Chương 127

Louis woke to the smell of food. He opened his eyes slowly and found himself on the sofa in the living room. A blanket had been laid over him. The TV was off. The room was quiet except for low voices from the dining room. He sat up carefully. The sleep had left him with a dry mouth and a dull pressure behind his eyes. He rubbed his face and stood. He walked toward the dining room. The table had been covered with burgers, fries, steak, chicken wings, pasta, salads, and cake.

The spread looked absurd, like someone had ordered one of everything. Savannah, Willa, and Gladice sat at one end. Angelique, Donya, and Cherish sat at the other. Glasses of water and cans of soda sat among the plates. Most of them had cleaned up while he slept. Angelique's hair was still damp at the ends. Donya had wrapped herself in one of the suite robes. Willa looked cleaner, though still exhausted. Even Gladice had washed the road dust from her hair. Cherish sat in a new shirt, her face clean and pale.

Only Savannah still looked like she had come straight from the road. She had not changed, and dried blood still marked the edge of one sleeve beside the fresh bandage on her wrist.

"Look who's alive," Gladice said. She had already cut into her steak. Louis pulled out the chair at the head of the table.

"How long was I out?"

"Forty minutes," Willa said.

"The food just arrived." He looked at the table.

"Did you order everything?" Savannah shrugged.

"They said the meal was complimentary. So we took advantage."

"There are ice cream cups in the fridge too," Donya added.

"I'm impressed," Louis said. He took a plate and filled it with a burger, fries, and a steak. Gladice raised her glass.

"We deserve it." Louis bit into the burger. The meat was juicy, the bun was fresh, and the sauce was strong. He had not realized how hungry he was until he started eating. The plate was clean in five minutes. He went back for more.

"Last time I ate like this was in New Orleans," Gladice said.

"Before all this shit started."

"I've never had a meal like this," Cherish said. She was working her way through a burger and looked less lost than before. Louis looked at her.

"Better than your mother's cooking?" She hesitated, then shook her head.

"No. But it's different. It's... city food." Donya smiled.

"You'll get used to it." Louis cut into his steak. Angelique watched him. When he looked up, she smiled. He smiled back, then went back to eating. Savannah ate quickly, keeping her bandaged wrist close to her body. Gladice refilled her glass with soda and cut another piece of steak. Willa pushed her salad around and picked at a chicken wing.

"Do they have halal options here, Donya?" Louis asked. Donya shook her head.

"Not really. But I think Allah will forgive me. He understands we are in a difficult situation."

"Or you can just eat whatever you want and not think about it," Willa said. Donya shrugged.

"Maybe. But it's a habit. I've been eating halal my whole life. It feels weird to break it." She took a bite of her pasta.

"But this is good."

"I'm glad you like it." Louis took a sip of water.

"So what's our next move?" Gladice asked.

"Do we stay here and wait for your father's call?"

"We wait for Constantine," Angelique said.

"I don't think we have many other choices."

"True." Louis drank some water.

"But I don't like being here. Last time we got too comfortable, we ended up with a traitor."

"That won't happen here," Gladice said.

"Nobody here is pretending to be our friend."

"Good point." Savannah stabbed a fry and ate it. Willa said, "Do you think your father will make the deal?"

"I think he will consider it carefully." Louis set his glass down.

"He won't give recognition away cheaply. But I trust him as a negotiator." Cherish swallowed a bite of her burger.

"Will it really make a difference for us?"

"If he agrees, then yes," Louis said.

"The Authority will take us safely to the border."

"And if he doesn't?" Donya asked. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"Unlikely." He looked around the table.

"He will not leave me here. He'll find another way."

"I hope you're right," Gladice said.

"Because I'm not in the mood for another escape."

"None of us are." Savannah leaned back in her chair.

"At least we're out of the Holy States."

"That's the only good thing about all this," Willa said.

"True." Donya sipped her soda.

"We are alive. We are together. We have food. We should be grateful."

"Grateful and cautious," Angelique said.

"We are still in West Virginia." Cherish looked at her.

"Do you think they will keep their word?"

"I think they will keep it as long as it benefits them." Angelique glanced at the door.

"We are assets to them right now. Let's hope we stay that way."

"Very motivating," Gladice said. She poured more water.

"Let's talk about something else before I lose my appetite." Louis almost smiled.

"What do you suggest?"

"How about you and Savannah finally tell us what's going on between you?" Gladice looked from him to Savannah.

"We are all adults here." Savannah rolled her eyes.

"You're nosy."

"And you're secretive." Gladice pointed her fork.

"Spill it."

"We kissed," Louis said simply.

"In the truck this morning." Cherish stared at him. Savannah leaned back.

"I started it, if that's what you're all wondering."

"Of course you did," Gladice said. She grinned.

"It's about time you joined the club." Angelique watched Louis without expression.

"And?"

"And what?" he asked.

"Was it only a kiss?" Her voice was calm. He held her eyes.

"No. We intend to explore it further."

"I am not against it. But we need agreements. Especially now," Willa said.

"Agreements?" Savannah asked.

"Everyone here except Cherish is already involved with Louis," Willa said.

"That means we need to know how this affects our relationships." Cherish looked confused.

