by Smoke, Lucy
"Probably working." I sighed, and he stopped, his gaze rising up over his easel. He set his tools to the side. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Do you need a break?"
I shrugged and then winced, unsure if I just messed up my position. He smiled and raised his paint smeared hand for me to take. I dropped my shoulder and reached for him. He pulled me away from the door and closer to him until I was standing right in front of him with my face tilted back.
"What's wrong, Sweetheart?" he asked. "You seem a little off. Is it one of the guys?"
I shook my head. "No, it's none of you guys. You guys are great. Beyond great..."
His thumb trailed over my cheek. "Then what is it?"
Standing so close to him, I couldn’t help but think of the kiss we had shared in his car. He must have been thinking of it too, because his eyes dropped down to my mouth and, on instinct, my tongue slid over my lower lip, wetting it. I didn't do it on purpose, but it made his eyes widen and then narrow. His expression intensified, and he stepped closer, impossibly closer. I looked up at him through my lashes. What was I doing? I didn’t want to confuse him. I didn’t want to confuse me!
But I'm already a little confused by them, aren't I? another voice in my head said. Bellamy's warm chocolate eyes watched me, curious and hopeful. His gaze slid over my face and when he leaned down, I could smell the mint on his breath.
"I told myself that I'd give you time," he said, "that I would let you come to me, but it's getting harder and harder to have you around all of the time. I want more."
"More?" It was difficult to hear him, much less make out his words over the pounding of my own thumping heartbeat.
"You don't think about it?" he asked.
The kiss. He's talking about the kiss. A rush of heat flooded my face, burning into my cheeks. "I-I think about it," I admitted. I'd thought about his kiss and Marv's and Knix's. I'd thought about a lot of things concerning them, whether or not it would affect the team dynamic – it most certainly would. So, I'd held off. Half tempted to kiss one of them – or all of them – again to see if they really were as intense as they seemed, as sweet and enticing as I remembered. But then I thought about Iris. What would happen if I did get involved with one of them? Would I still be allowed to be on their team? Would the others hate me for not choosing them? How the hell would I even be able to choose?
"–a lot to deal with." I caught only the tail end of Bellamy's words, not realizing that, as I had been agonizing over the consequences of my actions he had been speaking. When I blinked up at him in confusion, he chuckled and settled two warm palms over my shoulders, thumbs brushing back and forth over my arms. "I know you have a lot to deal with right now," he repeated, "with your mom and Iris, I don't want to push you. I know things are a little confused right now. I can wait."
I bit my bottom lip and looked up at him, debating whether or not to tell him about Marv and Knix. It was only right, I told myself. He deserved to know. I released my lip and sucked in a breath. Just as I opened my mouth, however, someone called for Bellamy from downstairs. Both of our heads turned towards the door and Bellamy sighed, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to my cheek.
"We can talk more later," he assured me, releasing my arms and moving to the door.
I stood there long after he left, staring after him. Cleo jumped down from his bed and padded over to me before she turned over on her back and began to wiggle back and forth, trying to capture my attention. I looked down at her and smirked before bending over to scoop her into my arms. She meowed happily, purring against my hand as I scratched under her chin, and headed downstairs.
* * *
Marv, Knix, Texas, Bellamy, and I all sat around the family table with boxes of pizza between us. Cleo perched in my lap and batted at a napkin on the table as I listened to Marv's recounting of the last of his interviews. I watched in silence as he sat forward before leaning back and then adjusted the sleeves of his shirt, unbuttoning them at his wrists and rolling them up to his forearms.
"I'm telling you, Knix," Marv said, "this is bigger than it seems. I spoke to a few more families and a couple of them concur that their girls would never have acted like this before."
"What else do they have in common?" Knix asked. I could tell that he was uncomfortable because they hadn't received a green light to even do these interviews. It seemed that while Marv was ready to sprint forward, Knix was the only one considering the repercussions. Bellamy listened intently as he ate his pepperoni pizza. Texas swiped at something on his phone under the table. I sat back and watched them all with my half-eaten slice of pizza growing cold in front of me.
"Money," Marv replied, "some of the girls have been stealing money – or at least, their families think so. I think the families would prefer to think that they're just thieves rather than addicted to drugs or something as well. Large sums of money have been disappearing as well as some expensive jewelry and gold watches. I think this has built up over time. It's been months since the last camp session. Ms. Enders apparently only does the camp twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter. If we don't act now, then we'll have to wait months and by then the trail will run cold."
Knix remained quiet and Marv grabbed a slice of pizza and set it gently on his plate. I smiled when he reached for a knife and fork to cut into it. Finally, Knix sighed and pushed his plate away from him. He placed his elbows on the end of the table and clasped his hands as he looked to Marv with understanding.
"I know you want to run at this head on," Knix began. "It's noble and I agree that this does seem suspicious."
"–but?" Marv asked, setting his silverware aside.
Knix pulled his arms away from the table, letting one drop and the other raise as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He did that, I noted, when he was frustrated or trying to think. "But," he said, "we still don't have approval from Alex. I've informed him of your findings. I can't agree to anything more than what you've done so far without breaking the rules. You know that."
