locked eyes with Pandora, who was clearly attentive to her strange
reaction.
?Why don?t we talk about this tomorrow?? Pandora said to the
room in general. ?Hector needs to eat and everyone else needs a
shower. No offense, but pee-ew, guys.? She got a few laughs, but
more important, she got the focus off Helen. Helen could have
&n
bsp; kissed her.
?Are you okay?? Ariadne whispered in Helen?s ear as the family
meeting broke up. Helen squeezed Ariadne?s hand and tried to
smile, but she had no idea what to say. She started to wander toward
the door.
?I?ll take you home,? Lucas called out over his shoulder to Helen,
ending the brief conversation he was having with his father and
uncle.
?I?m supposed to watch Helen tonight,? Jason said apologetically.
?And I have my bike,? Helen said. She couldn?t bear to be with
him alone.
?I don?t care,? Lucas replied bluntly to them both. He stared
down Jason for a moment, speaking volumes with his eyes, then
turned back to Hector. ?I need your truck,? he said with barely controlled
anger. Hector nodded, glancing over at Helen and back at
Lucas with something approaching sympathy.
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Lucas grabbed Helen?s hand and pulled her outside. He loaded
her bicycle into the back of Hector?s SUV, held Helen?s door open
for her while she got in, and drove out of the garage without a
word. Once off the Delos property he pulled over into one of the
many scenic park-and-gawk spots and turned in his seat to face
Helen.