AN: Sorry this chapter's so short! It's more of a set-up for what's coming next, which I promise is a lot. Please review and tell me what you think so far! Thanks again for reading faithfully.
Chapter 21 (Carter)
Armando leans in for another kiss and I feel my back hit the wall. Whoever decided dark corners were the best place for a marathon make out session were sorely mistaken. Armando lets his tongue trace the inside of my mouth. We've been at this for almost twenty minutes and honestly, I'm a little bored. I know right? Never thought I'd ever say that or even think it.
I lean back so my mouth is out of range. "Can we go back with everyone else now?"
He puts his hands on my hips and draws me closer, then drops his head and presses his lips against my neck. "But this is so much more fun!"
I push him back gently. "I'm serious. We came to this thing to hang out with Rosie and our friends and I've barely seen her all night."
He kisses my forehead, then lets me go. "I know. I'm sorry. Let's go."
"Actually, I need to use the bathroom," I lie. "I'll meet you out there."
Once he's gone, I let myself into the girls' bathroom to try and pull myself together. It's completely empty, which is exactly what I was hoping for. My hair's a mess, my lips are red and chapped, and one of the thin straps on my dress has slipped off of my shoulder. I slide a tube of my favorite lip gloss across my lips and smack them together to smooth it out, then fix my dress and do my best to fix my hair.
When I get back to the main part of the restaurant, Megrin is swapping spit with the bartender while the boys are bonding over what looks like deluxe nachos Costa Luna style. I guess the princess gave up on her good girl act. These past few weeks have been a downward spiral for her.
"Hey where's Rosie?" I ask Ed, stealing a chip from the boys' plate.
"Bathroom, I think." Ed shrugs, clearly wrapped up in his nachos. "That's what she said, right Peter?"
"Yeah," Petros agrees. "Bathroom."
"I was just in there," I say impatiently. Is it really that hard for them to put aside their food and focus on what I'm saying for like a second?
"She probably stepped outside for a minute," Armando offers in-between bites.
"Why would she do that?" I demand, finally getting Ed's attention.
"I'll help you look for her." Ed wipes his mouth with a napkin and gets up from the table to follow me outside.
The night is cold now. Makes me wish I'd brought my jacket outside. The street is silent. There's no one anywhere.
"She wouldn't leave without telling us," Ed says as my worst fear kicks in.
"I'm sure she's fine." I swallow the lump in my throat. "She probably just got tired and went back to the palace.
"And she walked to get in the extra exercise." Ed eyes all three Vespas still parked on the curb.
"She's probably wondering what's taking us all so long." I try to laugh.
"I'm so stupid!" Ed yells. "She's the queen. What was I thinking?"
"This isn't your fault?" I assure him. "I'm sure she's okay. Let's get the others and head back."