“I know, but now I feel kind of bad about it.”
They put the cushions back and sat. “I’m sure it isn’t that big of a deal.” He put his arm around Teri. “I thought for sure he was going to smite us.”
She laughed. “He seemed like a good guy. For a god. Why would he want to live with us?”
“He said he was down on his luck,” said Phil. “And I’ve heard that the rent on Mount Olympus is pretty steep.”
She elbowed him gently in the ribs. “Where did you hear that?”
“CNN had a special report a few months ago. Did you know that Odin bought a house in San Diego?”
“Seems a little sunny for a Norse god.”
“Probably got tired of all that snow.” Phil glanced around the room. “Have you seen the remote?” he asked. “I could’ve sworn I left it on the end table.”
“I’m sure it’ll turn up, honey.”
It didn’t. Neither gave it much thought at the time, but it was the beginning.
3
The next morning, Teri slipped in the shower. It wasn’t a serious fall, though she did bruise her tailbone and skin her calf on the faucet. Phil’s car had a flat tire, and when he tried to change it, he ended up stripping the lug nuts. Teri gave him a ride to work. She spilled coffee on her lap. It didn’t burn, but it did ruin her favorite skirt.
“I’ll pick you up around six,” she said as she gave him a kiss. “Love ya, babe.”
“Love you, too.” He stepped onto the curb, and she pulled away, tearing off the end of his sleeve, which was stuck in her door.
Grumbling, Phil trudged into the building. Hank, the security guard, remarked on Phil’s appearance. Some kind of joke that Phil didn’t catch, but he nodded and smiled anyway. As he was signing in, the pen broke. More accurately, it exploded, splattering his fingers and shirt with blue ink.
“Son of a…”
Hank handed Phil some paper towels. “Looks like you’re having one of those days, huh?”