“There isn’t a buffet,” I deadpan.
“Okay, the bar, they’ll hit the bar,” Ollie amends. He releases my hand and stands up to straighten his shirt and brush imaginary lint from his pants. He’s not acting like it’s not a big deal. My palms feel sweaty, but I don’t want to wipe them on my dress. I look down, seeing my beautiful dress—if nothing else, at least I look the part.
The doors open as I look up, and I reach for Milo and Dante’s hands because they’re the closest to me, no longer caring if my hands are sweaty. The guys tighten their ranks around me so we’re all shoulder to shoulder—well, more like shoulder to biceps in my case. The room is quiet, and I can see several round tables filled with people staring in our direction from the opening. Instinctively I want to take a step back and fall behind the guys to do what I’ve always done, become invisible, but I fight the need to hide.
I keep my head high and my gaze forward, but I’m not really seeing anyone. Each table, each face, blends into the next as the guys take the first step forward, bringing us closer to the entrance.
More of the ballroom is revealed with each step. There are two bars on opposite ends of the room, one near a large open space with a gleaming wooden floor, and the other standing amid a sea of large, round tables. A single clap starts, and that’s all it takes for an uproarious greeting to roll through the room. I squeeze Milo and Dante’s hands following their lead, but more than ready to take a seat so I won’t feel so much like I’m on display.
“This is weird,” I say through a plastic smile without moving my lips.
“Almost there,” Dante mumbles, his lips on the top of my head. There’s any empty table near a set of doors. Couldn’t we have just come in there, instead of traipsing through the middle of the room? Ares pulls out a seat and Dante guides me to sit. Thankfully I’m off to the side and I don’t have to look over the entire crowd. Our table is smaller, and there’s only enough room for six people. I tuck myself into the chair and sit with my back ramrod straight, feeling everyone’s eyes still lingering on my skin. I should have picked a different dress. It exposes my entire back.
Rosa catches my attention from the table closest to us. She’s leaning on Mal’s shoulder with a wide smile reaching all the way up to her watery eyes. Her familiar face soothes me, helping me feel like I’m not so very lost. All the parents are sitting with her, taking up all ten seats. Only my mom is missing. I feel a pang of loss. I wish she was here.
Light conversations build as the clapping dies when we take our seats. “What now?” My hands are tangled together in my lap, wringing with nervous tension.
“For the most part we’re done.” Ares takes a seat across from me.
“What do you mean most part?” I eye him skeptically.
“Well, it would be in bad taste to run off now, we still need to eat, maybe dance a little. People will expect us to mingle.” The last part he adds with a little disdain.
I lean in close to the table, and in a hushed whisper ask, “Is anyone from Leon’s family here?”
Dante raises his head and gazes over the room. “I doubt it.”
“I invited everyone we met with in Idaho, but I never heard back one way or another.” Ares picks up a fancy water goblet and takes a small sip. The cloak of shadows he wears so easily slips into place around him.
Without thought I tug on the darkness that lingers inside me, wanting that same wall of protection around me.
Milo grabs my hand in my lap. I look up and see his lips pulled in a tight smile. “You’re pulling shadows,” he warns under his breath.
“So is Ares,” I counter like a child.
“Yes, but everyone knows that Ares is a shadow walker,” Dante grumbles. “We don’t need anyone knowing you have more than one ability, so just make sure you stick to that one from now on.”
“No sparking up or going all tiger stripes. Don’t let my freak flag fly. Got it.” I reach for the glass in front of me and take a hasty sip, just for something to do.
“You’re not a freak… you’re just a little freaky. Which we all love, by the way.” Ollie tries to make a joke, but it falls flat. I groan and roll my eyes. “Seriously Laura, there is nothing wrong with you,” he amends.
“There isn’t,” Ares confirms. “Having more than one ability isn’t anything to be ashamed of. I wish there wasn’t a need to conceal your abilities, but until we find out the truth about your mom and Leon, I think it’s for the best.”
