Page 123 of The Hunger
We managed a full half-hour of just hanging out before Aubrey group-texted the girls. Jenna groaned. It was Laurel who answered when Fenris asked why, though.
“Raiden sent her the group picture. Why would he do that?”
“You were sharing me with Eliana. Dad knows that Aubrey won’t share.”
“It’s not going to take her long to find us,” Laurel said.
I could feel her fear and frustration. They’d all liked spending this time together and being normal for a change. No competition and jockeying for Fenris’s attention and no disappointment over perceived failures.
“Jenna, can you text Raiden and let him know I’m trying to call Megan to see if she can pop in at the Academy for the rest of the afternoon?” As I asked, I dialed.
Jenna’s eyes went wide for a moment. Then she grinned and hurried to send the message while I listened to the line ring and ring. When it went to voicemail, I hung up and sent Megan a text.
Me: Do you think you’d send Aubrey straight to hell if you saw her?
Knowing I wouldn’t hear from her for a while, I tucked my phone away.
“He didn’t answer,” Jenna said. “Do you think—”
All three of their phones buzzed, and I saw Aubrey’s name as Jenna looked down at her screen.
“Enjoy his time while you can,” she read. “Keys are in the ignition. I’ll see the three of you in the pack parking lot after school.”
Laurel flinched.
“I wish I had non-pack friends,” she said. “This would be the perfect night for a sleepover. I hate how Aubrey always goes for the face. I swear she’s trying to blind me.”
“You can hang out at my house for a while after school,” I offered without hesitation. “Well, the Quills’ house.”
“You should see the game room they have,” Jenna said.
“Do you think your mom will let you?” Laurel asked her.
“She was fine when I went to the city with Eliana and her mom for shopping. Raiden had something to do with that, though. Do you think Mrs. Quill would reach out to our parents and ask, Eliana? We’d have a better chance of getting permission then.”
Rather than texting, I untangled from Fenris and moved away to call. Mrs. Quill answered on the second ring.
“Eliana? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine. I’d like to invite Jenna, Willow, and Laurel over after school, but because of Raiden’s current attitude toward me, they’re not sure their parents will approve. Would you be willing to call each of them and assure them it wouldn’t be for anything more than movies and normal girl time? No feedings.”
“Oh, my darling. Of course I can. I’ll have snacks ready for you in the game room when you get home.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “Oh, um, was the couch cleaned?”
She promised she’d had both the game room and Oanen’s room thoroughly cleaned after all the company had left.
When I turned back to look at the three girls, they were grinning and bouncing on their toes.
“They have to say yes if it comes from Mrs. Quill, right?” Laurel asked.
“I think so,” Willow agreed, her smirk firmly in place.
We stayed in the pool room until the bell rang then joined the rest of the student body in the mass exodus to the cafeteria. They all went through the line for food this time and joined Eugene at the table where he had another stack of sandwiches. Despite the food on their trays, they all grabbed for one.
Laurel made a comment about food at my place after school, which caught Eugene’s attention, and he turned his pleading gaze on me.
“Am I invited?” he asked.
