“Not to mention my parents. Now that they’re back, who knows how long they’ll stay,” Dante adds.
“We could look, but it could take a while to find something we’re all happy with. It might just be best to build. Plus, we have security to worry about.” Ares is fully dressed when I step out of the closet. My own pair of fitted jeans and sweater are looking a little underwhelming compared to his slacks, shirt, and vest.
“Building would be awesome, but that would take months, maybe even a year before it would be ready. There has to be a better solution than just hanging out in this room until then,” Ollie tells Ares, and he seems uncharacteristically serious about the whole thing.
“We’ll figure it out. I’m actually pretty stunned Mia is still here anyway. I figured she would have moved, especially after dinner the other night.”
I snort, and all three guys look in my direction. Luckily, there’s a gentle knock at the door, which saves me from having to explain my unladylike response.
“Better tell Milo to hurry up in there,” Dante mutters as he heads into the bathroom.
I smooth the chunky fabric of my sweater down before taming my hair with my hands. Ares sends Ollie a pointed look, with one brow raised and his chin tipped down, warning him to be good. Ares takes one last look around the room sighing before opening the door.
“You’re awake,” Rosa announces, her voice more chipper than it should be, considering I know she hasn’t had very much time to sleep in the last few hours. “Where is everyone?” I see her try to peek her head around Ares from either side.
“Buongiorno, Mamma.” Ares leans down and places a chaste kiss on his mother’s cheek. A beautiful smile lifts her lips as she pats his back.
“Saluto, figlio.” When he leans back, she takes hold of his upper arms and gazes up at him. “Finalmente, you smile.”
Stepping back from her, he holds out a hand in my direction. “We were coming out to meet you, but I know you’ve probably been making my fathers crazy trying to get in here.”
Rosa swats Ares’s arm with the back of her hand. Her eyes go straight to me, and I see a flare of recognition there. Butterflies fill my stomach, not just because I’m meeting her for the first time, but because of what I might learn from her. “You are Mandy’s daughter,” she says with absolute certainty.
“Mamma, this is Laura, Laura Fallen.” He looks at his mom, waiting for some confirmation about my name, but Rosa isn’t paying him any attention.
“Did you know my mother well?” I finally find my voice.
“I thought I did, yes,” Rosa replies. I think I’m the reason she used the past tense. She’s probably questioning if she ever really knew my mother at all; I know I am.
Twisting my hands together, feeling very vulnerable, I sense more than hear Ollie coming to my side. Rosa and I are still staring at each other with so many things to say, but I definitely don’t know where to begin.
“Milo and Dante should be out any minute. How about we head over to the kitchen? Gloria should be here soon. I’m hungry,” Ares rambles, filling the silence.
That breaks the spell, and Rosa clicks her tongue, her lips pursed. “I can put something together. Tell your brothers to hurry.” Rosa is out the door within seconds without looking back.
“Works every time,” Ollie says and offers Ares a grin.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“Implying I’m hungry.” Ares gives me a small shrug. “Getting us out of trouble is my specialty. I haven’t always been the well-behaved sweetheart you see now.” Ares runs his hand over the front of his vest. I know he’s teasing, trying to lighten the situation.
Shaking my head and looking over at Ollie I say, “Has anyone ever accused him of being a sweetheart?” I hook my thumb in Ares’s direction.
Ollie’s eyes twinkle. “Maybe if you’re comparing him to the devil.”
“Who’s the devil?” Milo comes out of the bathroom dressed in black joggers and a t-shirt that looks a little too tight.
“Ares,” Ollie and I say at the exact same moment. Our eyes meet, and I can’t hold in the giggles that erupt.
Milo gives a curious look but shakes his head. “Dante said we’re skipping?” He ignores the whole devil comment.
“Say yes, say yes,” Ollie pleads, the puppy dog look back on his face.
I let my grin slip, the gravity of what we’ll be discussing today instead of being at school weighing on me. “If you think calling in will work, I guess we could skip today.” My tone makes it clear I’m nowhere near as excited as Ollie, but he lets out a whoop and smacks a wet kiss on my cheek.
“Here, you can use this.” Ares picks up his sleek phone from the top of the nightstand. As I go to take it from his hand, he pulls it back. “Don’t let me forget to get you a phone after we have breakfast.” I nod my head, but I don’t have any intention of reminding him.
The screen lights up, revealing what looks like a picture of the cosmos, or an oil slick, with the time displayed across the front. “How do I unlock this?” I twist the phone around looking for buttons. Ares cradles my hand and places the phone in front of his face, when he turns it around and I can see the screen again, there are several icons, including a little white phone in a green box.
“It has facial ID, we can add yours in later.” Ares is already walking away, gathering things from the room.
“Does anyone know the number?” Dante’s out of the bathroom now too, and he’s over by the closet getting dressed.
“Got it.” Ollie grabs the phone from my hand, and he punches several buttons before handing it back. “Not the first time I’ve called in sick.” He makes a pouty face, and I roll my eyes. He wasn’t calling in because he was actually sick.
An automated voice directs me through several prompts before I’m leaving a message on the attendance line with my name, grade, and reason for my absence. I hit the red button to end the call, marveling at how easy it was. For my part, I added a little whine in my voice to make it sound good for whoever listens to it.
None of them seems to be in a hurry to leave the room, but I know it’s my reluctance that is keeping us here. After another five minutes passes where the guys are all needlessly busying themselves, I muster up the courage to say, “All right, let’s do this.”
Dante wraps his arm around my side and pulls me in close. “Laura, we’re here, and we aren’t going anywhere.” I sigh, clinging to his words and his body.
Chapter 20
I can smell the kitchen way before we get near it. The aroma of fresh-brewed coffee fills the air, but as we get closer, I can also smell something sweet and chocolatey.
“Finalmente. I made marocchino. Your Papas wanted eggs. Come eat.” Rosa is bustling around the kitchen.
Ares and Dante’s fathers are lined up at the island, each with a plate of scrambled eggs and sliced meats. They turn in our direction as we enter the room. “Morning, everyone sleep okay?” My face flames bright red because I wasn’t expecting them to bring up our sleeping arrangements.
“Good, no thanks to Mamma.” Ares’s tone is light, making it clear he knows she was in the room, but also clear he’s not upset.