Maggie hustles back to the kitchen, not giving Ares another look. “Is she mad at you?” I whisper, wondering why their exchange was so strained. They both seem genuinely pleased to see each other just the other day.
Ares stands, adjusting the cuffs of his navy shirt at his forearms. “I suspect she is.” He sighs, glancing at the door she disappeared through.
“Why, what’d you do?” I grab the cleaning towel from the bleach bucket and begin wiping down the tables.
“I may have stopped by here earlier today with hopes of getting some more information out of her about her premonition.” Ares rolls his shoulders a bit. His shirt flexes with the movement, clearly tailored because it forms to him perfectly. His pants are a deep maroon, falling just to the top of a pair of black wingtip shoes.
“What do you do, I mean for a job?” I spout before thinking.
Ares pauses. “Why, are you actively seeking new employment?” His brow kicked up again, somewhat mockingly.
I cross my arms over my chest and jut my hip out. “Why, you hiring?”
His eyes flare as he takes a few short steps in my direction. “I could definitely be persuaded to take on some new help.” Ares encroaches in on my space. I remember the feel of him holding me last night. They way my legs wanted to wrap around his tight waist. My heart rate picks up as his fingers glide under my chin, lifting my face up. The moment I had in the car with Milo, when I thought he was going to kiss me, filters through the back of my mind. Our faces were close together, like Ares and I are now. I roll my tongue over my lips. Ares pulls in a deep breath, his eyes closing as he leans in closer.
“Here you go…” Maggie’s voice trails off, leaving silence in its place. Thank god my back is to her, she may assume we were kissing, which I think we would have if she hadn’t walked back in. But at least she can’t see the fire glowing on my cheeks, or the way my hands are trembling at the loss.
“Thank you Maggie,” Ares replies for me, regaining his composure much quicker than I could.
“I had him throw in a few extra slices of bread too, make sure you eat it tonight.” Her tone is soft, she doesn’t seem upset with me. “Go on home now, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“But I haven’t mopped the bathrooms yet.” Ares walks past me. I hear the rustling of a paper bag then he returns and places his palm on my lower back, urging me forward.
“It can wait Laura,” she responds.
I’m too embarrassed to fight Ares as he ushers me to his black Range Rover. Glancing up at the large windows, I see Maggie inside with her face in a deep frown and her eyes unfocused as she stares into space. At least the white isn’t clouded them.
Peeking over at Ares as he adjusts in his seat, ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
I want to ask him if he thinks Maggie will be mad at me because of what she saw us almost do. But trepidation has me biting my tongue—what if he really wasn’t going to kiss me like I’d imagined? How do I even begin to understand these confusing boys and the attraction I feel from them? Is it all just the connection we share making me want things from them that never once crossed my mind before? Sure, I thought at some point when I was out of school I might find someone to be with, but I’ve been so consumed with taking care of my mother and keeping a roof over our heads to ever give the idea any real attention.
Now thoughts of all four of them consume my days. What would they think if they knew I was feeling this way, and about all of them? I lower my head feeling ashamed of myself. They treat each other like family, when I look at any one of them, brother is the last thought I have.
“Seat belt,” Ares orders, turning the small dial to the R and backing out of the parking space. The smell of garlic and red sauce fills the interior of the car, my stomach growls, reminding me that I do in fact need to eat.
“Where are we going?” My eyes turn to the left, the direction of my camper, but Ares goes right instead. “I can’t keep