“How did you know I was with Ares?”
“My husband has a way of finding out information. When he told me what happened at the party, I wanted to see you. When he looked into it and learnt you were at an apartment with Ares, I told him to leave you alone,” she says.
“You do know you can just say Lorenzo. You don’t always have to call himyour husband.”
“But he is, and I like that he is so I’m going to keep saying it.” She smiles. “So, was it good?” she repeats.
“Was what good?”
“Argh, Zara, don’t do this to me. Ares, you, did you two have sex?” she whispers the last part as if we’re little kids sharing a secret.
“No. Not really.”
“What doesnot reallymean?”
“He went down on me,” I tell her. “It was… sooo good.”
“That’s it? Did you return the favour?”
“Nope, that’s it. And we kissed. A lot. And I had breakfast with his family.”
“Oh, you’re already at the meet-the-parents stage, so it’s serious then.” Kyla nods.
“I already know his parents, idiot.” I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile on my face. “I like him, though. A lot. Dad hates him.”
“Dad hates everyone who doesn’t have the last name McKinley.” Kyla shrugs. “He’ll get over it.”
“He loves you and you’re not a McKinley anymore.”
“I’ll always be a McKinley, but I don’t hate being a Valentino either. I love that part of my family.”
“Is Aurora still here?” I ask.
“She left.”
“Where’d she go?”
“No idea.” Kyla shrugs again. “Now, are you really okay with what you saw? What Connor did?”
“I need to apologise to Aurora. It was my fault she was at that party and it’s my fault Connor did what he did. It’s my fault George is…” A lump forms in my throat. I’ve been able to push last night’s events away from my mind. Ares has a way of distracting me from my own thoughts. But now, I feel the tears coming.
“It’s not your fault. Connor is a big boy. He makes his own decisions. Other people’s actions are not your fault, Zara.” Kyla hugs me as tight as she can, and all I can think is how much I’d rather be wrapped up in Ares’s arms right now. How much I need him.
I haven’t heard from him since he dropped me off. I have no idea what he’s doing, if he’s safe.
I also don’t want to scare him by messaging him. I don’t want to seem needy and clingy. Even though that’s exactly how I’m feeling. It’s confusing. Maybe I just need to take my mind off it. “I’m going to go for a walk in your ridiculous garden beforelunch. Do me a favour and distract Dad for me. Tell him you’re pregnant or something.”
“Yeah, not doing that. Ever. He can just find out when I’m big and fat and about ready to pop out a kid. Maybe I’ll move to New York for nine months and then come back and be like:Surprise! There are no returns on it.”
“That’s probably the safest idea.” I laugh.
Once I get far enough away from the house that no one can see me, I pull out a joint from my pocket and light it up. I need something to take my mind off everything else, something to numb me, and this helps. I inhale, my lungs fill with smoke, and I hold it as long as I can before exhaling.
I continue to walk around the garden, stopping at a pond, and sit on the grass. It’s really pretty out here. I wonder if my dad picked this house because it’s so amazing you’d never want to move out. His way of keeping Kyla close to home, I guess.
I pull my phone from my pocket and stare at Ares’s contact information. I could message with ahi, how are you?Maybe just a wave emoji? Or I could pop out my chest and send him a suggestive selfie. Before I can contemplate what to do, his name appears on my screen and I drop my phone on the grass.
“Shit.” Picking it up, I swipe the answer button on his video call request. “Hey.”