I didn't, though. Curious, I sat forward. "What rules?"
Knix and Marv's gaze both shot to me. Texas looked over as well, setting his phone to the side while Bellamy let his slice of pizza slide back to his plate. I guess I had all of their attentions.
"I mean," I said, "you've told me a little more about Iris than I knew before, like the different sections and the team colors and what each team specializes in. I know that you're a black team which means that you don't have a specialization and I know that red teams are for communication specializations and blue is for tech specializations and a few more, but what are the rules? Is there a set somewhere or is it just like a common sense set of rules? I don't even know why Alex seems to be your boss."
I scooped Cleo closer to my chest, even when she meowed her irritation at me, and waited for an answer. At this point, I would take any answer. They didn't even have to answer my stupid questions as long as they told me something more about Iris. I didn't understand why it was such a big deal – the secrecy – especially since I had already agreed to sign their nondisclosure agreement and whatnot.
"A lot of the rules are common sense," Knix started. Marv glanced over to him before turning back to me, meeting my gaze once more. "There are plenty of teams–"
"Where?" I interrupted. "Are they only here in Charleston? Or are they in every major city? Is it just in America?"
Bellamy hid a chuckle by coughing into his hand and picking his pizza back up. Knix sighed. "There are about twelve teams in the Charleston area," Knix continued. "Some are older, some are our age, some are younger and in training together."
"How do teams form?" I found myself asking.
Texas scrunched up his nose and leaned forward. "Well," he paused, looking to Knix. Knix nodded and sat back. "Teams can form in different ways. Sometimes a team comes in whole, a group of friends who have talents in common and work well together. Sometimes teams are created from various Iris members already in the organization."
"Does
Alex have a team?"
Texas nodded. "He does, but they're more or less retired from field work."
"Field work?" I asked as Cleo meowed in my face and batted at my chin, making me wince, before she jumped down and took off for places unknown. I sighed and moved closer to the table, crossing my arms over the edge.
"Going out," Texas replied. "Taking jobs that require us to be seen, act, dress up – the job we did for Sweratt would be considered field work."
I nodded. That made sense. "How did this team form?"
"Alex," Marv spoke up. My eyes drifted back to him. "Alex used to work with Knix's dad and he knew my family as well. He introduced me and Knix and I already knew Bellamy pretty well, and Bellamy knew Texas. We've been working together for a few years. We trained together fairly early and then..." he trailed off, looking me over meaningfully, "you came along."
"Oh." I didn't know what to say to that, but I didn't need to say anything, thankfully, because Knix took over the conversation again.
"Alex runs his own businesses and he takes a backseat role in Iris. He manages the younger teams, advises them, and directs them to increase their potential. His team is technically still in contact, but they no longer take on cases. They don't count as one of the twelve. Alex is in charge of our team because he has experience working with a black team–"
"–so, you have to have experience working with a certain team?" I ask, "in order to be able to advise them?"
Knix shook his head. "Not exactly. Black teams aren't...well, they're not as common as red or blue teams. They're more common than white teams–"
"What are white teams?" I blurted, my mind reeling from all of the information.
Knix froze, and I can practically see the shutters coming down over his eyes. "They aren't up for discussion," he said quietly.
"But–"
"Not tonight, Harlow."
I closed my mouth. Knix so rarely ever said my actual name that when he did, it was good enough to shock me into silence. I knew he wasn’t upset with me, but that I should change the subject.
"It's getting late," Bellamy announced, standing from the table.
I glanced down as my pocket vibrated. I hadn't realized how long we had all been sitting at the table. Usually Bellamy was the last one to get up because he was such a slow eater.
"I'll clean up," he said, turning to Texas and hauling him up. "You can help."
"Aww, man, come on!"
I smirked as Texas whined at Bellamy, though he dutifully started stacking plates. Marv stood from the table and then skirted the edge, heading for the hallway that led to the stairs. Knix sat next to me, quiet for several moments while I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. It was Erika.
Erika: Hey! I'm coming back into town for the weekend tomorrow. We need to get together.
Harlow:Sure, do you want to come over?
For the first time I actually felt comfortable inviting someone to where I lived. It was quite a change living somewhere that wasn't in a bad part of town or embarrassingly rundown.
Erika: No, there's a dance club in downtown that I want to take you to. Please! It's 18+
Knix must have noticed a change in my expression because he leaned forward. "What's wrong?" Maybe he was trying to make up for suddenly closing me out a few moments before or maybe he was truly curious, but I just sighed and told him about Erika's request. "It sounds fun," he said. "You should go."
"You think so?" My fingers hovered over the phone. I really missed Erika. I hadn't seen her in over a month. Before, we had seen each other every day at school. It was a hard transition and I had a lot I wanted to talk to her about. I thought back to being alone with Bellamy in his room. Erika had a lot more experience in the boy department than I did.
"She's your friend," Knix said, "but if you go, I'd like to be the one giving you two a ride."
"I don't think she'll mind that." I quickly texted Erika Knix's offer and I could practically hear her squealing because she immediately sent back a long text box filled with hearts and excited emojis. I laughed and showed it to Knix. "I think she's definitely okay with that." Knix chuckled and stood up, placing a big palm on my head, ruffling my hair and brushing it away from my face as he smiled down at me.
