“I think it’s in the bathroom or maybe my room. I can’t remember if I put it away or not after I took it from her hiding spot.” Glad to have a reason to get away from the box, I turn and head into the minuscule bathroom. I have to lie on the floor halfway into the hall so I can check the underside of the sink cabinet. Mom’s box isn’t wedged back into the usual spot. Getting to my feet, I slide the thin curtain aside so I can see the bedroom area. I glance around the room quickly, there isn’t much to see other than a few odd pieces of clothing that I never took, still piled on the bed, and a couple sheets of loose paper. Dismissing all that, I head over to the built-in shelves and drawer. This is the only other place I would have put it. Digging into the back of the drawer I feel around expecting to find it. Eventually I pull the entire drawer out, there isn’t any box, just a few mismatched socks.
Spinning, I pull the covers off the bed and turn the pillows over. I close my eyes, thinking back to the moment I took the box out from under the cabinet. I remember thinking if the ring was gone, then so was she. Asking myself how long it had been gone. But I don’t remember what I did with it later. Did I put it away or leave it lying on the bed, the counter?
I search through the room, coming up empty-handed. “I can’t find it,” I finally admit.
Dante has been helping me sort through everything, and he drops the blanket back on the bed, bracing his hands on his hips. “When was the last time you remember seeing it?”
Dropping to the bed in defeat, I mumble, “Right after Mom left, a day or so later. She kept a ring in there. I secretly always thought it was from my dad. She loved that ring, but it was gone, so I figured she took it with her. No one else would have known where to look, she’d stopped wearing it years ago and hid it under the sink.”
Dante sits next to me, his thigh touching mine. His nearness reminding me that nothing between us has been resolved. “Why did you kiss her?” I surprise myself when the question comes out. Dante peeks down at me, his face already in a grimace.
His eyes dart away from mine almost immediately. “I didn’t kiss her,” he says with little conviction. “She kissed me.”
I scoff. “Does it really matter at this point who initiated it? You kissed. Why?”
Dante hangs his hands between his thighs and sighs. “I turned to look up when the principal came into the room. I saw the photographer come in behind him. As soon as he made the announcement, Delaney…”
I growl when I hear him utter her name, Dante looks over at me and his mouth droops into a frown.
“She hugged me.” His words are spoken in a softer tone. “The next thing I know, she kissed me. I pushed her away within a second, but I was so shocked that it happened, I didn’t push her away fast enough.” Dante admits while lowering his head and slowly leaning it toward my shoulder. I lean away, wondering what he thinks he's doing. He just admitted to kissing another girl, but he wants to lay his head on my shoulder.
At my rejection, he tilts his head to the left exposing his throat to me. It’s the second time today he’s done this. His eyes are nearly closed, and he swallows, a quick bob of his Adam’s apple. He stays in that position, waiting for something. Mad that he isn’t explaining himself more, I have a fleeting thought that I want to bite his neck, teach him to think before he acts, but the thought dies the moment it forms. How would that teach him anything? Worse yet—how would that be any better than his childishness not responding?
“Dante.” My tone is firm, and his head snaps around in my direction, at least he’s looking at me again. “I need a better explanation.” I soften my tone, but my words are still a demand.
He leans his head back closer and bumps his forehead against my shoulder. “I don’t have one. The second I realized what happened, I pushed her away. Delaney has been desperate since you moved here. She was the one that who left the panties in the apartment.”
My back goes ramrod straight. I had forgotten about those damned red panties. “You acted like you thought those were my panties,” I seethe.
“I knew they were hers the moment I saw them, I just didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t know she had left them there.”
Shoving him away with my shoulder, I stand up. “You made me feel like you thought I was a whore when you accused me of having panties in my bag.”
Dante peers up at me, his eyes wide and lips parted. “I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t want you thinking I had a girl over.”
“But you had a girl over—obviously. You had Delaney over if she left her panties wadded up on your floor,” I shout, getting close to his face. I’ve never felt so aggressive in my life. I feel like I could shake him silly.
“She came over, but not because I invited her. Delaney and two of her friends showed up after you left. She must have left the underwear on purpose, because she didn’t take them off for me,” Dante counters, his hands still hanging loosely between his legs.
I roll my eyes to the ceiling, putting my hands on my hips. “Like I should believe that. You just admitted kissing her, you probably slept with her and she left her panties behind. That part probably was on purpose, I’ll give you that much.”
I hear a thud from the front of the trailer, reminding me we aren’t alone. I snap my mouth closed. I’ve been shouting loud enough for neighbors—if I had them—to hear my yelling. I take a deep breath and look at Dante, he’s slumped forward, and his knees almost touch the floor. “Jesus, what am I doing?” I spin around so my back is to him. Seeing him looking so contrite makes me want to keep yelling at him. But I know that reaction isn’t just mine. There is something fueling that need to dominate him.
“Ares!” I shout, my voice full of worry. He steps into the walkway like he’s been waiting there the whole time. I feel Dante brush his head against my thigh. My hand goes to the top of his head and I stroke my fingers through his dark hair. “Dante is acting weird, and… and I feel weird. I think we should go. That box is making us act funny,” I stammer with my hand still in his hair as he nuzzles his face and cheek against my leg.
“I don’t think the box is affecting you the way you think. But yes, I agree, we need to go.” Ares takes a step in the room and Dante turns his eyes in his direction. He bares his teeth in a sneer, a low growl leaving his chest.
Ares steps back, his face a mask. “He’ll follow you, Cara.”
My hand tightens into a fist in his hair and Dante peers up at me. “Don’t growl at him,” I snap.
Dante’s face softens, and he rubs his face on my stomach, coming up into a kneeling position. Shocked at my own demand and his easy acceptance, I release my hold and run my hand down his shoulder and back. “We’re leaving now,” I tell him just above a whisper. I don’t know where the authority is coming from, but right before walking away, I add, “If you ever kiss another girl but me, I’ll… I’ll…” My threat dies off when I don’t know what else to say.
“Never,” Dante comes to his full height, towering over me. He takes my cheeks in his palms with a sweet gentleness and brushes his nose against mine. His lips hover over mine like he’s asking permission. Stretching my neck, I capture his lips with mine.