Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

practically falling over. I didn?t want to wake Cassandra to carry

her back to the guest room, so I had her lay down with me. Obviously,

we just slept. Now, can everyone but Hector or Jase get out

of my room, please? That includes you, Mom. I need a shower.?

Helen made it back to the guest room without accepting any

more help than she had to. She was so embarrassed all she wanted

to do was run screaming out of the house, and to do that she was

going to have to prove she was healthy.

?No thanks, I got it now,? she said to Ariadne when asked if she

needed help bathing.

?Okay. Just shout if you need me,? Ariadne replied with narrowed

eyes.

Twice Helen had to sit down on the shower floor to rest, but she

eventually managed to clean all the itchy sand out of her hair and

towel off without calling for Ariadne. It took her ten minutes to

struggle into her own freshly laundered clothes alone, but it was

worth it. All she wanted do was say thank you and slip out without

drawing too much attention to herself.

When she got downstairs the whole family was in the kitchen, including

Lucas. His face lit up like Vegas when he saw her. She

automatically went straight to him and sat down, her hopes of a

quiet escape ruined by what felt like a knee-jerk reaction. She

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hadn?t intended to stay for breakfast, but it was almost as if she

needed to be near him.

?We were just about to send someone up to make sure you hadn?t

washed down the drain,? joked Noel.

?Helen?s modest. She wanted to dress herself,? Ariadne said,

drizzling honey over a bowl of oatmeal and putting it down in front

of Helen.