Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?No, really. I have to go home, get the Jeep, and then pick Kate

and my dad up at the airport.?

?One of us can get them for you,? Ariadne said, rising from the

seat on the bench to Helen?s right.

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?Sit, Ari, you?re still drained from healing. And don?t think for a

second all that blush you?re wearing is fooling me,? Pandora said

with a twinkle in her eye and a snarky finger wag that set her

bracelets dancing and tinkling. ?I?d love to go and meet your dad,

Helen.?

?No, you can?t!? Helen said a little too forcefully before she got a

hold of herself and continued in a steadier tone. ?My dad doesn?t

know about any of this. Please. It?s very kind of you to offer, but if

you could just give me a ride back to my house, I?d really appreciate

it.? She couldn?t look up, but she knew everyone was shooting

each other meaningful looks over her head. Ariadne touched

Helen?s hand and opened her mouth to say something, but Lucas

spoke first.

?I?ll drive you home,? he said as he slid out from his seat on the

bench and pulled Helen along with him by the hand. ?Let?s go.?

?You?re in no shape to travel,? Noel said, shaking her head, but

Lucas was already walking toward her and smiling mischievously.

?I?m driving her home, not flying her there,? he said, suddenly

grabbing his mom faster than she could move and kissing the top

of her head with an exaggerated smooching sound. It couldn?t have

been too comfortable, but it was funny enough to get Noel to laugh

and admit that Lucas was strong enough to drive.

Helen tried to give everyone a heartfelt thank-you but Lucas

made a snoring sound, grabbed her hand, and dragged her across

the room, saying, ?Yeah, yeah. You?ll be back tomorrow, anyway.?