"Wait... what?" Gladice laughed.

"You're really innocent, aren't you?" Cherish blushed.

"I just thought you were all friends."

"Oh, we are." Gladice winked.

"But we are more than that too." Cherish looked at Louis, then at Angelique, then at Savannah.

"I don't... understand." Louis sighed.

"It's complicated, Cherish." She shook her head.

"It's sinful." Gladice raised her glass.

"Sin is a word made by people who don't get invited to parties." Cherish frowned.

"My parents taught me that a man belongs to one woman."

"Your parents also believe snakes can speak," Savannah said.

"So maybe they're not the best source for relationship advice." Cherish looked at her, shocked.

"That's not fair."

"Life isn't fair," Savannah said.

"And neither is love." Louis cleared his throat.

"Look. This is not the time for a theology debate. We are all alive and together. That's what matters."

"Agreed." Angelique looked at Savannah.

"But we need to be clear. If you and Louis become intimate, it will change the dynamic of our group. We need to handle that openly." Savannah met her eyes.

"I'm not here to cause drama. I just want what I want."

"Good." Angelique nodded.

"Then we talk about it. No secrets."

"Savannah, are you sure this is what you want?" Donya asked. Savannah looked at her.

"Yes. Are you asking because you care, or because you're jealous?" Donya blinked.

"Both, maybe. But more because I care about Louis. And about you. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"I appreciate that." Savannah's tone softened slightly.

"But I can take care of myself."

"I know you can." Donya took a bite of her pasta.

"Still, it's a lot to take in. For everyone."

"Especially for Cherish," Angelique said. Cherish looked at her plate.

"I don't know what to think." Louis looked at her.

"You don't have to think anything right now. Just know that we all care about you. That won't change." Cherish nodded but did not look up. Savannah pushed her plate away.

"I'm not here to steal anyone." She looked at Louis.

"I don't want any of y'all to feel left out. But I ain't gonna pretend I don't want him."

"Alright." Gladice set down her fork.

"Then we set some ground rules. No fighting. No favoritism. And no fucking behind closed doors without telling the rest of us."

"I don't mind an audience." Louis grinned. Cherish covered her face with her hands.

"Oh, Lord." Louis looked at her.

"You don't have to be part of this conversation if it makes you uncomfortable," he added.

"But it is reality." She lowered her hands.

"I just... I'm not used to this."

"None of us were, at first," Angelique said.

"But life changes us." Cherish looked at the table.

"Is this how people live in the Dominion?"

"Some," Louis said.

"But not everyone."

"And your father approves of this?" Cherish asked.

"He likes it," Louis said.

"He thinks it's normal."

"That's... strange." Cherish shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to judge."

"It's okay. The Dominion is a bit progressive on certain values," Louis said.

"More than a bit," Gladice laughed.

"And I like it." Cherish said nothing. She picked up her burger and took another bite, giving herself something to do. Louis let her be. He looked at Angelique.

"I want you to be happy." He looked at the others.

"All of you."

"We are happy," Willa said.

"As long as we are honest with each other."

"Then we agree," Louis said.

"No secrets. No lies."

"Agreed," Angelique said. Savannah nodded.

"Fine by me."

"Do we fuck in turn, or all at once?" Gladice asked. Cherish nearly choked on her soda. Willa laughed. Louis shook his head.

"One step at a time, Gladie."

"I am serious." She smirked.

"I want to fuck after this meal. All this food and danger made me horny." Willa laughed again.

"You're always horny."

"Yes, but now it's justified." Gladice grinned.

"So, Louis, what do you say?" He felt himself respond before he could stop it.

"I'd say we go to the bedroom after we finish eating." He looked at Angelique, Willa, and Donya.

"But I don't want anyone to feel pressured or left out." Willa smiled.

"Don't worry. We are not shy." Donya hesitated.

"I am a little shy. But... I want to be there. With you." Savannah raised her eyebrow.

"I said I wanted him. I ain't say I was ready to share yet."

"Then you can watch," Gladice said.

"Or join in later. Whatever you want." Savannah looked at Louis.

"What do you want?"

"I want all of you." He looked back at her.

"But we will make room for what you want too." She studied him.

"Okay." Cherish pushed her plate away.

"I'm going to my room. I can't... listen to this."

"Take some cake with you," Gladice said.

"It's good."

"I... fine." Cherish took a slice of cake and left the dining room quickly. Donya watched her go.

"We should not have talked about this in front of her."

"She gotta learn the world," Savannah said.

"Better now than later."

"Maybe." Donya sighed.

"But I still feel bad."

"We will talk to her later," Angelique said.

"We are her family now, after all." Louis nodded.

"Yes." He looked at the food on the table.

"Now, let's finish eating. And then... we can go to the bedroom." Gladice raised her glass.

"I'll drink to that."

"Cheers," Willa said. Louis raised his glass and clinked it with hers. The others joined in. His heart beat faster. He looked at the women around the table. Angelique met his gaze and smiled slowly. Willa bit her lip. Donya blushed. Savannah watched him with a look that was half challenge, half hunger. Gladice winked. He cut another piece of steak. The food tasted better than ever.