"Tell her I'd be happy to give you two a ride any time you need." He turned and disappeared down the hallway, heading in the direction of his office.
The tension in my chest eased as I watched him go, but not because I wanted him to leave. My heart rate finally slowed down and I sighed out a breath. How I would be able to continue living with him and the rest of the guys was beyond me.
* * *
Sliding the door to my private bathroom open, I ran a towel over my damp hair and took in the body sprawled on my bed without batting an eye. I trailed to my closet and reached in for a sleep shirt before snagging some underwear. Marv grunted as he rolled closer to the edge of my bed and plugged in his cellphone.
I went back into the bathroom to change and brush my teeth and hair while he set his alarm. When I returned, he was lying under the covers with them pulled up around his hips. I sighed at the sight of his bare chest, my heart picking up speed once more. He didn't look at me as I turned out the light and slid under the sheets next to him, turning my back so that I was facing towards my desk. We both remained quiet for so long, I was almost convinced that he had fallen asleep when he finally rolled closer to me, winding an arm around my waist, and pulled me to his chest. I released a different kind of sigh when he touched me and cuddled closer. I'd gotten so used to sleeping in bed with someone, I wondered how I ever managed to sleep before him.
"I can't stop thinking about it," he admitted into the quiet space of my bedroom.
"About the girls and the camp?" I asked.
His cheek rubbed against the fabric of my shirt as he nodded. "I'm sure Alex will consider letting us do something."
"If we do..." I waited for him to finish, but when he didn't I peeked over my shoulder to find his eyes closed and his breath puffing against my sleep shirt. Marv’s eyes opened, though they were unfocused as they settled on me. He mumbled something quietly as if telling me goodnight before his eyes slid closed once more and his breathing evened out. I sighed and smiled. He must have been so tired. I quietly pulled his arm up closer to my chest, where I clutched it and kissed his thumb without even thinking about it. I relished in the sensation of someone wrapped around me as I, too, drifted off into oblivion.
Chapter 8
Knix and Texas talked quietly in the front seat of the SUV as Erika and I sat in the back. Erika didn’t even bat an eyelash at the guys. She knew I was living with them now, and that my mom was in the cancer center. Her eyes flashed between them and me every so often though, and I know the moment we got away from the guys and into the dance club, she would be asking me all sorts of questions. Like whether or not I had kissed Bellamy, Knix, or Marv again. Or if I’d kissed Texas too. I had no clue what I was supposed to tell her.
I sighed as I thought about it, drawing Texas’ attention. He glanced back at us. “You okay there, Princess?”
“You got it, whiz-kid.”
He frowned before whipping his head to Knix, who chuckled under his breath. “Who told her that nickname?” he demanded.
Using the rearview mirror as a spyglass, because I was sitting right behind him, I could see that Knix was trying valiantly to keep his lips pressed together in a mulish line to keep from laughing. Texas narrowed his eyes before swinging back to me.
“Let’s hear it,” he directed his attention to me fully. “Who gave you that nickname?”
I shrugged and blinked at him innocently while Erika stared at the both of us with a raised brow. “I have no clue what you’re talking about,” I said as seriously as I could muster. Bellamy would not be happy if I ousted him. Texas growled low in his throat, all of his usual teasing-sun- shininess forgotten as he reached down to unbuckle himself. For what, I didn’t know. What could he do in a moving car?
He didn’t even get the chance to finish though, before Knix barked out a command. “Car moving. Seat belt stays on.”
“You know they’re serious when they forget to use ‘the’ or ‘is,’” Erika leaned over and whisper-talked to me. I snickered and turned to look out my window.
Knix slowed the SUV as we arrived at a large brick building that looked like it could have been a warehouse at some point but was now settled between a high-class boutique with a glass façade and a quiet Irish sounding bar called Madra Rua. Knix and Texas turned to face the building, both frowning as they took in the line of people waiting – girls in short skirts and guys in jeans trying too hard to look bored.
“This is the place?” Knix nodded towards the warehouse.
I turned to Erika; she nodded enthusiastically. “It sure is. Oh my god, I’m so freaking pumped! Let’s go!” She grabbed my arm and dragged me along behind her. “Thanks for the ride!” she called behind her as she pulled me out of the SUV and onto the sidewalk.
“Call me if you need a ride!” Knix hollered back.
“I will.” I closed the door behind me and Erika jerked me towards the end of the line.
“Hurry up,” she said. “I don’t want anyone else getting in before us.” From the looks of it, several people would be getting in before us, but I guessed she meant in line before we got there. I looked over my shoulder at the dark SUV. Knix waited a few beats before the turn signal came on and he pulled back onto the busy street.
Cars rushed past the building, the wind from their velocity sent skirts flying up and girls cursing. I was so glad I had chosen a pair of shorts tonight. Erika had taken one look at them and scoffed, but I hadn’t let her convince me to change them. I was going to a stupid dance club because she asked, not because I really wanted to go. I would have much rather been at home sitting between Knix and Marv, scarfing popcorn and watching a movie.