CHAPTER THIRTEEN

LARA

I stood there for a moment, watching Hades walk away, my mind whirling with thoughts I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with. The conversation with him had been... different. The silence between us had been charged, and every word I said to him had felt like it meant something. It didn’t help that every time I looked at him, I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that he wasn’t just the guy everyone thought he was. There was something deeper, something hidden beneath that guarded exterior.

He wasn’t like the other guys at this school—he didn’t care about the same things they did. It was hard to explain, but I felt like I saw a side of him that no one else did. Or maybe that was just me imagining things.

I tugged at the strap of my bag, the weight of indecision pressing on me. Should I stay? Should I insist on giving him a ride? I could’ve, but something about the way he brushed it off made me think that maybe he didn’t want my help. Or maybe I was just overthinking it.

I watched his figure get smaller in the distance, feeling the urge to follow him, to somehow find a way to make sure he was okay. But I pushed that urge aside. I was not his savior, and I wasn’t going to start acting like I had some kind of responsibility for him.

Instead, I turned and started walking in the opposite direction, heading toward my car. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was relieved to be going home. To the familiar comfort of my house, my dad’s warm smile, and the endless support that always made me feel like everything was going to be okay. My dad was my rock, and after a day like this, I needed that steady, grounding presence.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog in my brain. As I approached my car, I thought about how much I had already let the school, and Hades, get to me. It wasn’t like me to get so tangled in other people’s problems. And yet, something about him made it impossible to ignore.

I slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, the hum of the car engine doing little to calm the storm of thoughts in my head. As I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward home, I tried to focus on the road, but my mind kept drifting back to him.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, my fingers brushing against my phone in the passenger seat. Then it hit me. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

I didn’t even get his number.

I froze for a second, gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. How could I have been so careless? After everything that had happened, after the way the tension between us had built up, how had I not even thought to ask for it?

I groaned out loud, slapping my palm against the steering wheel. This was stupid. Why was I even thinking about it? Why was I thinking about him?

I glanced out the window, trying to shake off the feeling of disappointment swirling inside me. It wasn’t like I needed his number, was it? I could just let today be today. Forget about it and move on. But that nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t let me.

I pulled into my driveway and cut the engine, the sounds of the world outside the car suddenly muffled. I sat there for a moment, letting the silence settle around me. The weight in my chest wasn’t going away.

I pulled into the driveway, sitting in the car for a moment, trying to shake off everything that had happened. I was overthinking it—Hades, the kiss, everything. I needed to focus on something else.

I grabbed my bag and walked inside, greeted by the familiar scent of dinner. My dad was already home, standing by the stove.

“Hey, you’re home early,” he said, his voice warm.

“Yeah, just… one of those days,” I replied, setting my bag down and leaning against the counter.

“Wanna talk about it?”

I shrugged. “Not really.”

He didn’t press further. “Well, I’ve got some exciting news,” he said with a grin.

“Exciting?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Yep. I’ve got a date tonight,” he said, casually. “Her name’s Rachel. I’m taking her to that new Italian place downtown.”

I blinked, surprised. “A date?”

“Yep. Thought I’d try something different for once.”

I nodded, feeling a little weird but glad for him. “That’s great, Dad. Just don’t turn into one of those guys who talks about it non-stop.”

He laughed. “I promise. Now go get changed. Dinner’s almost ready.”

As I started upstairs, I felt a strange mix of emotions. My dad was dating again, and while I was happy for him, it was still odd. I turned back to him one last time.

“Hey, Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever get nervous about dates?”

“Every time,” he said with a smile. “But that’s part of the fun.”

I smiled back, feeling reassured. “Right.”

I headed up to my room, but my thoughts drifted back to school—and to Hades. I hadn’t realized how much he was on my mind until now.

But it was probably nothing. Just a passing thought. Nothing more.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder about Hades why did he occupy every space my brain had to think.

Every minute I was thinking about him but was that a good thing or a bad thing? I will continue to ask myself that question until I get an answer I am in relation or even try to agree with concerning Hades Giovanni . My mystery Guy.