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ARES: You did.

TATE: You did.

Isaac must be done nursing because Marnie settles him in her arms gently. “So you know what I have to ask now, right?”

“What?” I ask back, a little distracted between her talking to me and the guys flirting.

“Is it weird being back while Ares is back? It’s funny that neither of you ever really came back since you left, but you’re both back now.”

“It’s not like either of us had a choice,” I say. “I’m sure his parents were just as annoying as mine were about being back for the hundredth anniversary.” For a second, I think about coming clean. I think about telling Marnie everything that’s happened, between running into Ares at the airport and our trip back here. It would be nice to tell someone about everything that’s happening and how I have no fucking idea what I’m doing or what they’re doing or what I want this to be.

But even though Marnie is my best friend, I don’t know how to start. I don’t know what to say or even if the guys would want me to say anything. So I just force a smile and shrug.

“It’s a little weird, but mostly fine. He’s got his hands full the same way I do, so… not a lot of time to run into each other too much.”

It feels weird to lie about it.

Even weirder to be sexting with the three of them while in Marnie’s house.

None of them seem to be bothered by me not replying for a while. I check the text thread to see they’ve been filling it with dirty talk while I wasn’t looking.

TATE: I miss your mouth.

TATE: You should be here right now so I can fill it up with my cock.

ARES: It’s been too long since the last time. You know nothing in this town can make you feel as good as we can.

CALLAN: We miss the way you taste too.

CALLAN: The way you feel when you’re writhing under us.

ARES: Fuck, that’s true.

TATE: Where are you right now, pretty girl?

TATE: And how soon can you get here?

Fuck. It’s hard to keep my face neutral with them saying stuff like that. I hadn’t really planned to go back to their cabin tonight, but… I don’t know if I can say no when they’re talking to me like this, getting me all worked up.

Marnie raises an eyebrow at me, and I swallow hard, not sure what to say.

ARES: Get your ass over here now, firefly.

ARES: You know we’ll make it worth your while.

Fuck it. If I have to be here, I may as well enjoy myself.

“Everything okay?” Marnie asks.

“Yeah, sorry. My parents are blowing up my phone. There’s some stuff they want to get done for the festival tomorrow, and guess who they want to do it?”

She smiles, shaking her head. “No rest for the prodigal daughter, I see.” There’s something in her eyes, a glint that looks suspicious, but she doesn’t stop me when I start getting ready to head out.

“We’ll catch up more before I leave again,” I tell her. “Promise.”

“We definitely will. Even if I have to march into your parents’ house and tell them I’m taking you with me.”

I give her a quick hug and then hustle out of her house and start driving to the cabin. I feel a little bad about taking the car I’m borrowing from my parents to the cabin being rented by their enemy’s son and his friends, but mostly I just feel ready to see them.