my lips together I lean back, brushing my hands down my shirt and apron.
“Go on now, I’ll see you Friday.”
Without looking back at her I move closer to Ares, who’s still in his I-know-something-is-up pose. I grab his bicep and give him a slight squeeze. He doesn’t budge right away, and he continues staring Maggie down. “I’m starving, have you eaten yet?” It’s only three o’clock, but I didn’t take a lunch, so it’s not a lie.
Ares's head turns to me and his eyes narrow. I gaze back up at him, hoping he can’t read the secret on my face. His arms fall to his side, but he gives Maggie one last parting glance. “Linda and Carolyn both know. My parents should be here soon,” he announces while opening the door again for us to exit.
“Good,” is Maggie’s only response.
On the ride home Ares keeps looking at me. I keep staring ahead like I’m not catching all his furtive glances. But after about five minutes I begin to fidget, rub the side of my face, and tuck my escaped hair behind my ear. I’m not good at this game. He however, is, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to blurt out what she said, but I can’t. Maggie said he wasn’t ready to know, and I don’t want to screw anything up.
“Are there any leftovers?” I finally crack, I can’t keep up the silent broody thing he has going on.
Ares purses his lips, since that was not what he was hoping to hear. “You can have anything you’d like.” He looks over at me waiting until I meet his eyes. “All you have to do is tell me.” I bite my lip. He’s making it seem like we’re talking about food, but I know better.
“I really liked those chicken tacos. Are any of those left?” I avoid his innuendo.
Ares grunts and tightens his hands on the wheel. “We’ll see.”
I lean back in my seat as he slows to make the turn into the driveway, and even though it was hard telling Maggie I couldn’t work as much right now, I do feel a hefty sense of relief. Knowing I’ll have more time with the guys makes it a whole lot easier to appreciate the time off.
Ares brings the car to a slow stop, but he doesn’t move to get out or even turn it off. “I will assume that whatever you’re not telling me is because Maggie told you not to.” Ares turns so his back is somewhat against the door and he can see me better.
I chew on my lip, warring with myself for not telling him. Ares sighs, squeezing his temples between his thumb and other fingers. “I will also assume she has her reasons, so I will try,” he puts major inflection on the word, “to let this go.”
Reaching over, I pull his hand from his face. “It’s nothing bad, okay?” My hand is still on his wrist, and I offer the small bit of information, hoping it will ease him.
His mouth tightens, but he jerks his chin down once. The sun is still high in the sky shining down through the sunroof, and shadows dance over his features even as the light bathes him in a warm glow. “What are you looking at?” His question makes my cheeks flush, but I don’t look away.
“You.” I don’t tell him how sometimes I wonder what I did to get so lucky to have him and the others in my life. Without their help I wouldn’t have any idea what or who I was. I’d still be in that camper begging for my mom to come back, with no hope of ever finding her.
The corner of his lip curves up. “Do you like what you see?” His cheesy line makes me bark out a laugh, my head thrown back. It’s something I would expect Ollie to say, not Ares. He’s usually as smooth as silk.
I lower my chin, looking in Ares’s direction when my peal of laughter subsides. He’s leaning over the center console and his face is only a few inches from mine. Any lingering giggles die on my lips when he leans forward and seals his mouth to mine. Ares kisses me like he wants to steal my breath from my body with hungry little nips of his teeth, while stroking his tongue with mine.
My heart picks up to a steady gallop. The low console between us feels like an obstacle I want gone. It’s