Page 71 of The Omega Archives: Part Two

“I’d like that.”

Marko stood with his hands on the kitchen counter when Rita and I finally emerged from the office we had been talking in for the past few hours. Liam was over by the windows at the dinner table. Only, instead of plates, all of the papers I once saw in his office were laid out there.

Cal was withhim,and looking over everything else laid out slowly.

I didn’t see Demetri.

I peered around the room and behind me as if he might appear, but he was nowhere.

“Are you alright, Ella?”Marko asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. Perfect.”

I looked between them and her. They were maintaining their distance, but it was odd. Even after just an afternoon,I thinkI was starting to miss them. Ina different way than I missed Rita, of course.

I reached out to grab her hand.

She looked down at it, shocked at the touch. I never used to touch her, ever. I was afraid that if she had held my hand or hugged me before, something might happen to reveal me, and Iwouldn’tbe able to let go.

Now, though. The secret was out.

Another not-so-bad thing. Hopefully.

It still made my heart race to think about it.

I squeezed her fingers in mine.“I’llcall you.”

She squeezed my hand back.

“You better. I’m happy for you, Ella,” she said, eyes soft and sincere.

I inhaled. “I think I’m getting there too.”

“Don’tmess it up.”A sad look of ease crossedRita’sface as she squeezed my hand.“Go and see Professor Hottie and whoever else isout therewaiting for you this evening. I get it.”

“I bet you do,” I whispered and she cackled at my poor tease. “I’ll have to meet this guy you’re in love with some time.”

“I’mnot in love with him.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Seriously, I even told him a little about youandhe seemed interestedso…I’mnot trying to get my hopes up.”

I still shook my head.

“Have fun.”Rita waggled her eyebrows. I watched her head back out the front door and back towards her life on campusandwith her friends in the slightly run-down apartment, she made a home for herself and me.

You too.

AndI…I turned back to the men watching me withsmallsmileson their facesreadyto likely ask me a million questions by how they stood around the table, ushering me back into their fold soeasily.

Was this fun?

For some reason, I wasn’t so sure it wasn’t.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

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