Page 7 of Caged Heart
While my curiosity burned to know what that was all about with the closet, I understood and appreciated Mars for telling me this. I know I would’ve reacted much weirder if I had seen Ares in that predicament myself.
“Got it.” I cleared my throat and looked around. “Want to stay for a bit and watch a movie or something?”
Mars shook his head, looking down the hall where Ares had disappeared.
“He never lets me stay over. You can drop your stuff in the room and come downstairs to mine and Damon’s place until you’re tired. You have the code.”
There was no way I was going to miss this opportunity.
“Okay, let me do that!”
I grabbed my bags with the help of Mars, placing them in the room.
Ares and his mood had become forgotten as we left the apartment. Maybe this is how it was meant to be all along. Ares was a friend but not a friend because we only knew him through his brother, right? Or was it just me who didn’t know him?
Chapter5
Ares
Nothing upset me more than falling asleep at any time and waking up before 5 in the morning. I would love to sleep in one time and be done with it.
After my run, I knew that Carmen was still sleeping. I’m not a bad host, so I won’t go around slamming shit that I don’t have to slam.
My hand lingered on the button of the blender for my smoothie as memories of us being drunk and ending up in bed flooded my mind. I hadn’t considered it or us as anything because I knew she wouldn’t be there when she woke up.
Carmen would rather have said she woke up in a ditch than say she spent the night with me. This could’ve been a bragging point for her, but she’s not as skilled in lying.
“Why are you always so quiet when we’re all hanging out?” Her hand traced over my tattoos while we lay in bed.
“Nobody asks me anything, so why would I offer up things?”
“What do you mean? Everyone talks to you. It’s not like we don’t like you or something.”
I chuckled at that, and she looked at me with shock.
“I’ve never seen you laugh like this before. Do it again.”
“You want me to laugh on command like a clown?”
“No,” she blushed. “Sorry.”
Without thinking about it like I usually would. I leaned in and pressed my lips against hers. Carmen made a slight sound and then kissed me back just as innocently. I’d never expected it to be this simple, this calm, and maybe those weren’t the words to describe it. It was something else, but I can’t place my fingers on it.
“Morning.”
Her voice sounded like a soul singer’s singing all their lives, and having some cigarettes brought me back to the moment.
Her voice wasn’t bad or anything; I liked the raspiness of it. It was pleasing to hear rather than a screechy one.
“Morning. You want one?”
There was that blacked-out moment again. I’ve made the smoothie without hearing or realizing that I’ve done it.
“Nope, I’m good.” She answered, and I shrugged.
Instead of using a cup, I drank from the blender.
“Umm, about the other night….” Carmen started, “I don’t know how we got into bed in the first place, but—.”
