Page 14 of Gates of Tartarus

“Me?” I say, exasperated. “You had Tasey pushing her tits in your face for 90% of the time we were in there.”

That makes him grin. “You jealous, Reed?” he asks smoothly, dropping his voice slightly, dimples so deep they’re the fucking Grand Canyon of adorableness, and I frown, hard, to combat his sudden, bubbly amusement.

“No. I need to know you’re on point when we go out together, though.”

The look drains off his face, the amused feelings whirlpooling down and away, making my stomach drop with the rapid change. “Yeah. I’m on point. Picked up some interesting stuff too. And what do you think of what that kid said? CDS? CVS?”

My face hardens. “What do I think of it? I think we’ve got to talk to Gomez is what I think.” Groaning, I put my head in my hands. “Fuuuuuuuck. I hate seeing that fucking dragon.”

Still leaning over, face in my palms, I feel a hesitant hand rest on my head comfortingly. I still completely, barely breathing as Walker strokes his hand down my head, fingers combing gently through my hair. He picks up a long curl and twists it lightly around his finger before dragging it out and letting it go. Then, jerking slightly, like he’s surprised himself, he punches on music before pulling away from the bar.

The silence in the car on the drive back is almost unbearable.

Ebb and Flow

Saturday, 3 November – Kailani

Waking up to the sound of Gemma messing around in the kitchen, I turn over and bury my head in the pillow, unwilling to face my self-imposed task this morning. I haven’t seen Lachy since we made out like teenagers last weekend, and the silence has gone on too long. He was laid out with one of his migraines for the two days following our... interlude... or whatever, and then he was called out of town suddenly when his mom went into the hospital for surgery. He texted both Gemma and me letting us know everything was okay and that he was getting home late last night, but we hadn’t actually seen each other. I’ve been able to ignore it all week because work has been insane, but I can’t let it go on any longer.

Getting up slowly, I flip through my closet, trying to pick out an outfit that says, “hey, it’s cool if we stay just friends, but I liked what happened, almost too much, and I want to see what happens between us, but I’m scared and not sure I can handle a real relationship, even if you want one, which you probably don’t, but also I want to stay best friends, because I’m pretty sure I’d jump off the top of the Space Needle without you in my life. And also, I may have feelings for Hideo, too. No stress though.”Right. Black jeans? Black t-shirt? Put in a modicum of effort for once, Kai! Jesus Christ.Reaching to the back of my closet I pull out a pale-blue hoodie and some dark, but not black, jeans. Leaving most of my hair down, I loosely pull back the top, a few shorter pieces framing my face, and I decide to throw on some mascara. Looking critically at myself, I grab some of my favorite earrings – turquoise and silver – and the bracelet Lachy made me.This is as good as it fucking gets,I sigh and walk into the kitchen, where Hook and Gemma are laughing quietly together. They usually spend their time at his place, because Gemma doesn’t want to add extra strain to my shields, but she had mentioned he’d be coming out early today to take a tour of the island with her.

Gemma turns to greet me and freezes. “Uh… what… I mean... what?” she says, motioning toward me. “Whatis happening?”

Hook looks confused, and I blush, my cheeks almost painful. “What?” I ask defensively. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’swrong, girl,” she says, softening her tone slightly, moving towards me. “You look gorgeous. But what is going on here?”

“I’m just wearing jeans, for Christ’s sake! Nothing’s... I’m going to see how Lachy’s feeling.”

Gemma’s eyes widen briefly, then narrow in suspicion. “Kailani Reed. What the fuck.”

“Fine!” I blurt out, unable to keep it to myself any longer. “We kissed, okay? Last weekend. And I’m just going… to… I don’t want to look... shit. I’m going to change.”

Gemma looks like she’s about to burst with happiness and flings herself at me, shoving me out the door. “Yes! Oh my gods, Kai. Yes! What the fuck? Never mind. Shit! Why didn’t you tell…? Not important, not important. Shit! Kai! Goseehim! You’re gorgeous. Go!”

“It’s too much, right?” I mumble, motioning toward myself. “It’s all ‘hey, look at me, I’m all fancy-lady for you’?”

Gemma steps back consideringly, ‘hmmm’-ing thoughtfully, at which point Hook steps up and looks at me seriously, though still completely perplexed by what is happening. “Kai?” he begins hesitantly. “I don’t want to offend or whatever, but you’re wearing a hoodie, like areallywell-loved hoodie, and some jeans.” Gemma elbows him, and he oofs quietly under his breath. “I’m not being mean!” he says to her. “She looks great! But you two are acting like she’s wearing a ball gown to a coffee date or something. She looks nice and normal and pretty, so stop stressing! You’re not all fancy-lady! I don’t even know what the hell thatis.” The last is addressed to me, and I let out a breath.

Gemma nods. “Go. Here!” She lights up with an idea, turns, and runs back to the kitchen, then comes out and shoves a plate of muffins in my hands. “Take him some muffins. That’s good. Just all casual, like, ‘here, have some muffins or whatever,’ okay?”

I nod seriously, taking notes. “Have some muffins. Got it.”

“And ask if he wants to get coffee!” she says, inspired. “Go out!”

I mumble, “Coffee. Christ. It’s too much. I can’t even…”

Hook moves forward and gently turns me to face the direction of Lachy’s house. “Ignore Gemma,” he says quietly. “Just go and knock on his door, and he’ll take it from there, or he’s not worth it. And he seems like a nice guy, so he’s probably worth it, okay? You’re making the first big step. You’re being brave. You can do this.”

“I candothis,” I say to myself, walking forward a few steps, before stopping and turning back to Gemma and Hook.

“Thank you,” I say seriously to Hook, then turn to Gemma. “He’s a really,reallygood guy, Gemms.”

“I know he is, babe. That’s why I’m happy for you.”

I shake my head and look pointedly towards Hook. “No. I meanhe’sa really good guy.”

Blushing to her toes, she looks at him, smiling, and says softly, “I know,” and I leave them staring at each other like twitterpated cartoon characters.