ve said to you over the years!”
“Yeah, it’s been pretty entertaining. Nep’s gonna flip his lid,” I giggled as we walked to Plut’s car, with him carrying my bags.
How sweet.
“Now I understand why Mom insisted you have a room by yourself and that I went in to get you. I can’t believe she knew, and I didn’t,” Plut said.
“Sorry about that. My parents wouldn’t let me stay with random people without making sure they knew what they were getting,” I giggled.
“Mars, it’s strange hearing you giggle like a girl,” he said, a hint of
unease in his voice.
“It’s a bit unsettling.”
“Would you prefer if I used a voice changer online? Would that make you more at ease?” I asked.
“No need, I actually like your voice this way,” he reassured me.
“Plut, don’t get any ideas. Flirting with me is just weird.”
“Damn, my bad. I can’t help it around attractive girls. I’ll try to keep it in check.”
“Just think of me as one of the guys, then.”
He shot me a quick glance before refocusing on the road.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
“So, have you spoken to Nep yet?” I asked.
“Not really. He arrived early and went straight to bed. I was surprised when he responded to the texts earlier. I thought he was still asleep.”
“That makes sense. I hope he’s awake when we arrive. I can’t wait to surprise him!” I exclaimed.
“Well, here’s your chance. Welcome to my home,” he said, pulling into the driveway of a two-story, light blue house.
“Wow! Is your house on the beach? I’m so jealous!” I exclaimed.
“You did bring a swimsuit like I told you to, right?” he asked.
“Yes, but you didn’t mention it was for the beach. I’m even more excited now!”
“Well, let’s go surprise Nep. Then maybe we can go swimming.”
“Deal!”
Plut retrieved my bag from the trunk and led me to his front door. He
opened it and ushered me inside.
“Nep, are you awake?” he called out.
“In the living room,” came Nep’s reply.
“Get up and help with Mars’ luggage,” Plut yelled, making me laugh.
“Why should I? He’s got two arms and two legs,” Nep retorted.
“Well, you can’t be sure of that. You’ve never met him in person,” I replied before hearing a crash from the other room. I guessed my feminine voice surprised him.
“And who might this lovely lady be?” Nep asked, giving me a once- over. He was about six feet tall and well-built.
Why were all my gamer friends so attractive?
I thought gamers were supposed to be skinny guys with bad skin living in their parents’ basements. The two I’d met so far looked like Greek gods.
Maybe Jup would fit the gamer stereotype.
I wasn’t thrilled with the way he was looking at me, but I could handle it. I dropped my carry-on bag and ran to Nep, jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist. He caught me easily, but his hands were uncomfortably close to my butt.
“This is how a man should be greeted by a beautiful woman,” Nep said, moving his hands even closer to my butt.
Plut just stood there, trying to suppress his laughter.
“Watch where your hands are going, sweetheart. They seem to be wandering,” I warned him.
“Don’t worry, you’ll enjoy it,” he replied confidently.
“Ew, no I won’t. I know where those hands have been,” I retorted.
That got his attention. He stopped flirting for a moment and looked at me, then at Plut, but he didn’t put me down.
“Plut, who is this?” he asked.
“And where’s Mars?”
Plut just pointed at me and Nep’s eyes widened. He quickly let go of
me, and I landed hard on my butt.
“Ouch!” I cried out.
“Mars, are you okay?” Plut asked, rushing to my side.
“Mars? What? I… Huh?” Nep stuttered, staring at me in disbelief.
“Great, now you’ve broken Nep,” Plut laughed.
“Actually, I think he broke me.”
Nep snapped out of his daze and rushed over to me.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to drop you like that. Are you okay? Here, let me help you up!”
“Ah!” I screamed as he tried to lift me.
“Okay, I’ll just carry you,” he said, gently picking me up and carrying me to the couch. I winced as my butt hit the cushion.
“Want me to rub it to make it feel better?” he asked.
“Do those lines actually work on girls?” I asked him.
“You’ve heard, you know they do,” he replied with a cocky grin.
“Yeah, we’ve all heard,” Plut said, lifting my legs and sitting down, placing them back on his lap.
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Nep protested. He lifted my head, sat down, and placed my head in his lap.
“Dude, I don’t want to be that close to your junk. I know where it’s been, too.”
“Yeah, you do,” he replied, lifting me up again and placing a pillow in
his lap.
“Better?”
“Thanks, but why am I lying on you two?”
“Well, we can’t go to the beach yet since you’re hurt, and we didn’t want to leave you alone in here,” Plut explained.
“But there are two chairs not currently occupied by me.”
“Yeah, but this one’s more comfortable,” Nep smirked.
“Whatever. You two play a game or something. I still want my nap.”
“Bossy as a guy or a girl,” Nep said, causing me to stick my tongue out at him.
“But so much cuter as a girl,” Plut added.
I curled up on my side, facing the TV, and watched the guys play a game before drifting off to sleep. Every so often, Nep would absentmindedly run his hand through my hair or play with the ends. It wasn’t romantic, but it was sweet. I was so lucky to have these two goofballs in my life, even if they were pervs.
