Page 19 of Infinity Chronicles 2
I shake my head, but answer anyway. “No, I looked everywhere. I didn’t find it.”
Ares’s eyes narrow. “You’re sure your mom didn’t take it with her originally?”
“I’m positive. It was there.” The memory of finding the empty box is still fresh. I know it was there. Ijustdon’t know where it is now.
Chapter 7
We pull up to the house and I see Mia’s car parked right in front of the garage. I heave a sigh, wondering just how long itactuallytakes to find a place to stay. Considering this is her hometown, you’d think she’d have any easier time than she seems tobe having.
“What’s the plan this time? Do I need help with my homework? It’s too early for my shift at the diner to be over.” I’m so tired of acting like it doesn’t bother me. That’s probably part of the reason I lost my shit on Dante. How am I ever supposed to feel confident as their Synergist if they’re always hiding me?
Dante opens my car door and reaches in to grab my hand. His amber-colored eyes meet mine. “No.” That’s all he says, before pulling me from the car and walking us to the door. He enters holding my hand, and doesn’t let go as he makes his way toward the kitchen.
It’s still early, but Gloria is standing at the stove stirring a pot. The whole room smells of garlic and onion. My mouth waters. God this woman can cook. If I were around more during the week, I’d be over her shoulder watching her every move so I could learn from her.
“Hey Glory,” Dante calls, towing me to the sitting room just off the kitchen. He drops into the sofa, pulling me along with him. I’m indecently close, almost in his lap. When I try to pull my hand from his and put a little distance between us, he grunts out a small growl. Snapping my head in his direction, I see his face is a calm mask. Making me question if I heard the sound at all.
“Whatchya makin?” Dante lifts his feet, dropping them onto the low table in front of us.
“Dante,” I whisper his name, a warning. He plops our joined hands down on his thigh, grinning up at me from under his lashes. He’s pleased with himself, that much is clear.
“Just some spaghetti dear, how was your day?” Gloria calls back, not looking up from her task.
“Eventful.” Dante waggles his brows at me.
“Ohwell, tell me about it?” she says, finally turning and noticing Dante isn’t alone. Her eyes take in how close we are on the couch, moving over our joined hands, and finally landing on Dante’s cheeky grin.
Shedoesn’t say anything for a long moment, then she looks in my direction. Istart topull my hand free from his, worried about what she’s thinking, but a smile splits her lips as her eyes get all crinkly at the corners. “About time, wouldn’t yousay?” Her head tilts to the side. “Good for you, standing up to your brother. He’s not always right you know, none of us are perfect.”
“Just in time I see. You were saying?” Ares addsdrolly, moving into the kitchen from the doorway.
“Nothing dear, just telling Dante how victory favors the brave. How was your afternoon?” Gloria moves past the topic seamlessly.
“Entertaining, to say the least,” he answers glibly, making his way over to the opposite side of me, sitting nearly as close as Dante. My cheeks grow red at his words and nearness.
It doesn’t surprise me too much that Danteis apparently done hiding our relationship. They could probably play it off that I’m his girlfriend. I know he’s had others, especially since it seems like Gloria already knew about us anyway. But Ares is moving in so close when there are plenty of other places for him to sit, unless Mia isn’t here, and he already knows she is.
I relax, her car was in the drive, but that doesn’t mean much, she could be out with friends or be using someone else’s vehicle. Leaning my head onto Ares’s shoulder,some of the tension in my body falls away. He adjusts, scooting in even closer so I’m surround by their warmth. My eyes close as the television clicks on. I have no intention of sleeping, I’m just relaxing in normalcy of the moment.
This is what I’ve been needing. To feel this connection in a way that doesn’t feel like I’m doing something bad, that’s how it wasstarting to feel, always cooped up in the bedroom like we were doing something wrong, even when touching.
“Seriously, again?” Ares groans. Peeking my eyes open I look at the TV screen and see Bill Murray thrusting his hips wearing a back brace. A small giggle escapes. I know, scratch that, I knew before I opened my eyes what it would be. King Pin is one of Dante’s favorite movies.
“What, it’s on TV, this isn’t a recording.” Dante defends.
“Yeah, but we’ve seen it a hundred times already.”
“Here, you pick something then.” Dante tosses the remote to Ares a small pout on his lips.
Ares turns on the guide, scrolling through the channels for something to watch. I don’t close my eyes again, but I ignore the TV altogether.“Where’s Milo?” I question as Ares settles in, having found something he wants to watch.
“He’s working with Ollie, I didn’t expect us to be back so early.” Ares reaches over and places his hand on my upper thigh. His thumb makes lazy circles on the top of my leg while his fingers slide under my thigh. Having his hand on me while my other handis still wrapped around Dante’s sends a thrill of excitement to my stomach. Both touches arecompletelycasual, but it causes a rise in my body temperature.
I know Gloria is in the other room, maybe that’s why I feel so at ease with them both touching me. I know nothing will come of it. There’s no pressure to pick one or the other. I can just bein the moment and take the comfort they’re offering.
I’m so caught up in my own thoughts that I jump when Dante lets out a roaring laugh. His head turns to Ares. “Did you see that guy? What a baby.” Ares's hand squeezes my leg, he knows Dante startled me.“He’s an idiot. Who gets their first tattoo on their neck? She tried to warn him,” he continues as he shakes his head, still engrossed.
“Gloria, have you seen Ares? His car is here, but…” Mia’s voice trails off. I had lifted my head from his shoulder and tried to scoot even closer to Dante the second I heard her voice, but Ares's hand keeps me locked in place. Making it even more obvious, his hand moves up and down, stroking my inner thigh. “I knocked on your door,” Mia finishes. Her eyes bouncing from Ares's hand, up to my face, and then over to my hand held in Dante’s grip.