I nod, this isn’t the first time we’ve talked about this, I know their reasoning, but knowing I’m the only Synergist that has absorbed more than one of her pairs powers makes me feel a little like a freak.
A waitress approaches our table with a large, black tray held aloft in her hand, already stocked with small plates and a decanter of red liquid. I notice for the first time there’s a small silver rectangle engraved with my name in front of me.
She glances around the table and deposits a spikey green salad in front of each of us. She stands back after setting the pitcher down in the center of the table. A crisp black apron covers most of her white shirt and black pants, and she’s wearing a name tag that announces her as Sherry. “Can I get you anything else?” No chatter, no niceties, just down to business.
I raise a finger in the air. “Can I have a cola?” I ask hesitantly, like she might say no.
“Of course, anything else, sirs?” Sherry looks over my guys.
“What’s in here?” Ollie picks up the pitcher and gives it a sniff.
“The house red sir. Would you care for something else?”
Ollie sets the wine down and pulls a face like it smelled bad. “I’ll take a cola too.”
“Anyone else?” Sherry pauses, looking around. “I’ll be right out with those.” She replies briskly, rushing off. I glance around noting each table has a designated server. Fancy, I think to myself, wondering how we scored the waitress with no personality.
I look down at my salad, examining all the different shades of green, from each leaf to the edamame and snap peas. Even the dressing is green.
Dante is the first to pick up his silverware. He pokes at a particularly spikey leaf and examines it as he lifts it. “This looks dangerous,” he observes and shoves it into his mouth. He crunches it and makes a surprised frown while nodding. “Looks crazy but tastes good,” he notes digging back in.
He bolsters my courage enough where I feel like I need to at least try it to see for myself. Looking over at his table setting, I make sure to grab the same fork he used from in front of me. I take a much smaller nibble, just in case. I don’t want to have to swallow it if it’s bad.
Surprisingly, citrus is the first flavor I experience. The dressing is a little creamy, balancing out the bitterness of the leaves and lemon flavor. It’s not something I’ll crave, but it’s definitely not bad. None of the others seem to have the same reservations as I do, they dug in without complaint.
I hear the clanging of silverware over the soft music playing in the background, it’s just enough to mute the conversations at the closest tables. I push my plate toward Dante after a few bites. I’m not sure my stomach will be able to handle a five-course meal.
I glance at the guys, then down at our black tablecloth, but I don’t really let my gaze roam around the room. I don’t want to know if everyone is still staring at us.
The waitress returns, drawing my attention, with two glasses of icy cola on her tray. “Can I take that from you, miss?” She extends her hand like she might reach from my plate.
I snag the corner and look over a Dante. “Do you want the rest of mine sweetie?” My cheeks instantly flame as the term of endearment I’ve never once uttered slips from my lips.
Dante pauses mid bite, his eyes jumping up to meet mine. He passes his plate, not even completely empty, to the waiting girl behind him and pulls my dish closer. He examines the food that’s left, looking for the best bite I suppose. I look away, glad Ollie didn’t tease me about my slip-up, and that it
didn’t seem to bother Dante.
I register a tap on my hand, and Dante has the fork raised in my direction when I peer over at him. A small leaf with an edamame bean on the end is poised and waiting. He moves his hand a little closer, angling to give me the bite.
I lean over and take the morsel from the end of his fork. “Thank you, but you have the rest,” I tell him after chewing.
Milo and Ollie are talking while eating, gossiping really, about the surrounding people. They keep their voices low enough so they don’t have to worry about being overheard, I can barely even hear them.
The chatter gets a little louder as dinner progresses, but by the time they serve the main course, you can’t even hear the low thrum of the background music playing. I’m just starting to get comfortable when I hear a throat clearing and someone gently taps a fork on a crystal glass. The ring quiets the room fairly quickly.
My gaze is drawn to the table next to us, where Rosa is standing. Her yellow gown drapes over her curves, making her look elegant and regal. She’s looking out into the crowd, waiting for everyone to acknowledge her. “I wanted to say thank you all for coming today. For sharing such a joyous day with our families.” She turns then and faces our table. Rosa brings the tips of her fingers from both hands up to her lips and kisses them, before lifting them off and sending the love in our direction.
