“There are just a few more things to take care of,” Delaney answers noncommittally. I pop a tot in my mouth and glance around. I’m trying not to focus too much on Dante and Delaney across from me, but I have to admit my jealousy has me paying way more attention to her than I should.
Milo and Ollie lean past me a few times, talking about little stuff. I tune them out as I pick up a can of fruit punch to my right. I’ve grown used to sharing with the guys. All of them have offered me drinks from their cups at one point or another, so I think nothing about reaching out and taking a drink. The girl on Delaney’s right leans over and whispers something in her ear with her eyes on me. I wipe my face with a rough white napkin, knowing they’re talking about me, but unsure what I’ve done this time to warrant their whispers.
The lunch period seems to last way longer than usual since I’m crammed into the table with everyone else. I hope we can go back to eating in the stairway tomorrow. This sucks. I can’t even enjoy my tater tots. I feel like everyone is staring at me.
Breaking away from the guys when lunch finally ends, I hustle to my next hour where I’m happily ignored.
Dante meets me in the hall on the way to art. “Hey,” I offer as I walk up to him, waiting a few steps out of my last class.
He gives me a chin jerk and starts walking. With anyone else I might think they were mad at me, or maybe even didn’t like me. But I’ve come to realize it’s just his way. Right before we make it to the art room door, he turns and faces me. “I’ll show you tonight.” I tilt my head, I’m sure he can read the confusion on my face. “After you get off work, I can show you.” Dante shrugs. “The rest of me.”
Realization dawns, he means that he’ll shift, that I can finally see his power. I hop on my toes, excited at the idea. “Really, you don’t have to, but I… I want you to.” I stammer over the words. I hope I’m not being too demanding.
Dante lets out a low chuckle, “I didn’t know you even wanted to. I thought it might freak you out.”
I give him a light smack to his arm with the back of my hand. “Why would you think that?” I’m not really expecting an answer, so when he does, I’m a little surprised at the seriousness of his tone.
“It’s not a common power—neither is Ares’s ability—but mine scares some people.”
I grab Dante’s hand, linking our fingers together even though I know I shouldn’t, not at school. “It’s still you, right? So it doesn’t bother me.” I hope my words carry the truth, because it really doesn’t bother me. He squeezes my fingers back and doesn’t release me until we’re about to enter class.
Now I have a whole new reason to be excited when I get off work tonight.
We’ve fallen into a routine for the nights I work. Ares usually shows up a little after the dinner rush. Sometimes he helps me fold napkins and fill the salt and pepper shakers. Sometimes he just sits and chats with Maggie. Either way, I feel so much more comfortable with him there.
Tonight when he comes in, he’s dressed as casually as I’ve ever seen him, other than at home. His black t-shirt is just tight enough that I can see the definition of his upper chest. My mind immediately wanders back to this morning when all that perfect skin was on display. I bite the corner of my lip. Ares has this ability to steal my entire focus when we’re together. He makes me forget I still have customers who want their refills and their checks.
Heat fills my cheeks when he saunters over, his head tilted to the side as he gazes at me, much in the same way I imagine I’m staring at him. “Ciao, Cara,” Ares purrs when he’s just inches away from touching me. “Mi sei mancato.” Over the last few days he’s taken to greeting me in Italian. I don’t understand what he’s saying, but he could recite a textbook in that language and I’d probably be a puddle at his feet.
“Hi, Ares.” My voice is a little breathy. He doesn’t seem to mind, though, leaning in to give me a slow kiss on my temple. I reach out for him, fisting the material of his shirt.
“You missed me, too,” he mutters to himself. I nod anyway. I do miss him. Every day, when we’re at school, I feel his absence like a sore tooth, an ache that doesn’t disappear. “What can I do?” he offers when I don’t release his shirt.
I want to drop my head to his chest, to soak in the comfort he surrounds me in, but I know I can’t do that right now. “You could come to school with me, or maybe I could graduate early, but then that would leave me without the guys so…” My thoughts trail off as I try to think of a solution.
Ares places his hand on my shoulder and his thumb traces up my throat. “I meant, what can I do to help you with work, so we can get you out of here.” His words are light, a small grin plays at his lips.
My face goes hot all the way to my ears. I back away from him, feeling very exposed and a bit foolish. “We’ve been pretty slow tonight. I’ve been keeping up.” I adopt the cool tone I reserve for crabby customers. Smoothing my apron over my hips as I take a few more steps away from him. “I think Maggie wanted to talk to you.” It’s a complete lie, but it doesn’t matter, Maggie always wants to chat with Ares. My eyes scan the few customers in their booths, there’s one couple who has their plates pushed away—just the escape I needed. I don’t say anything else to him as I make my way over to their table, a fake smile plastered on my face. I can feel the weight of his stare on my back.
About an hour has passed since I first talked to Ares. I’ve done just about anything I can to keep myself busy while he sits at the counter, nursing the coffee Maggie poured for him after he first sat down. It must be cold by now, but occasionally I see him lift it to his lips and take a sip. I’m done for the night; the only thing holding me back is my pride. I’m embarrassed he might laugh at me for what I’d said earlier. I know my reprieve won’t last much longer because Maggie has looked at me a few times, then around the diner. I think she knows I’m stalling.
Ares, the sneaky bugger, comes up behind me as I’m wiping down the same table for the third time. “Ready?” he says, but I jump at the sound of his voice.
“Gah,” I groan as the bleach towel in my hand goes flying.
“Maggie still wants the surface on this table for tomorrow, so I figured I better stop you now before it’s gone.” His tone is flat, bored even.
Collecting the towel, I hang it over the side of the sink. Maggie gives me a wave and a smile. She knew he was coming to get me, so it’s time to go. When I turn, Ares is waiting with his eyebrow cocked up like he thinks I might make an excuse to stay longer. Untying my apron, I pocket the cash then roll up the fabric with the coins still inside, I’ll sort through those another time.
“See you tomorrow,” Maggie calls as Ares leads me out the door. I’m being a brat, but I feel stupid.
“See you,” I mumble back.
He walks me to the passenger side but doesn’t open the door. “Laura.” My back stiffens. The flat tone is gone, replaced with what sounds like a trace of sadness.
“Yeah.” I don’t turn to look at him, but he has my full attention.