as he widens his eyes in an are-you-going-to-help-me-out-at-all expression.
“It was my fault.” I raise my hand like I’m volunteering for the punishment. Milo snaps his neck to look at me. “I… you see, I didn’t know about…” I circle my finger around our group, stuttering.
Linda wrings her hands together. There’s no anger on her face, but her lips are twisted down. Matt reaches over and drops a hand on her shoulder. Phil steps closer so his arm brushes hers, and the next thing I know, she bursts into tears. I jump back, my mouth falling open as I stare at her. Matt pulls her in, putting her head on his shoulder as Phil rubs her back and shoulders, making soft reassuring sounds.
Stephen rolls his eyes on a sigh, and Linda reaches up and swats him again, still not looking up from Matt’s chest. He chuckles. Within a few seconds, Phil pats her back, sorry he mouths to us with a wry grin.
Milo starts to squirm next to me, and I can tell he’s struggling. Only a few seconds more and Linda is straightening her back, wiping her cheeks with a delicate finger under each eye. Her cheeks are flushed, but not nearly as bad as I look when I cry. She even cries prettily. Matt looks down at her and nods like he’s proud. He kisses the top of her head in a gentle gesture and looks over at us.
Linda waves her hand, her voice still a little breathy as she says, “That was… I’m so sorry.” Her nose crinkles up in embarrassment.
“That’s okay.” I find myself saying to ease her obvious discomfort.
Linda stomps one heeled foot and widens her arms before rushing over to our group. I back up, and my body slams into Ollie and Milo behind me. I hear a sudden chuckle as her arms wrap around whoever she can reach, and she’s crying again.
I stand there, frozen, as she shakes against me, her face buried in my hair. My eyes must be big as saucers as they meet the men in front of me. Phil mouths sorry again, actually rolling his eyes this time, while Matt lifts his hands, pantomiming an embrace. He’s saying that I should hug her? I pull one arm free and wrap it under her arm, around her back. I’m still stiff, but I give all the effort I can into hugging a complete stranger. Stephen grins and gives me two thumbs up.
“Laura, I’m so sorry. I’m not usually a basket case.” Linda tells me for the third time.
“It’s okay,” I reply, which is the same thing I’ve repeated every time she’s told me. They seat her and me at the island, her with a cup of coffee Matt made her, and me with a glass of water. Milo is to my left chatting like nothing strange just happened a few minutes ago. Phil seems to be in deep conversation with Dante, while Ares is again working on his laptop. He’s on the opposite side of the counter, and his eyes dart up to me occasionally.
I fiddle with the glass in my hands, spinning it a little just to have something to do. I’m not good at the small talk stuff, I never really had to practice it much. As a waitress, there are only a few things people want to know from me: what food is good, where the bathroom is, and if I can bring them more ranch. This is different, I don’t know where to start.
“So,” Linda begins, her eyes going over my face again, “tell me why we’re just hearing about you.” Ares looks up then, giving me his full attention.
Taking in a deep breath, I return her gaze, and answer, “I didn’t know anything about being a Synergist, or about any of this really.” My shoulders shrug. “It took the guys a little while to convince me they weren’t crazy.”
Linda frowns, her eyes going over my shoulder. “But—”
“Mom, we should probably head out. We can talk about it in the car,” Milo interrupts, saving me from explaining what I’m not sure I understand myself.
Chapter 13
“I’m sorry, Milo. It’s an emergency, or I wouldn’t go,” Stephen tells him after returning to the room following a brief phone call.
“What’s going on?” I whisper to Dante, watching Milo reach up to give the man a hug.
“Stephen is a surgeon. He must have been called into work,” Dante answers.
“Well, at least I got the call before we left.” Stephen heads over