Page 14 of Infinity Chronicles 2
“Something happened when they came to tell me about winning the fair.” Dante pulls his arms out from under mine, using his to push his hair back. He’s still notreallylooking at me. I fold my hands in my lap, getting a bad feeling. “I was with Delaney, working on the poster for the FFA Halloween event coming up.”
I nod, my throat not wanting to work, why is he acting so strange. “They came in with a photographer from the local paper, I thought it was so they could talk about the Halloween bash the high school does for the elementary school, put an announcement in the paper.”
“It wasn’t?”
Dante shakes his head and looks forward. “They wanted a picture of me because I won first place. It surprised me.” The final tardy bell rings cutting Dante off. “When they told me. Delaney, she threw her arms around me. She hugged me… and kissed me.”
My stomach drops from my belly. I lean forward over the desk.
“I think I kissed her back,” Dante adds, his voice quiet, but I have no problem hearing him. “It will probably end up in the paper.”
Chapter 5
The hurt and pain of betrayal hits me first. How could he do that? Shame lands on me seconds later—what right do I even have to be upset? I was just kissing his brother last night forfuck’s sake. Anger blooms next, I don’t know if I’mreallymad, or if Ijustcan’t process what I’m trulyfeeling.
“Let’s hear it for our local celebrity!” Mr. Adams announces to the class. Everyone hoots and claps, calling out his name, but I’m frozen. I can’t pull my eyes up from the desk. I recognizethat our teacher is standing on Dante’s right side, patting his back. “Dante has put a lot of time and hard work into his artwork. I’m pleased his determination has paid off. To celebrate his, and everyone in the class’s effort I’m giving you guys a free period.” More happy shouts erupt.
Mr. Adams yells over the noise, “Make sure you pick up a copy of the Independent tomorrow. This guy is making front page news.” He shakes Dante’s shoulder.
As soon as Mr. Adams retreats to his desk so everyone can come over and congratulate Dante in person, I slide off the stool. I haven’t spoken to Dante, I wouldn’t know what to say to him anyway.
Making my way up to the front of the room with my backpack in hand, I tell Mr. Adams, “I’m not feeling well. I need to go.” I don’t even give him a chance to object before walking away from the room.
“Laura,” Dante calls my name, but I ignore him. I can’t be around him right now. The pain in my chest says I’m hurting, the lump in my throat is dying for me to screamhow could you?But the shame I feel is rolling around like a lead ball in my gut, telling methatI don’t even have a right to feel those things.
I make my way through the empty halls until I reach the side exit door. I draw in a deep breath as I push past the metal door to the parking lot. School won’t be over for a while, so I skirt the front of the building. I don’t want someone to comeout trying to find out why I’m out of class.
I don’t really have anywhere to go other than my camper, and it would alert Ares the moment I walked in the door. So, I walk in the diner's direction. I almost wish I could call off work, but where would I go anyway?
I’m so focused on my own emotions I can’t even examine why Dante would let her kiss him, let alone kiss her back. He acted like he didn’t like her. Before I even make it to the diner a car idles up next to me. I peer over to see Ares’s black SUV. Stopping on the sidewalk, I shake my head, how the hell did he even find me?
The passenger window slides down, revealing Ares. He leans down so I can see his face. “Need a ride pretty lady?”
I snort, but stalk over to the vehicle, leaning on the window I ask, “What are you doing around here?”
Looking out the front window he answers nonchalantly, “I was in the area, saw a beautiful girl.” He lets the sentence hang. “Come on, get in, I have something I want to show you.”
I sigh, looking in the diner's direction. Do I really have the emotional energy to deal with him right now? There’s no way I’d refuse him, so I get in the car without a fight. “I have to be at work in a little while, so I can’t go far.”
“Seatbelt,” Ares orders while turning the dial to D to put the SUV in drive.“Ollie’s going tocover your shift tonight,” he adds while making a U-turn. I open my mouth to argue, but snap it closed. Isn’t that exactly what I wanted, to not go to work tonight?
“You talked to Ollie, he knows?” I wonder if he’s talked to Dante too, if that’s why he’s really here? Ares pulls back into the school parking lot, I scrunch down in my seat. “What are we doing here?”
“I’m picking up Dante, he’s coming with us.”
I turn my head to face out the window. “Careful what you wish for,” I mutter under my breath. I could have spent the evening busy at work, now I’ll be stuck with the guy that just admitted kissing another girl, and his brotherthatI’ve kissed several times. Fucking fabulous.
“Why weren’t you in school anyway, shouldn’t you be in art class with Dante?” Ares turns to face me, his eyes narrowed in my direction. “You wereskipping school?” Ares scolds his voice going dark, “that’s naughty.”He parks the truck in the back lot.
“Dante won the scholarship, it’s going to be front page news.” I’m still staring out the window when Ares drops his hand on the back of my neck. His fingers knead the muscles, forcing me to relax.
“What’s wrong, were you hoping to win too?” Ares questions me softly. I shake my head no.
“No, nothing like that,” I offer just as softly. Ares is part of the reason I feel so torn. I know they grew up knowingthattheir future relationship would be different, but how do they deal with the jealousy.
“How do you do it?” I look over at Ares,his brows are drawn.
“Do what exactly?” Ares prompts, his fingers still rubbing my neck.
