putting her clothes on the chair.” Ares’s voice is soft, completely different from the tight words a few moments ago. I’m scarcely aware of the others surrounding us. The feeling of comfort is unfamiliar, but not unwelcome. I feel like I just luxuriated in a warm bath, then had the best nap of my life. There’s no doubt or worry in the moment. I grab on with both hands and pull the feeling of contentment into my center. A tug on the bottom of the shirt reminds me I was a little more exposed than I’m used to, probably about the same amount most girls let hang out in a short pair of cut-offs, but still not usual from me. I’m still not bothered enough to unwrap myself from Ares, as a matter of fact my legs start to lift so I can wrap those around him too. He grunts removing his hand from my head to push my knee down. My feet hit the ground in the same second.
Ares releases my back, but holds on to the top of my shoulders, good thing too, I’m feeling a little unsteady. “Cara?” I blink at him lazily, listing toward Dante.
“I think I’m like Ollie.” My voice is slow and low, the words barely a breath. Ollie’s head peeks over Dante’s shoulder, his nose wrinkled. “I feel like a gummy bear.” I try to shake out my hands, but they barely wiggle. Milo shoulders his way past the others, his face close to mine like he’s inspecting me for something.
I’m not sure if he found what he was looking for, but one hand goes around my back as he leans down and scoops me up bridal style. I let my head lull on his shoulder taking a deep inhale, he smells good, a light sugary cologne. The protest I was building dies when he stalks out of the bathroom and deposits me gently on the bed, tugging the covers over me. My lips curve up. “You don’t hate me.”
Milo sits on the bed, his hip hitting mine. “Of course I don’t hate you.” His fingers brush some of the hair away from my face.
I turn on my left side. “I’m glad, you smell really good.”
Twenty
A hand on my back has me jerking upright. “I’m awake,” I blurt out, thinking I slept through my alarm. My head is a little foggy as I look around, my eyes still squinted with sleep. There’s a figure next to me, but it’s still gloomy and I can’t make out who it is. As my brain catches up with my body I realize I’m not at home, I’m in Dante and Ares’s house, in the yellow room.
“Sorry,” I whisper much more quietly. “I’m up.”
Ollie’s voice comes from the darkness. “It’s okay Laura, we just have school, we know you need to get your bag from Maggie’s so it’s still really early.”
I nod, licking my lips. My mouth is thick. I would give about ten dollars for a toothbrush right now. I haven’t had such horrible dental hygiene in… well ever that I know of.
With my palm over my mouth I ask, “Can I use the bathroom?”
“Dante put some stuff in there for you last night, take your time.”
I pull my legs free from the blankets, straightening the t-shirt before climbing off the bed. “Thank you, I won’t be long.” The door snaps closed behind me. There’s a new toothbrush still in its packaging, and a tube of partially used toothpaste on top of a folded washcloth. Glancing at the shower I see a single bottle of shampoo. My heart warms at their consideration. Picking up the blue toothbrush, I run my fingers over the casing. It’s something so simple, a nice toothbrush, I usually pick mine up at the dollar store a few at a time so the color doesn’t mean anything to me, except for the fact that it was probably one of theirs and a they gave it up for me.
“Ollie?” I call through the door.
“Yeah?” His reply is fast, from just the other side of the door.
“This is for me to use? I can open it?” My voice is unsure, it’s reasonable to assume it is, but I can’t bring myself to open the package without confirmation.
“What, the toothbrush?” Ollie sounds skeptical, like he thinks there might be something else in here I’m talking about.
“Yeah, I just wanted to make sure.”
“Laura, yes it’s for you. You don’t need to ask if there is something