“ Meie cari…” She gets a little choked up when she looks at all of us. William stands and wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side. Rosa straightens her back and gives a delicate little sniffle. “Your journey hasn’t been as an easy one,” she makes eye contact with each of us individually, and Dante reaches for my hand under the table, “but seeing you all together now fills me, us,” she waves to the whole table, including all the other parents, “with such joy.” She takes a breath and her head bobs as she swallows and reaches for a tall glass of red wine. “Vi auguro di tutto cuore che serenità, felicità e complicità vi siano compagni per tutta la vita e che il vostro futuro sia luminoso come questo giorno. Alla salute!” She tips back the glass, taking a heavy gulp, and raises it in the air. Everyone follows suit, including us as I scramble to grab my water goblet.
“What did she say?” I lean closer to Dante.
“I wish with all my heart for serenity, happiness and complicity to be your lifetime companions and for your future to be as bright as this day.” He dips his chin, laying it on the top of my head. “It’s a toast to the future.”
As Rosa sits, Linda stands. “I’ll keep it brief, I know everyone is anxious to get out on that dance floor.” A couple people laugh with her, poking fun. “You boys have been inseparable since forever. When you were younger, none of us could have imagined, hoped, that this would be your future. Laura, thank you for finding our boys, for bringing them back to us, to each other.” She nods her head quickly and wipes under her eye. “To a wonderful future.” She raises her glass then takes a sip in a toast.
I bury myself a little closer to Dante’s side, but reach for Milo’s hand. Expecting Carolyn to stand next, I look at her. She lifts her glass as she rises to her feet. “I knew you two were going to get all sappy on me.” She looks over at Rosa and Linda, her voice is a little nasally like she’s fighting tears. That gets several people laughing. Fanning her face with one hand, she faces our table.
“I’m so happy for you all.” She pauses. “I’m just going to say we love you and stop now, before we’re all blubbering.” Raising her glass she looks around, making sure everyone else raises theirs. “To love, to laughter, and happily ever afters.” I gulp down the last of my water with her toast.
Scott stands up and glides his hand over Carolyn’s back. Oh no, are all the dads toasting too? I’m going to need another drink and the bathroom soon if this keeps up. But instead of a toast, he proclaims, “Bar’s open,” with a chuckle.
Chapter 24
The noise in the large ballroom rises as people begin mingling around. The waitstaff is busy gathering dishes and refilling glasses, mostly unnoticed by the partygoers.
I let my back rest against the seat, finding it much more comfortable than I would have expected. The music volume rises along with the chatter of voices. Scott is the first to come over to our table, and he places his palm on the back of Ollie and Milo’s chair as he glances around. “I bet you guys are dying to get out of here.”
“You’ve no idea,” Ares replies dryly.
That makes Scott chuckle. “You’d be surprised.” He lifts a squat crystal glass up to his mouth and takes a sip. “Well, don’t have too much fun guys.” He gives me a wink, and a wide grin spreads across his lips as he turns to walk away.
Ollie leans over the table, his voice just above a whisper as he says, “Twenty minutes of playing nice, then I say we get the hell out of here, you game?” He sweeps his eyes past each of us.
“I’m in,” I add, probably a little too quickly. None of the guys object though.
“All right, if we split up, we can hit more targets.” Milo leans in over the table, our heads close together as we whisper conspiratorially.
“I see a few people we met out in Utah, Dante you come with me. We’ll see if they have any info on the Whitmores.”
“Mom made me promise I would dance with her at least once, so I’ll go get that over with.” Ollie rolls his eyes like it’s such a hardship.
“That leaves you with Laura,” Dante tells Milo.
Milo’s vibrant blue eyes meet mine. “My parents are over there.” He points to the bar near the door we entered through. “Shall we start there?”
