Page 84 of Eye of the Hurricane
“My parents got in this afternoon.”
“Are you okay?” he asks. His entire demeanor has changed. He’s gone from cheery to worried.
“I think so.” I sigh. “Mom wants to go out to dinner tonight, she expects you to be there,” I admit.
“Then I’ll be there.” It’s not that easy though. I don’t know when it changed. When he became someone I feel the need to protect.
“Ares, I don’t know if I can do this,” I admit. There’s an abruptness to my admission.
“You’re freaking out,” he states simply, like he can see inside my head. “Talk to me, we’ll figure it out.”
“I just don’t think I can put you through it. I don’t know what they’ll say to you. I’m their own child and the things they say to me… I don’t know. I’m just…” I ramble on for a few moments. He cuts in, putting me out of my misery.
“Freaking out, like I said.”
“Yeah, that.”
“What are you scared is going to happen? Not what you think is going to happen, but the thing you’re scared of.”
“I’m scared of what they’ll say to you. Mostly my mom. She’s said such cruel things to me in my life. It doesn’t bother me as much as it used to, I’ve become calloused to it. I don’t want that for you,” I admit.
“I can take it, let me be there for you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Please? We practiced for this. Don’t force yourself to do this alone,” he pleads.
“Okay,” I sigh under my breath, hardly audible.
“Okay?” he asks, excitedly.
“Yes, okay.” I nod and then quickly realize he can’t see me.
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll text you the details. Wear something nice,” I tell him.
“You’ll be left most impressed, Miss Graeves.”
Chapter 24
Ares
I runmy hands down the sides of my shirt making sure there isn’t a single wrinkle or ripple in the fabric. I adjust the collar of my button-up and make sure it’s sitting perfectly. I do one last check to ensure it’s tucked in correctly.
I see Katherine and who I assume to be her parents and brother on the opposite end of the parking lot of Driftwood.
Driftwood is a high-end restaurant in Charleston, only about a half hour from Doves Harbor. It sits on the Charleston Harbor, overlooking the water. You can see the boats and occasionally dolphins from the seating near windows.
I make the decision not to approach her until they’re walking in because she doesn’t look like she can take on anything else at the moment.
Katherine is strong and stoic most of the time. Which is why it’s so jarring to see her looking so unsettled. This is different than the fleeting nervousness she shows when I kiss her. This is something far harder to watch.
When they walk toward the door her eyes scan theparking lot, I’m assuming to try and find me. When they do, I can see her shoulders visibly drop in relief. She lets herself fall slightly behind the group and I take it as my opportunity to catch up with her.
She flashes me a nervous smile. I don’t show her any nervousness though. Because if she’s this worried, I’ll be the strong one tonight. It’s the least I can do for her.
I don’t make a big show of being here. I purposefully wait for that until I can do it in front of her mom. Not for me, but for Katherine. Once we’re in the lobby and waiting to be seated, I play into the whole thing.
