shock. His head snaps up at the loud crack. Eyes half open, his mouth works like a fish. “Oh man, I’m so sorry. Did I get you?” All traces of sleep are erased from his face and his voice is urgent.
Rubbing my forearm, I shake my head, “No, it’s okay. I was just going to shut it off. I should have left it alone.”
Ares leans his head over Ollie’s shoulder. “What’d you do?”
Dante pops up next, followed by Milo. Wincing, I stand up from my crouched position. I don’t need to be the center of attention right now. He was just reaching for his phone, clearly, he didn’t expect me to be in the way.
“I clipped her when I was getting my phone,” Ollie answers when I don’t.
“I’m fine, just startled that’s all,” I say dropping my arms to my side.
“Then why do you have a big red welt on your arm?” Ares points out, not helping at all. I cover the spot, knowing immediately what he’s referring to.
“Shit, I’m sorry Laura.” Ollie hops out of the bed and reaches for me. He wraps me in a hug, my arms trapped between us. Awkwardly, I pull free and pat his back.
“Really it’s okay. I’m not that fragile,” I grumble the words over his chest. He releases me, but keeps his hands on my shoulders looking down at me.
“You’re dressed.” Sounding slightly shocked he glances over his shoulder repeating, “She’s dressed.”
“You guys have snoozed like three or four times.” I brush little hairs and lint from the front of my shirt. My feet are still bare, so I curl my toes in the thick carpet; I’m going to need to ask if I can borrow a pair of socks. At least I won’t need a whole outfit today, but I’m completely out of socks.
Surprising me Milo asks, “Do we really need to go to school today?”
“I do. I can’t have the school looking for my mom.”
Dante sighs, but sits up, his back to me as he spreads his arms wide. “That’s something else we need to talk about.” He groans through the stretch.
Looking down at the floor I bite my lip. “Later?” I can’t keep the hopeful tone from my voice. My mom’s disappearance isn’t something I want to talk about this early in the morning, or at all really. But I understand I need to tell them, I need to figure out what happened to her, and Ares promised to help.
“Yes later,” Ares confirms, “but I’d like that picture if you have it so I can do a little research.”
“What are you looking for? What good is her picture?” I ask, already on my way over to my bag just outside the bathroom door.
“Right now, I just want to see if anyone I know recognizes her. There has to be a reason she kept everything from you. I need to know what that is.” Ares takes the picture from my hand, not looking at it he leans down and places his lips at my temple. “Good morning Cara,” he whispers just for me to here.
A shiver skates its way down my spine, curling my toes. “Morning Ares.”
He grunts but moves away.
“We need new sleeping arrangements. My legs are cramped from keeping them tucked up all night, so I wouldn’t kick Milo.”
“Yeah, well if you would have let us move Laura after she fell asleep, we could have all been more comfortable,” Milo fires back, stretching his neck back and forth.
“I like where she was just fine.” Ares walks into the bathroom, closing the door before anyone else can reply.
“Sorry.” I feel the need to apologize even though I was sleeping. Not to mention I was pretty damn comfortable.
“We just need a bigger bed,” Milo offers with a slight grin, he shrugs when my cheeks go red.
Twenty Three
I’d emptied my bag, leaving only the things I would need for school, so it wasn’t very heavy as I made my way over to Dante’s car trailing behind Milo, who was drinking a green smoothie he’d whipped up in no time. He had offered me one, but after watching him stuff a handful of spinach in the blender I had to decline. Ollie, on the other hand, had a blueberry muffin topped with thick white icing and big crystals of sugar, which I was more than happy to share.
Ares and Dante had disappeared together not long after Ares came out of the bathroom. I hadn’t seen either of them since, but Milo said