I push nonexistent crumbs from my lab and nod my head jerkily. “Let’s do this.” The words are more for me than him. At least with only Milo by my side we won’t attract as much attention as if we were our whole group.
Milo rounds the table and reaches for my hand. Grateful for the support I take his offered palm, lacing my fingers through his. With a gentle tug he pulls me to stand. I find my balance, making sure my back is straight. With one quick look over my shoulder I give Dante, Ollie, and Ares a little wave. My lower stomach hollows out, and for some reason a feeling of dread fills me as I walk away.
I blow out a long breath through my lips, hoping no one notices the way I’m clinging to Milo’s hand and arm. I push the nervousness away, knowing it’s only the amount of people and the fact that I feel like everyone is staring at me that’s making me feel so edgy. Milo keeps his steps short, but his pace is fairly quick as we make our way across the room. He nods and says several hellos, but keeps us moving toward his parents.
“There they are,” Linda announces like we’d be lost in the crowd for ages. Her smile and kind eyes go a little further to relax me. I’ve become familiar with their families, and I may not feel like one of them yet, but it’s not for their lack of trying. “Did you enjoy dinner? I had the salmon, it was amazing.” Her eyes get a little wider.
“It was all great,” I answer quietly, focusing on her instead of the people around her, Matt, and Phil.
“I can’t wait for dessert.” She does a little shimmy, displaying how eager she is. I spend the next five minutes mostly listening to the others talk, no one is excluding me, I just don’t feel like I have much to add to the conversation. I’ve only heard the last few minutes anyway, finding a bathroom has taken precedence over the conversation at this point.
I tug on Milo’s sleeve and he immediately bends his head down so I can whisper in his ear. “I need to use the restroom.” His head bobs up and he surveys the room. Spinning, he points to a sign near the door we entered through.
“Must be out there.” He takes a step like he’s going to lead me out.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell him before he can get too far.
Milo rolls his lips in, looks at me, then the door. “I got it Milo, I’m just going to run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I give his hand a reassuring squeeze before releasing him. The exit doors are only a few steps away. I walk hurriedly, feelin
g eyes on my back as I do.
The hall is quiet as soon as the doors fall closed. My shoulders slump as I slow my pace. I peer left, then right, before guessing which way to go. The knot in my stomach tightens as I journey down the hall, and I place my fist over the center of my belly. Maybe the food isn’t sitting well.
As soon as I turn the corner, I see an alcove with a sign above it for the restrooms. Hurrying my pace again, I push through the door. I don’t even bother looking around before I move through the first open stall door. I’m dancing by the time I gather the tulle from my dress to hold above my waist so I can pee.
Relieved, I exit the stall. There’s a wide mirror above three sinks. I glance up and note my hair is still sprayed into submission, not daring to have moved. My eyes look a little larger with the dark mascara elongating my lashes. I run my finger under each eye after washing my hands to make sure I don’t have any flecks on my cheeks. Turning so I can see over my shoulder, I get the first good glimpse of how much of my back is exposed. I groan, wishing I had asked if the hair girl to leave it all down. Falling back on my heels I shake my head, nothing I can do about it now. It will be hard enough to get this gunk out of my hair with a brush and a shampoo, trying to unravel it in the bathroom would probably leave me with a rat’s nest on my head.
The door to the bathroom pushes open and I hurry to look away from the mirror. I lose the breath in my lungs. “Mom.” The utter shock and surprise of seeing my mother standing in front of me has me frozen.
“Laura, baby, you have to run.”
“Mom, where have you been, why did you leave?”
“We don’t have time. You have to get away from here, away from them. He will hurt you.” I can’t believe after all this time she’s standing here. Her skin has lost the sallow sheen, her cheeks are flushed, and there’s a brightness in her eyes I don’t ever remember seeing.
I take a step closer, her words finally registering as my body comes unglued. “Mom, no one is going to hurt me. The guys would never hurt me. I love them, and… I think they love me too.” It feels so strange saying this to her, it feels like she’s been gone years, not weeks. So much has happened.
Infinity Chronicles Book Three Page 24