Catch Up

"Okay, I think this one will be perfect for you two," the saleswoman beamed brightly. "It's modern and sleek, and I think it's ideal for a young, modern couple like you two." Percy didn't look impressed by her phrasing, nor the table with spindly legs and glass tabletop, and least of all the nine hundred dollar price tag.

"It looks fragile," he deadpanned, and I did my best not to snort in her face.

"Fragile?" she asked, voice high and tight.

"Yeah, fragile," Percy smiled at her, albeit a bit coldly. "You see, modern couples love dinner parties. Especially Thanksgiving, when we make a bunch of food. I mean, I can eat my own weight in food at Thanksgiving, so let's just say I want a sturdy table that can hold my weight."

A snort finally escaped me at the flabbergasted look accompanied by a crimson blush on the woman's face, and Percy turned his cocked brow on me. "Got something to say, Babe?"

"No," I croaked, shaking my head.

"Also, we have quite the messy, extended family," Percy turned back to the woman. "So, we need a big table so we can distance the fuckers."

"Oh, don't you dare judge him," I scolded her when I saw her raised brow and pursed lips. "If you knew how much he loved the fuckers, you'd feel so guilty and inadequate when you faced your own family. Gods know I do."

"You know what, I think we can manage on our own," Percy's sinister smile returned as he dismissed the woman, wrapped an arm around me and smacked a kiss onto my cheek.

"Percy?" We turned to see a mop of blonde curls.

"Annabeth?" Storm grey eyes settled on Percy with a sad smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm back," she laughed awkwardly. "I'm starting my masters at Harvard this fall, so I need some furniture for my new apartment. You looking at tables?"

"Uh, yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I got a teaching job at the New York Harbour School, so we're moving to Battery City so I can be closer to the ferry. But since we're renting out the apartment, we need all new furniture for the condo."

"We?" she asked, finally glancing at me at his side. "Jason?"

"Hi," I waved lamely.

"Oh, right," she shook her head as if to clear it. "Thalia told me you two were dating. So you're teaching?"

"Yeah," Percy nodded, grinning like the excited puppy he was. It was genuinely one of the most endearing things. "And I get to work on the Billion Oyster Project, and I feel like I'd really be making a difference."

"That's amazing, Perce." I awkwardly shifted from foot to foot. I knew this day was coming—the inevitable run-in with Percy's ex, who happened to be his childhood best friend as well. Well, besides Grover, who was still serving in the Peace Corps. He dropped in now and then and was one of the reasons Percy and I felt the need to upgrade to a two-bedroom. Grover had been a large part of Percy's motivation to work on the Billion Oyster Project. Percy had devoted a lot of himself to bettering the environment since our second year of college, and I couldn't be prouder.

"So, what are you up to, Grace?" she asked, and I startled, not expecting to have to talk to the woman.

"Uh, I'm going to law school in the fall, and I just got signed by the Immortals." I saw her calculating eyes flash toward my left hand, and her face turned steely. I slipped my hand into my jean pocket, hiding the golden promise ring that matched Percy's silver one. It had been the first birthday gift Percy had given me.

"Anyway," she turned back to Percy, ignoring my statement. "My mom told me about Gabe's trial." Percy and I both stiffened at the mention of his old stepfather.

The bastard was a complete and utter idiot and thought he could manipulate Percy into working for him again when he got out of jail. My father had quickly shut him down, sending the man right back to prison with a twenty-five to life sentence for compelling prostitution as well as the rape of a minor.

Better yet, he ensured to keep Percy's name out of the media. Honestly, did the idiotic scumbag forget the pictures he had of him and his buddies fucking a boy? Also, apparently, the interactions with clients were filmed to ensure Percy's safety (read future blackmailing of clients). Percy had kept all the videos on a USB in the godforsaken trunk under his bed at his father's.

Athena, my father's life long attorney, had been ruthless in the way she handled the trial. She had shown once again why she had the best reputation in the city and why even the strongest and most influential men trembled before her. Looking at her daughter's storming eyes, I couldn't help but think that the intimidation factor was genetic.

"Percy, I want to apologise," she forced out as if the words physically hurt her. "After I found you with Alabaster, you told me you didn't have a choice. I was so pissed that I never thought about the implications of that sentence, and I'm sorry I didn't help you out or through it." Her eyes were misting up and bless Percy's big heart; he lunged forward to pull her into a hug.

