He nods. “Apparently the school called when you didn’t show up today.”
“Shit.”
I jump to my feet.
“I should call my mom. She’s probably freaking out.”
“Or …” Marlowe says, his eyes shifting over to Kaleb. “Hold on a minute. Why don’t we just head back to school? Think you can work your charms on the front office?”
Kaleb grins so wide, nearly all his teeth show.
That answers Marlowe’s question.
“Perfect. We’ll get them to call your mom back and tell her it was a mistake. But we’ve got to get to class now.”
Even though the tension was broken by Romulus’ phone call, that doesn’t mean I’m ready to just give up on my questions. I feel anxiety rising in my throat, threatening to drown me from the inside.
“But … but I still need …”
Marlowe reaches out a hand to rest gently on my arm.
“We’ll tell you everything. I promise,” he says, glancing over at both his brothers, “this weekend.”
Rory stiffens. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
It’s my turn to swivel my gaze between the three of them. “What’s not such a good idea?”
“Nonsense,” Marlowe says. His hand squeezes my shoulder. “I can’t think of a better way to introduce you to the family. Give you a couple days to process things … give you some time to figure out what it is you really want to know.”
Kaleb sits back down beside me. “You still haven’t told her what you’re inviting her to.”
Still, no one tells me.
After a moment, Rory sighs, stands, and puts me out of my misery.
“It’s Romulus’ birthday party,” he says, “and Marlowe’s right … you might as well come.”
I feel suspended between two impossibilities. I want answers … but Marlowe isn’t wrong. I could use some time to process what they’ve already told me, what they’ve already shown me. As it is, I already feel like my head is ready to explode.
Maybe what I really need is some time to process my feelings with the promise of more answers to come.
“I don’t know,” I still say. I remember the last time I saw Romulus, dream or not, and I still can’t shake the distinct feeling that he hates me. And unlike Rory, I doubt that’s changed.
Kaleb comes over and sits down next to me. He’s sitting so closely that his thigh presses up against mine.
“Come on,” he urges, “you know you have a million more questions that you want us to answer, but if we stay out here much longer even I won’t be able to sweet-talk us out of trouble.” A strong feeling comes over me and I want to kiss his lips again. It makes it more difficult to focus, but I know what he says is right.
I can’t just go missing on what’s supposed to be my first day back at school. Not after what happened at the river.
I need some time to process everything I’ve just seen and heard, and I think they know that. Even if Romulus doesn’t like me, I can’t turn down an invitation like this.
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
These days, the line between the two isn’t always so easy to distinguish.
“Okay,” I say, nodding. “I’ll come.”
True to Kaleb’s word, he’s somehow able to sweet-talk the front office to give my mom another call and tell her my absence was all just a mistake. What he’s not able to do, however, is still the racing thoughts that leave me jittery in class all day.