Page 61 of Hades

Rachel offers her a gentle smile. “I love it here, and I appreciate everything the club is doing for me, but I’ve always wanted to travel. When I was younger, I used to cut out photos in magazines of places I wanted to visit someday.”

“Why don’t you? Go, I mean. You only live once,” Kaitlyn says.

Rachel shrugs. “I will someday.”

I can’t help but frown at the longing in her voice. I don’t know Rachel’s story but wish I did.

I’ll ask Natalie later. She will know.

“Adalyn, how are you holding up? I know how difficult my dad can be,” Harlee asks, changing the subject.

Adalyn smiles, and her cheeks turn pink.

Interesting.

“Your dad has been awesome. I appreciate him giving me a safe place to land. As for the other thing, I’m doing okay. I just wish I could be more help. That I had stuck around him longer to give the guys something to work with,” Adalyn tells her.

“Trust me, be thankful that you got out when you did. If you hadn’t, I would be scared of what he could have done to you,” Natalie says quietly.

“My dad still sober?” Harlee asks.

Adalyn nods. “I haven’t seen him drink. He’s trying, Harlee.”

Harlee’s mom and dad were married for over two decades and completely obsessed with each other. When Elenore died one night after getting in a car accident, Honk went off the deep end and into a bottle. It wasn’t until Harlee and he got into it that he realized how badly he screwed up.

“He’s looking better,” I add.

The girls look at me.

“Have you told your mom about what’s going on?” Tara asks.

I shake my head as guilt hits me.

I love my mom. She’s one of my best friends. If I could be half the woman she is, I would be happy.

“I don’t want to worry her,” I tell them.

“Sarah’s going to be pissed when she finds out Dansworth approached you,” Kaitlyn says.

Lainey winces. “She’s probably going to march right up to the mayor’s mansion with a baseball bat and hit his car.”

Natalie smiles. “I could see her doing that.”

I wouldn’t put it past her. My mom is a feisty lady with a backbone of steel. You don’t mess with what’s hers, and if you do, she takes it as a personal slight.

“You should tell her. Before she hears it from someone else,” Adalyn warns.

“I’ll think about it. Now enough about me. Tell me something good.”

I’ll tell my mother about Dansworth and Hades, eventually, when I have to.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Hades

“What do you want for dinner?” I ask as I toss my keys onto the counter.

“I don’t know. We could just order food to be delivered. It’s been a minute since either of us have gone grocery shopping or had groceries delivered.”