Page 21 of Competing Against Thor

I screwed my eyes shut. "Great." I should have considered that.

"Why don't you have a seat?" Thor suggested. "No sex required," he promised.

"How disappointing," Danny murmured.

I groaned. "Don't you have something to be doing?" I muttered to my friend.

He just grinned at me, but didn't say anything.

Despite my better judgement, I pulled out a chair and took a seat. I supposed there wasn't really any harm in having a drink with Thor, especially when I was never going to have to see him again after this.

Thor gestured to one of the serving staff. "What are you drinking?"

"Whiskey."

"Make that two. Do you want anything?" he asked Danny.

My best friend let out an exaggerated yawn. "Nope, I'm going to head home for the night."

I glared at him, hardly believing what was happening. Was he seriously just going to abandon me now that he'd done whatever this was?

"I'll see you when you get in," he said to me. "Or maybe not." His wink made me die a little inside.

I glared at him as he left, only to be distracted by the arrival of the whiskey.

"So, he came over here to seduce me for you?" Thor asked.

I groaned. "I'm never going to live that down."

"I'm not going to tell anyone," he assured me.

"Oh, I meant with Danny."

"Ah, well unfortunately I'm not able to control what he says."

"So that's not a power you have as a god?"

He chuckled. "Certainly not of this god. Though actually, I don't think anyone has the ability to do that."

Our drinks arrived, stopping the conversation in its tracks. Which was probably a good thing.

I picked up my drink and stared down into the amber-coloured liquid. Perhaps this was a terrible idea. Though I was safe with Thor. I wasn't entirely sure how I knew that, but something about his steady presence made me certain of it. Maybe it was because over the past few weeks of the competition, he'd never once made me feel like he was objectifying me, which couldn't be said for some of the other competitors.

"I'm sorry you were eliminated," Thor said.

"Yeah, me too." I gave him a weak smile.

"I don't think it was fair, your sculpture was so much better than the other one."

"The judges didn't think so," I murmured without meaning to.

"Well, I think they were wrong," he said. "I'd have picked you."

"Even over yourself?"

He chuckled. "Maybe not this week, I did a good job with the heron, you said so yourself."

"Wow, humility isn't one of your strong suits, is it?"