Page 38 of Competing Against Thor

"We've met a couple of times, I think."

He nodded. "Good to see you again."

"We'll be doing the unveiling in about half an hour," Aine said. "So relax, get yourselves a drink, and I'll come get you when it's time."

"Thank you." I offered her what I hoped was a friendly smile. I liked the goddess, she seemed very normal even if she was old and powerful. And she'd been surprisingly easy to work with.

We got ourselves a drink and mostly people watched while we waited for the unveiling time. I'd never been to an event like this, and it was quite something, especially when Thor keptpointing out the different gods and goddesses and who they were with. I'd been reading up on mythology since I started dating Thor so I wouldn't be completely out of my depth at events like these, but it was still unbelievable how much he knew that I didn't.

Eventually, Aine came to get me and took me up to the platform where my sculpture sat ready to be unveiled. I was even more nervous than I had been during any of the rounds ofThe Great Sculpting Challenge, probably because this one meant more. I might have won the commission fair and square, but that didn't really change the conflicting feelings of pride and nervousness I got from so much money exchanging hands.

Aine tapped her glass, and the room fell silent. "Thank you all for coming tonight," she said, her voice carrying easily across the room. "I'm really excited to unveil the new sculpture for the Jinx lobby. It was created by the very talentedDaisy Chains, who is with us here tonight." She gestured to me.

I gave an awkward half-wave, wishing that I didn't have to be up here right now, but seeing that it was important to everyone that I was.

"So, without further ado, I'd like to reveal it." Aine gestured for me to grab one of the tassels on my side and I pulled it. The curtain in front of the sculpture rose up quickly, revealing the metal beneath. It was a lot bigger than the version I'd made during the competition, with more pinks incorporated, and different-sized hearts. They dangled between two large leaves, catching the light and sparkling just like I intended it to, but better.

Applause sounded from around the room and I felt pride swell up within me.Myart had achieved that. It was now standing in a room full of influential people, and I was starting to think that it would make even more of a difference than I originally thought it would for my business.

And that was something amazing.

I headed back down to the main floor and found Thor. He pulled me into his arms straight away and kissed me without a single care for who was watching. It filled me with warmth, and even though we'd probably kissed hundreds of times by now, I still wasn't used to it.

"Your sculpture is beautiful," he said.

"It is," I agreed. "It turned out even better than I expected."

"It's as good as I thought it was going to be," he responded. "But I knew that it was going to be great."

"I'm glad." I kissed him again swiftly. "I love you."

"I love you too," he responded instantly.

"And I can't wait to move in with you."

"I can't wait for you to move in," he replied. "I'll have your bed all ready for you."

"Am I not going to be staying in your bed?" I asked, a little confused by what he was saying.

"Oh, yes. And it's all ready for you to go back to tonight," he joked.

"That's fine, I like your bed."

"I like it too, especially when you're in it."

I laughed and wrapped my arms around his neck. Even if it was slightly intimidating to be in this room, I was glad that I'd won the competition and gotten my art here.

And not just that, I'd found something I hadn't been looking for in the process. And that just made it even more perfect.