The girls from the other end started to approach us.
I quietly asked Penny, “Would you like to leave, or I could cut them off.”
“I don’t mind meeting them.” She clutched my hand tighter.
Holy fucking hell, the trust almost made me come in my pants. I had it bad for Penny. Keeping my voice down, I said, “Sadie probably knows how the animals got their names; want me to ask her?”
“Not right now.”
I kept the introductions brief, thanked them for coming over, and felt like a fucking king protecting my queen when they took my hint and moved on.
Refocusing on what I could do for Penny, I asked, “Do you need anything? We’ve been out for a while. Food, drink, bathroom?”
“A bathroom would be nice.”
“There’s a restroom in the Dungeon. We can use the trip as a segue to explore the massage room.” My breaths were shallow as she considered the offer.
She nodded. “Thanks.”
“What for?”
“Being kind to me. I know I’m reserved, shy, stand-offish, all the labels people like to give… some even say, I’m on the spectrum, but to me, I’m just me, and you seem cool with that. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I pondered how many people had felt the need to label her and my heart broke. “You should hear what my family says about me.”
I quickly realized I shouldn’t have said that. Now was not the time to reveal Atlas and Phoenix were my brothers. No, that was selfish. I should just tell her who I was.
Crap, that wasn’t going to work. Not yet. I knew how I felt about my big brother. I didn’t want her to feel that way about the three of us. After we had a little get-to-know-you time,thenI could tell her. And that was my perfect talking point.
“I have an overbearing big brother who gives me grief all the time.” I reached for the door to the Dungeon but she stilled my hand.
“I don’t have an older sibling, but my friends say they can be pretty overbearing.”
“Understatement.”
We stood, face to face, making me fear she was going to decide not to go into the Dungeon, but she shocked me by saying, “Before I chicken out, I want to do the massage.”
“Okay, and rem?—”
“Hey, Everest.” A firm hand slapped onto my shoulder. The voice unmistakably belonged to Atlas. Thank God he hadn’t called me brother. Phoenix stepped up behind him.
Looks of curiosity and irritation coated their faces. Atlas looked at my outstretched hand and then at the hand that was holding Penny’s. “Where are you going?”
“I’m taking Penny for a massage.”
“We could help.” Atlas reached for the door handle.
“You’re not a masseur.”
“I give a mean foot rub.”
The shock of the situation wore off and I was able to take inventory of Penny’s reservation. “Penny would prefer this to be a one-on-one massage.”
Atlas grumbled then asked her, “Is that true?”
What the fuck? Why would he put her on the spot?
Her voice was soft, but she answered him. Everyone always did what he said. He had that commanding effect. She said, “I… I’ve never had a massage. I think it’s usually done with one person.”
