me any indication on how I should respond.
“You must be pretty close, you were here… yesterday afternoon, right?” Her question seems innocent, but I can feel the probing nature.
Ollie interrupts before I have to answer. He wraps his arm over Mia’s shoulder, much like he’s done to me several times, pulling her attention to him. “Ares hasn’t let you leave yet. He’s had you here all day.”
A sour taste fills my mouth. I want to disappear from this room, more importantly, from hearing this conversation. A small smile lifts Mia’s lips at the mention of Ares. “What can I say, he’s lost without me.”
“I’m going to take Laura home,” Dante throws out conversationally.
Mia shifts so I’m back in her direct line of sight, but her eyes land on Dante. “I just left Ares’ room, he said you guys had plans this evening.” She delivers like a subtle reminder.
Dante straightens. “Yeah she needed a ride home from the diner. I promised Maggie we’d help out driving her home since she doesn’t have a car. Ares knows I won’t be long.” My lips tighten into a hard line. I’ve been firmly placed in the same category as the help and I’m an unnecessary obligation to a family friend.
Mia tilts her head, looking at nothing in particular. “I haven’t seen Maggie in ages. Will you tell her I said hi? I’ll stop in and see her when Ares gives me a second to breath.” Her words are filled with exasperation, but her face tells me she loves every second of being needed.
“Sure,” I mutter, wondering why they even brought me here if they were just going to take me back home an hour later.
“Later Mia.” Dante waves over his shoulder, and I follow along behind him expecting to head toward the mudroom where my shoes are. Instead, he trails through the house until I’m in a familiar open hallway. Ares’s door lies closed a few feet in front of Dante. He raps on the door quickly before opening it and looking behind him to make sure no one is around.
He pushes the door open and ushers me inside, closing the door behind us. There’s a dim light coming from a lamp by beside the bed. The textured gray walls seem to absorb more of the light than the small fixture throws off. Most of the room is cast in shadows, hinting at what might lie just out of sight.
I cross my arms over my stomach. “Why am I here?” I can’t keep the contempt from my voice.
Dante’s voice is pitched low when he answers, like he thinks someone might overhear him. “I’ll have to leave for a little bit. I don’t have another excuse for why you’d still be with me when I come back.”
“Then don’t make one.”
Dante looks around, his hands raised in question. “Don’t make an excuse? Then why else would you be with me?”
His words shatter the anger I was feeling, leaving behind only the painful reminder I still don’t belong. Shrinking in on myself I mutter, “Wow, that’s harsh.”
The lines in Dante’s brow deepen, his eyes jumping around. “What? Never mind, we can talk about this later, just wait here. Someone will come for you in a little while.”
Realizing his intent to leave me here I jump into action, grabbing his arm as he turns back for the door. “Wait.” Now I’m whispering. “What if she comes back in here and sees me?”
“In Ares room? She would never look for you here.”
“I didn’t say she would be looking for me.” My hands go to my hips and I glare at him.
Dante shakes his head. “You don’t have to worry about that. Ares must have sent her out for the night, or she never would have been in the kitchen.” Pulling his phone from his front pocket Dante checks the screen. “But it’s late, she just got back to town so she’s probably staying here until they get her sorted.”
I clench my teeth, jealousy warring with anger. “That’s what I’m talking about. I don’t want her to find me in Ares’s room.”
“Laura, she won’t come back here tonight. Ares wouldn’t allow it.” Now I’m the one confused. “Just go sit on the,” he looks around the sparsely appointed room, “bed or something. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He’s gone before I have another chance to object. “Jerk,” I mutter to the closed door. Throwing my hands wide and my head back at the ceiling in exasperation, I fight the