"It's okay," he murmured into her hair as she dropped her head onto his shoulder.

"It's not okay, Percy," Annabeth protested. "I was supposed to be your best friend, and I didn't know, I didn't realise what was going on."

"No one did, Wisegirl," he soothed. "I didn't want anyone to."

"I could've helped."

"For what it's worth, Wisegirl, it's over, and I'm finally good now," he glanced at me over his shoulder, giving me a warm smile. "Really good."

"Yeah, you've got yourself an NFL boyfriend, or should I say husband?" she chuckled weakly, holding up Percy's hand and pointing to the silver ring on his finger. "You seem like you're terrific."

"No, boyfriend's good. These are promise rings." Percy clarified, and Annabeth frowned.

"Promise rings?"

"Yeah, we talked about getting married only after we graduate," I cut in.

"Smart," Annabeth grinned. "You have graduated, though."

"Well, I have," Percy smirked. "But since Jase is going to law school, he is very much still a student...sleeping with a teacher."

"And now you know what his favourite joke has been ever since he got the job at New York Harbour," I deadpanned, and Annabeth laughed.

"That's our Seaweed Brain," she patted his cheek, hand lingering a second too long for my liking. How was I supposed to do this? This was the girl he first confessed his love to. "Gods, could you ever forgive me?"

And that's when my heart broke. I knew Percy missed her. She had been his best friend since they were twelve. He hadn't explicitly told me this, but I knew that part of the reason he was so lost after he got out of that hellhole was that she abandoned him. She was his first-ever anchor, tethering him to his sanity. I knew I had to find a way to be okay with her in our lives, because how could I ever deny Percy happiness?

"There's nothing to forgive, Wisegirl," Percy smiled.

"Thank you," she kissed his cheek, and I silently clenched my fist in my pocket.

"Hey," I interrupted. "We're having a few people over to the apartment tonight as a kind of farewell before we move. You should come. I mean you were friends with most of them in school, so you'll fit right in."

"Yeah, that sounds good," she smiled stiffly. I tried not to panic. Percy needed this, needed her. I was going to try to accommodate her. Percy and I were fully committed to each other, after all. The only reason we haven't gotten married yet was that Percy insisted on me finishing law school first.

He pointed out that if I got married, I would run myself ragged, trying to be the absolute perfect husband for the first year. Then probably have a mental breakdown on our first anniversary because nothing would be good enough or go entirely according to plan. Which, in all honesty, just showcases how well he knew me. He didn't want to submit me to that kind of stress while I still had both football and school on my plate.

"Oh, my gods," Percy's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "You'll never guess who's dating now."

"Who?"

"Nico and Will." Annabeth gasped dramatically. "And now Will goes around telling everyone his love language is Italian. And Piper's in law school with Jason."

"All three of which will be at dinner, tonight," I smiled. "So you get to ask all the embarrassing questions you want."

"Okay, who else?"

"Frank and Hazel, Leo and..."

"Oh, fuck!" Percy interrupted almost frantically. "That's another thing. Gods, Wisegirl. Leo and Calypso are engaged."

"What?" she screeched.

"Opened a product development shop together," I nodded.

"Okay, anything else?"

"When's the last time you talked to Luke?" Percy asked with a smirk.

"High school. I mean, Luke was like a brother to us back then." Things with Luke had gotten much better since our first year of college. We had reached a truce once Luke admitted to himself that Percy truly loved me and no one else. After that, the blonde had done everything in his power to rebuild his brotherly relationship with Percy.

"He named his daughter Annie," Percy's smirk turned nearly feral as Annabeth's jaw dropped.

"Daughter?" she asked with wide eyes.

"He accidentally knocked up a girl at their graduation party a year ago. What was her name again?" he asked, wrapping an arm around me once again.

"Crystal," I supplied.

"Okay, and your mom? How's Sally?"

"Getting married soon. To Mr Blofis from high school."

Annabeth blinked a few times in silence. "What?"

"Yeah, my mom's lapping me...again." I laughed at his exasperated sigh.

"And that's been his second favourite joke."

"I missed a ton, didn't I?" she asked, the question directed more to herself than to us. "But hey, I'm coming to dinner so that you can fill me in on the rest then. Here," she handed Percy her phone, and he put his number in. "I'll call you for the address."

She gave Percy another kiss on the cheek and then turned toward me. With a delicate hand on the back of my neck, she pulled me into a hug so she could whisper in my ear.

"Thank you for taking care of him."