Through My Window (Hidalgos #1)(107)

“You need a refresher, babe, or do you still believe in that macho bullshit that it’s okay for men to date younger girls, but it’s wrong if women do it.”

“Exactly.” Yenni nods in agreement. “He’s a teenager aware of what he wants. If both parties like each other, and there’s consent, what’s the problem?”

Camila rolls her eyes. “Both of you shut up, Apolo is mine.”

My eyes meet Ares’s glance. He’s holding a red plastic cup in his hands and takes a drink. There’s a mischievous smile dancing on his lips as he puts down the cup.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell my cousins, approaching Ares. I can’t look away. As always, I feel trapped in the blue of his eyes. Every step I take quickens my heart. One by one, the people around me disappear, until it’s just me and him. The Greek god and the witch. The moody one and the stalker. I stop in front of him, grinning like an idiot.

“How did it feel to be mentally fucked by all my cousins?” I ask. He strokes his chin, as if thinking.

“I feel a little used,” he says and I chuckle.

“Sure, like you’re not used to getting those reactions.”

Ares raises an eyebrow. “Are you jealous?”

“Pffff, please.” I roll my eyes. Ares grins, running his thumb across my cheek.

“You look sexy when you’re jealous.” His thumb comes down and caresses the edge of my lips, and I stop breathing. “Seeing you in that dress is killing me.”

I swallow hard. He removes his hand from my face.

“You know why?”

My aunt Carmen walks by before I can answer. “Raquel, your mother is calling you. She’s in the kitchen.”

“I have to go help.” I turn around, but Ares grabs my arm and turns me back to him. He gets close enough to me that I can smell his delicious cologne, and then leans in to whisper in my ear.

“Your family thinks you’re such an innocent girl. If they only knew how you moan and beg me to give you more when I fuck you.”

I gape at him.

“Ares!”

“Or how wet you get when I give you a simple kiss.”

Holy Virgin of Abdominals, pray for us, amen.

Ares releases me. I put my hand on my chest, keeping my cool for a moment, and then I run away from there as fast as I can. How can he turn me on with just words? Ares definitely has a gift. Taking a calming breath, I walk into the house. Mom is waiting for me in the kitchen with some trays.

“I didn’t mean to bother you tonight, but I just need help handing these out and I promise not to bother you again.”

“Calm down, Mom, I don’t mind helping. They’re my guests after all.” I grab the tray and turn to leave when Mom clears her throat.

“You two seem really happy,” she says, looking in my eyes.

“Really?” I ask, pleased.

She just walks past me with a smile on her face, and I walk out with the tray and a matching smile on mine. I meet Claudia at the entrance.

“Hey, you came,” I say. She looks very pretty in a purple dress with her hair loose and shiny.

“That’s right, happy birthday.” She attempts to give me the gift in her hand, but then she sees that mine are full.

“You can put it on that table over there, the boys are in the back,” I tell her.

She hesitates.

“All three?” she asks, and I nod.

“Yeah, come on in,” I encourage her. “I’m going to hand this out and I’ll meet you there, okay?”

I’m just about to reach the group where Dean, Apolo, and Artemis are standing when Camilla intercepts me.

“I’ll take these to them,” she says, taking the tray from me and heading toward the guys before I even have time to process everything. I watch her smile cheekily at Apolo after offering them the tray, and then she just stands there talking to him. I must admit, she’s brave.

“How dare she?” Dani’s voice makes me jump because I didn’t notice her at my side. Her expression is somber.

“I’m going to kill her.”

“She’s just talking to him. I don’t think he likes her,” I say, trying to calm her insecurities. Yenny and Vanessa take advantage of Camila’s boldness and join her, using her to subtly insert themselves into the conversation.

“Who are those people?” Claudia’s voice rings on my other side, making me jump slightly again. Why do people keep appearing next to me out of nowhere?

“They’re my cousins,” I explain, letting out a long sigh.

Claudia presses her lips together.

“I need a drink.”

“Me too.” Dani agrees. “Come on, I know where the vodka is.”

“Hey, go and enjoy.” I give them the thumbs up, but they both grab me by an arm and drag me with them.

This is going to be fun.





FIFTY-TWO


   The Observer



- ARES -




I’ve never been one for birthday parties.

The Hidalgo house hasn’t had birthday parties for a long time. Now it’s just birthday dinners that end in silences and awkward smiles. My home hasn’t been the same after everything that happened; the vibe isn’t the same. With my friends, we always go out to a club to celebrate, so they’re not really birthday parties either.