Easing Heimweh (Heim, #1) ✓

26: Someone Else

Cali suggested we have some fun at the beach before sunset.

"Do you know how to operate jet skis?" I heard Aelius ask her while I was cooking pancakes with Achilles and Emilia in the kitchen. I shared a knowing glance with the guy, certain that we had the same thing in mind.

"Yeah. Why?"

"You can drive one," he said. "Nero and Blanca are at the nearest beach."

"Great!" Cali chirped. "The more, the merrier. We have too many snacks anyway."

"Knew it," I whispered so only Achilles heard, and he snickered as he flipped the pancakes. Emilia stared at us, confusion written in her face.

"It's nothing," Achilles said, and the three of us went back to work.

"You can have the snacks, Miss Calista," Aelius commented as he dried his damp air with a towel. He'd just gotten out of the shower, shamelessly shirtless that I couldn't look up without Cali teasing me with her eyes. "Nero and Bianca are my jet skis."

"They're your...ah." Cali facepalmed upon the realization. "What, are they black and white?"

"Yes."

"Cool." Cali shifted comfortably on the couch, eyes twinkling as she caught me looking at her. "Hey, Captain, how about I drive and you get the privilege of being my passenger?"

I let out a chuckle as I put a dollop of blueberry jam on the half-done pancakes and covered them with more chocolate batter. "Sounds dangerous, Campbell. I'll drive if we go together."

Cali frowned in confusion. "But you don't know how to do that. Tito Ellis hated jet skis."

I wasn't looking at Aelius, but the way he tensed up was hard to miss. Even Cali noticed. Her eyes darted back and forth from me to the man in front of her, and mere seconds passed before she nodded in realization. "Cool," she slowly drawled as she sunk back to the couch, suddenly finding the fluffy carpet interesting.

Achilles and I shared another look.

"Merde."

We both turned our heads to Aelius who cursed out of nowhere. I had never heard him curse, but I supposed I should expect changes after...that. Nevermind, I thought to myself.

"The Ondata," he said, hands coming up to his neck. "I forgot where I left it."

Now it was my turn to tense up upon hearing that. Right, the necklace. Of course he had it. I found it funny how it seemed as if he just lent the jewelry to me for a week before taking it back.

Right. It was never mine in the first place. I never claimed the Ondata to be mine, so who was I to feel like shit over it?

"Um, Signorina?"

"Yeah?"

Achilles pointed to my dress, and I instinctively backed away from the bowl full of pancake batter. "Oh, gods," I muttered. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he replied, passing a roll of kitchen towels to me. I grabbed a few and wiped away the batter that got in my dress, internally cursing myself for being too distracted. A few feet away, Emilia only watched us with her eyes squinting slowly. I didn't return the gesture, but I kept my eyes trained on her until she looked away in discomfort.

Just what the hell was that?

I shook the unpleasant thoughts off.

"Still jet-lagged?" he teased as he took the dirty tissues from my hands and tossed them in the trash.

I chuckled. "Maybe. Excuse me for a moment. I'll try to remove the stains."

Achilles nodded, grabbing the bowl and placing it on his side of the counter. "The bathroom's just behind the kitchen."