Page 72 of Infinity Chronicles 1
“Really?” I can’t keep the doubt from my voice. I scan him from head to well-tailored toe.
Ares chuckles and turns toward me so his knee bumps my thigh. He wraps his hands around my waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world and leans his face near mine. “Don’t sound so shocked.”
I tilt my head, enjoying the lightness of the banter. “I just can’t picture it. How old were you?”
“Twelve,” Ares answers around a grin.
“Oh, I see, did you wear a little suit, maybe even a bowtie?” His fingers tighten over my hips. Darkness bleeds from his pupils. I look around to see if anyone is watching. Delaney and her friends are the only ones paying us any attention, but their table is too far away to see his eyes. “Ares,” I whisper, my lips turning down in a frown.
He stiffens. “What is it?”
“Your eyes, aren’t you worried someone might see?” He closes his lids, hiding the dark pools from me. When he reopens them all the darkness has faded, leaving the burnished brown behind.
“It’s not something I’ve even had to think about for years. I’ll be more careful.” His tone is flat like he’s trying for indifference.
“Wait.” I place my hand on his shoulder as he prepares to rise. He meets my eyes but looks away quickly. “I was just worried someone would see and know that you… that we are different,” I whisper the last part close to his ear. Leaning back, I gaze at his face. “It doesn’t bother me,” I confess, hoping he can sense the truth in my words. “It’s like I get to see into your soul, I don’t want you to… I mean please don’t hide that from me,” I stammer over the words.
Ares drops heavily onto the stool. His arms go around me the next second and he squeezes me to him. Lips at my temple he mutters, “Thank you.”
I pull back, confusion pouring from me. “For what?” Instead of answering me Ares places his lips on mine and gives me a sweet soft kiss then he pulls back. Some of the darkness returns to cover his irises, but most people would just assume his pupils are dilated.
I know I need to pull away, to stop staring at him or I’m going to lean forward and kiss him. But I can’t make my mouth say the words, or force my body to move away.
“Laura?” Maggie’s voice cuts through me and I spin away from Ares. “You want Gus to pack you up a box for dinner?”
“No, the guys are waiting at home for us to eat together,” Ares answers for me. He walks out from behind me and goes over to Maggie’s side of the bar. I still haven’t caught my breath.
“It won’t last.” I turn to find Delaney watching Ares, but her words are for me.
“What won’t last?”
Without looking in my direction she answers, “None of it. You’ll never be more than what you are.”
I cross my arms over my chest. Delaney’s friends are already heading to the door. I ask, “And what am I?”
Her eyes finally meet mine, there’s a bitterness there, and in that moment, I think she’s actually trying to warn me. That she’s not just being cruel, but she’s telling me what she truly believes. “Nothing. You’ll never be good enough to hold his attention, either of them. My sister warned me. She told me about the Costa’s, but I didn’t listen, couldn’t listen. Believe me, you’ll wish you had.” Delaney walks out, her back stiff and head held high as she passes Ares with a small wave. “Don’t forget to tell Dante I said hi.” That same sugary sweetness is back in her tone. I shake my head, I can’t believe that just happened.
Ares waves his hand dismissively, continuing his conversation with Maggie. I turn my attention to the booths around me, it’s almost closing time. Only a few stragglers remain. Giving out my last few checks, I grab the mop bucket from the back and roll it into the bathroom. I could use a few minutes alone anyway. I don’t want to feel bad for Delaney, but I find myself doing just that anyway.
Twenty Four
Ares is the only person left in the front when I return from my closing duties. He’s sitting at the counter with a tall glass of untouched soda. His eyes aren’t focused on anything as he gazes toward the wall in front of him. I rub my hands together as I approach. “Ares.” His head jerks in my direction, and he’s already rising from the stool in one fluid movement. “Hey, I was wondering…” I rub the toe of my shoe over the tiled floor. “Could we stop by my place first? I mean if I’m still going back to yours. Or whatever, can we?” The words rush out. It feels weird to assume I’m going back to their house, like I’m inserting myself with them. But I’m pretty sure that’s what’s happening, but I still need to check on the RV to see if my mom comes back at any point.
Ares gives a quick nod and responds, “Of course. Do you have a bag or anything you need to grab?”
“No, I left my bag with the guys when they dropped me off.” Placing his palm on the small of my back, Ares leads me over to the door. “Bye Maggie,” I call over my shoulder, letting her know we’re leaving. I’ve been kinda leery of coming into work now that I know she knows about the guys and me. I thought she might question me or treat me differently. But thankfully her demeanor hasn’t changed at all.
Ares opens my door for me then jogs around to his side. He slides into the SUV, pushing the start button as I’m buckling my seatbelt. “The others are waiting for us at home. Gloria made dinner, but we wanted to wait for you to eat.”
“You guys didn’t have to do that,” I say immediately, but I get a secret thrill knowing they waited for me.
“None of us are starving Laura, Ollie has probably been snacking all evening, but we all wanted to wait.”
I’m glad the car interior is dim so he can’t see the slight tinge of pink on my cheeks. “Well thanks, I guess.” I shrug, not in indifference, but because I don’t know what to say, or how to tell him it means something to me.
Ares looks over at me then focuses back on the road. “Let’s try to be quick tonight. I think we should probably talk about a more permanent solution regarding your camper over dinner as well.”
“But—” I start to argue.
